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Avoid Unhealthy Foods for Your Thyroid
Millions of people suffer from common forms of thyroid conditions. Women are more likely than men to develop some type of thyroid condition, but many are not even aware they are suffering from it until it begins to severely affect their lives. These conditions can range from an overactive or underactive thyroid condition, and medication is often required for people to feel their best. However, there are some natural ways that you can help improve your thyroid health.
For natural treatment, you should find a naturopath and functional medicine practitioner to help keep your thyroid condition in check and in complete control. But one of the simplest, most natural ways to support your thyroid health is to eat healthy foods and avoid the unhealthy ones.
Cruciferous vegetables
You avoid eating large amounts of brassica or cruciferous vegetables, including turnips, cabbage, rutabagas, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, and bok choy. Although they contain essential minerals and vitamins and are full of nutrition, they can really be goitrogenic. This is especially true for patients who consume a lot of them frequently. You only need about 30 grams of brassica a day. Cooking or steaming these foods will help reduce the goitrogenic effect. If you prefer to use vegetables like these in your juices, be mindful of how many cruciferous vegetables you include.
Limit Carbs
Unless you are following a ketogenic or paleo diet, you need to keep in mind that carbs can exacerbate your thyroid condition. Carbs make your body believe that you are in a starvation mode, and your thyroid will be the very first organ to be affected. You need to eat foods from all food groups in moderate quantity.
Soy
The isoflavones found in soy may stop the thyroid gland from functioning properly and a huge amount of soy may worsen hyperthyroidism. This can also lead to iodine deficiency in many adults. Even if you replace meat with soy products such as tofu, soy yogurt, soy milk and more, it can still affect your thyroid. This is also especially true if you have a genetic predisposition toward thyroid issues. If you take a thyroid medication, you need to take it on an empty stomach and wait anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour before eating. Choose fermented soy like tempeh or miso instead.
Too Little Iodine or Too Much Iodine
Many thyroid patients have switched from iodized salt to Himalayan salt or sea salt. This is because iodized salt—and any excess amount of iodine—can be a trigger for hypothyroidism.
It is beneficial to supplement seaweed and fresh ocean fish for iodine supplements, especially if you have hypothyroidism.
Gluten
When you limit the number of gluten-containing foods you consume, you are decreasing the inflammation in your body. Limiting or avoiding gluten naturally improves Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune thyroid condition.
Many individuals have improved their symptoms and felt a lot better after consistently following a gluten-free diet. It is a lot easier to follow a gluten-free diet these days than it used to be; there are a plethora of gluten-free options for most of your favorite foods. Even if you don't go completely gluten-free, be mindful of many processed products are in your diet, because all of them increase your sugar level.
Fiona is a Degree accredited Naturopath practicing online worldwide and in clinic at Dynamic Health Kensington Park South Australia.