Foods to avoid with hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is the condition or state in which your thyroid gland does not produce some of the essential thyroid hormones, especially triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The condition is also known as underactive thyroid problem. The main task of thyroid hormones is to “run the body’s metabolism”. As a result, people with hypothyroidism problems suffer from slow metabolism and people get fat most of the time.
The problem of hypothyroidism is not preventable, but it is curable. You should visit the doctor regularly and take the right amount of medicine. Despite taking supplements, there are also some rules to follow to control thyroid problems, such as quitting smoking, avoiding potassium, excess salt, etc. If you want to cure your thyroid problems naturally or if you want to control your thyroid gland, you should avoid the following foods. Most of these foods are high in goitrogens which disrupt thyroid hormone production.
Foods to avoid in hypothyroidism problems:
1. Vegetables:
• Cruciferous vegetables like arugula, broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, mustard greens, radishes, turnips, watercress, etc. . These vegetables are rich in goitrogens.
• Thiocyanate-rich vegetables like bamboo shoots, cassava, corn, flax, lima beans, sweet potato, etc.
2. Foods high in gluten:
• Try to avoid grains and starches like wheat, wheat germ, rye, barley, bulgur, graham flour, flour, etc. However, you can take gluten-free grains like brown rice, wild rice, rice cakes, rice noodles, rice chips, buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa, oats, cereals, etc. You can also enjoy pasta and baked goods made from these gluten-free grains.
3. Fruit:
• Peaches
• Pears
• Strawberries
4. Nuts and Beans:
• Soy
• Soya sauce
• Peanuts
• Linseed
• Pine nuts
• Millet
5. Oils:
• Rapeseed
• Soybean oil
• Linseed oil
• Fish oil
• Safflower oil
• Corn oil
• Vegetable oil
• Seed oils
6. Alcohol
7. Processed foods
8. Others: Raw onion, parsley, chamomile, etc.
Reasons to avoid these foods:
The foods mentioned above include goitrogens which are the chemicals that can prevent your thyroid from producing essential thyroid hormones properly, especially when taken raw.
• Avoid foods high in goitrogens: Goitrogen-rich foods prevent your body from absorbing iodine. It interrupts the functions of the thyroid gland and blocks the growth of thyroid hormones. All types of cruciferous vegetables are rich in two different goitrogens: isothiocyanates and thiocyanates.
• Be aware of soy protein: Soy protein contains isoflavones which are the type of phytochemicals that can trigger thyroid antibodies. It creates an internal war of inflammation. Isoflavones also block iodine by triggering goiter. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reveals that the isoflavones found in soy increase hypothyroidism problems. The study expresses that soy converts patients from subclinical hypothyroidism to overt clinical hypothyroidism.
• Stay away from gluten-rich foods: Research shows that 90% of thyroid problems are autoimmune. The molecular structure of thyroid and gliadin, one of the proteins found in gluten, is similar. As a result, when you eat gliadin-rich foods, your immune system mounts an attack from the protein. Since the thyroid has a similar molecular structure, your immune system begins to attack your thyroid.
• Avoid polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs): Polyunsaturated fats like flaxseed oil, canola, fish oil, etc. interfere with proteolytic enzymes involved in the digestion of food. Besides digesting food, proteolytic enzymes are involved in the elimination of clots, the formation of thyroid hormone, and many other essential psychological processes.
• Stop drinking alcohol: Alcohols like beer, wine, and spirits contain phytoestrogens that promote the conversion of testosterone to estrogen through aromatization. Alcohols also reduce progesterone production while increasing prolactin.
• Avoid processed foods and foods containing sugar: Processed foods and foods containing sugar cause inflammation in your body and convert T4 to T3.
However, cooking, soaking, fermenting, or boiling foods rich in goitrogens, cyanide, and thiocyanate inactivates their antithyroid properties. Researchers at the University of Maryland reported that cooking slightly decreases the thyroid effect of these vegetables. So, you can try baked cabbage or try baked strawberry pie or jam instead of a raw fresh salad.
On the other hand, cooking does not destroy soy isoflavones. So try to avoid soy foods as much as possible such as soybean oil, soymilk, soy, etc. of your diet.
Finally, it can be said that by avoiding these foods, you can minimize your risks. Remember, every time you eat, you are feeding or fighting against your thyroid gland. As a result, it will be wise to avoid foods that increase hypothyroidism problems.
