The thyroid gland is below Adam’s apple in your neck. This gland is essential for metabolism and energy secretion in the body. It is also responsible for releasing the most crucial hormones in the body. Therefore, any problems with this gland may lead to severe problems. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones required by the body. This may lead to several problems, including weight gain, goiter, depression, constipation, dry skin, cold intolerance, among others. The hypothyroidism diet aims at restoring the balance of the thyroid hormone.
The following are some hyperthyroidism diet tips that can help keep the levels of thyroid hormone at bay.
Make Your Own Dietary Defense for Hypothyroidism
This is the first diet tip that everyone needs to understand. A good diet prevents not only hypothyroidism but other diseases too. On top of that, a healthy diet gives your body immunity and strength to fight infections. It is noted that most people who suffer from hypothyroidism also suffer from fatigue and brain fog. The best way to prevent this is to eat plenty of energy-giving foods to ensure that the body gets the necessary energy to function correctly.
Drink Coffee
Most people would suggest that coffee should be avoided in a hypothyroidism diet. But the truth is coffee is suitable for your thyroid gland. It’s because coffee contains caffeine which stimulates the thyroid gland. On top of that, coffee is rich in B Vitamins and magnesium, which are very important in thyroid function. However, it is essential to regulate your caffeine intake, leading to specific adverse effects.
Avoid Foods causing Hypothyroidism
Certain foods contribute to hypothyroidism. It is therefore essential to avoid these foods at all costs, especially in the hypothyroidism diet. Following foods must be avoided
soy milk, tofu, soybeans, and anything that contains soy. Because soy increases estrogen secretion in the body, too much estrogen can lead to severe hypothyroidism.
Increase Your Protein Intake
Protein is an essential nutrient to the body. Apart from building muscles and ensuring muscle growth, it also helps transport hormones to all the body tissues and cells. Protein sources include nuts, animal products, fish, eggs, legumes, and quinoa. However, you should avoid soy products and not have them in your hypothyroidism diet, although they are rich in protein.
Increase Your Saturated Fat Intake
Another important hypothyroidism diet tip is to increase your intake of saturated fat. Unsaturated fats help cancel out the negative effects of unsaturated fats and make it hard to transport hormones from the thyroid gland to the body’s cells. On the other hand, polyunsaturated fats are toxic and may cause problems to the thyroid gland. On top of that, saturated fats also improve the body’s response to insulin, thereby helping your body maintain a balanced blood sugar level hence reducing stress hormones.
Eat Plenty Of Fruits
Including fruits in your hypothyroidism diet is very important. Fruits contain several essential nutrients that help balance hormones in the body. On top of that, these nutrients found in fruits also help in boosting your immune system. For example, the potassium found in certain fruits helps in regulating blood sugar levels. This, therefore, means that you will not need to get insulin from other sources, for instance, supplements. However, avocados should be avoided at all costs because of the high unsaturated fat content found in avocados.
Be Wary Of Goitrogens!
Goitrogens are foods that interfere with the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. These foods include Brussels, kale, sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, turnips, strawberry, watercress, millet, cauliflower, rutabaga, peanuts, radishes, and spinach. However, cooking these foods for a considerable amount of time can help break down the goitrogen content in those foods.
Increase Your Sodium Intake
Salt contains sodium, a vital nutrient to the body. Sodium is required by the body to carry out most of its functions and metabolism. Additionally, sodium is needed in the regulation of blood sugar. Edema is a problem that causes cells to take more water than is required. When your sodium intake is low, it reduces your metabolism, and in turn, it increases your stress hormones.
Avoid Processed Foods
For a hypothyroidism diet to be complete, it should be devoid of processed foods. Processed foods contain added sugars and are very high in carbs. This can increase your insulin levels and may leave you with low blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar levels may force the body to secrete stress hormones to balance the blood sugar level. On top of that, these processed foods contain toxins and preservatives. These toxins may lead to liver congestion making it hard for the liver to convert the T4 hormone into T3.
Properly Cook Your Veggies
Most experts suggest that raw veggies contain essential nutrients needed by the body. But it should be noted that digesting uncooked food gives your digestion system a tough time, and in the long run, the body extracts fewer nutrients from it. But cooking your veggies makes it easy for the body to digest and extract the highly needed nutrients. Most veggies contain high fiber content, which is terrible for the thyroid gland.
Avoid Stress Factors
The thyroid gland is susceptible to stress hormones, and slight evidence of stress hormones can cause a problem to the thyroid gland. Therefore avoid stress factors that can cause secretion of stress hormones. In addition, you need to relax and eat foods that can help calm down your nerves.
Hypothyroidism is manageable!
In summary, the hypothyroidism diet should include all the above tips. Note that hypothyroidism is a long-term condition, and the best way to go is to follow a hypothyroidism diet that will help restore or balance your thyroid hormone levels. In addition, make smart choices when preparing and eating your food, be physically active and avoid stress as a healthy living will help improve your hypothyroidism symptoms.
