Can Certain Foods Increase Thyroid?

16 Sep Can Certain Foods Increase Thyroid?

Dt Reema Madhian is the best dietician to control thyroid with extensive experience of 25 years in this field. She can help you plan the best thyroid diet pointing out the foods to eat and avoid enhancing your thyroid health. Below is discussed everything that you require to know.  

Thyroid gland and Hypothyroidism

Your thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones that boost your metabolism, repair, and growth factors. 

Hypothyroidism occurs if your thyroid gland fails to produce adequate thyroid hormone. So, with this condition, you might frequently feel tired and fatigued and quickly gain weight. also, your metabolism can slow down.

Particular foods can help increase your thyroid hormones and compose an optimal thyroid diet to check hypothyroidism.

Best Thyroid Diet Plan 

Important nutrients for thyroid

• Iodine

It helps in producing thyroid hormones. Having iodine deficiency, you can be more prone to hypothyroidism. This deficiency impacts almost one-third of the global population. If you suffer from iodine deficiency, have iodized table salt and high-iodine foods like eggs, dairy, and fish. 

• Selenium

It helps activate thyroid hormones and contains antioxidants that prevent thyroid damage from free radicals. To fight hypothyroidism, eat high-selenium foods like legumes, eggs, sardines, and tuna. 

• Zinc

It also helps activate thyroid hormones and regulates TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). To combat hypothyroidism, consume high-zinc foods like chicken, beef, and shellfish. 

Harmful nutrients for thyroid

Goitrogens impact normal thyroid functioning. Avoid or cook well the goitrogen-rich foods like soy foods, seeds, nuts, cruciferous veggies, starchy plants, and fruits like strawberries, peaches, etc.

Thyroid foods to avoid

There aren’t several thyroid foods to avoid if you possess hypothyroidism. But you must properly cook and consume moderate amounts of foods having goitrogens. Also, avoid extremely processed foods loaded with calories. They can cause weight gain and worsen your hypothyroidism. 

Below are the thyroid foods to avoid:

• Highly processed foods

Cookies, cakes, hot dogs, etc.

• Millet

All kinds

• Supplements

Sufficient consumption of iodine and selenium are vital for thyroid health. However, their over-consumption might be detrimental. Consult the best dietician to control thyroid and take iodine and selenium supplements only if recommended. 

Consume the following foods (containing some goitrogens) in moderation, else they may irritate the thyroid gland:

• Beverages

Alcohol, green tea, and coffee

• Specific fruits

Strawberries, pears, and peaches

• Cruciferous veggies

Cabbage, spinach, broccoli, etc.

• Soy-based foods

Soy milk, edamame beans, tempeh, tofu, etc. 

Thyroid foods to eat

Specific foods can enhance thyroid hormone production by your thyroid gland. You must eat such foods as follows:

• Beverages

Water and other beverages without caffeine 

• Dairy

All kinds including yogurt, cheese, milk, etc.

• Gluten-free seeds and grains

Flax seeds, chia seeds, quinoa, rice, etc.

• Fruits

Tomatoes, oranges, bananas, berries, etc.

• Vegetables

All types. You may have cruciferous veggies in moderation, mainly when cooked.

• Fish

All seafood like shrimp, tuna, salmon, etc.

• Meat

All including chicken, beef, lamb, etc.

• Eggs

Whole eggs are ideal. Egg whites are protein-filled. The yolk is abundant in selenium and iodine.   

If you have hypothyroidism, we will help you prepare a thyroid diet based around lean meats, veggies, and fruits. With fewer calories, they are more filling that helps in weight loss.

FAQ

What foods are good for thyroid?

Add the following beneficial foods to your thyroid diet:

• At least 5 portions of diverse veggies and fruits daily
• Foods based on rich starch and fiber content like pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, etc. 
• Items or alternatives of dairy like soya drinks
• Meat, eggs, fish, pulses, beans, and other sources of protein
• Have unsaturated spreads and oils in small quantities 
• Drink lots of fluids (6-8 glasses daily)

What foods kill your thyroid?

Foods containing goitrogens can harm your thyroid functioning. These chemicals intervene with your body’s absorption of iodine. Therefore, eliminate from your thyroid diet, certain foods like spinach, soybeans, radishes, peanuts, turnips, cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli, mainly in their raw form. 

What should a thyroid patient not eat?

Thyroid foods to avoid, if you have hypothyroidism, include processed foods, millets, and supplements like zinc and selenium (unless recommended otherwise by your healthcare provider). In moderation, you may take foods having goitrogens such as non-caffeinated beverages, particular fruits (strawberries, peaches, and pears), cruciferous veggies, and soy-based foods.