Wondering what to eat with an underactive thyroid? Our guide to a hypothyroidism diet may help you to manage symptoms If you have just been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, you may be wondering whether there is a specific hypothyroidism diet that could help to treat your condition. Unfortunately, pharmaceutical medication is the only treatment that can restore your thyroid function. But this being said, certain nutritional factors may still provide some relief from your symptoms. “Food and nutrients alone will not stop hypothyroidism,” says Dr. Pamela Mason, PhD, from the Health & Food Supplements Information Service (opens in new tab). “Medical care is essential. That said, a good diet makes an important contribution to thyroid health.” An underactive thyroid has a profound impact on how our bodies use and store nutrients. “In hypothyroidism, our body’s metabolism suffers numerous changes,” explains Lustin-Nicolae Bilibou, a specialist clinical dietitian at Cygnet Health Care (opens in new tab). “Cholesterol and triglycerides levels will record elevated values, we might experience low protein synthesis, as well as low levels of intestinal sugar absorption. An underactive thyroid can also impact vitamin metabolism.” Taking into account how complex this condition is, it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact dietary pattern that could help manage it. “There are reports of particular diets that have worked for different people, however they are not a standard medical or dietetic approach for hypothyroidism,” says Bilibou. Here, we’ve put together a guide to what research tells us so far about a hypothyroidism diet. But as Mason stresses, “if you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, check immediately with your doctor and a qualified dietitian about an appropriate diet. It is important to get individual specialist advice on foods and nutrients as the intake of these will depend on the current health of your thyroid gland and the medication prescribed for you.” What is hypothyroidism? According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (opens in new tab), hypothyroidism (often referred to as underactive thyroid) is when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones to meet the body’s needs. There are many different causes for this condition, but they are often linked to damage in the thyroid gland or autoimmune reactions in the body. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of your neck. It releases the hormones calcitonin, T4 (thyroxine, or tetraiodothyronine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) into the bloodstream. They control the rate at which cells and organs use oxygen and energy from food. So when your levels of thyroid hormones are low, your body’s metabolism slows down. Low levels of thyroid hormones can lead to a range of symptoms, including weight gain, decreased energy levels, low mood and muscle aches. What are the best foods to eat for hypothyroidism? Certain nutrients may improve the functioning of the thyroid gland, while certain dietary compounds may lower the effectiveness of hypothyroidism medications. While we still don’t understand the full scope of interactions between underactive thyroid and dietary patterns, multiple studies (opens in new tab) suggest that eating plenty of foods rich in anti-inflammatory vitamins and minerals can be highly beneficial for the management of thyroid diseases. Increasing your intake of plant-based antioxidants and reducing the consumption of animal-based foods could also be helpful, according to the Thyroid (opens in new tab) journal. Iodine Iodine is a key component of a hypothyroidism diet. According to The Lancet (opens in new tab) journal, this trace mineral is essential for thyroid hormone production, and not getting enough of it is directly linked to hypothyroidism. According to The American Journal of the Medical Sciences (opens in new tab), iodine deficiency is very common and affects nearly one-third of the world’s population. However, it’s less of an issue in the United States, where table salt is routinely enriched with iodine and many iodine-rich foods are widely available. It’s also worth pointing out that iodine supplements need to be taken with caution. Scientists from the International Journal of Endocrinology (opens in new tab) suggest that certain at-risk individuals may actually develop thyroid problems when increasing their iodine intake. Meanwhile, researchers from the European Journal of Endocrinology (opens in new tab) indicate that we need more data to fully understand the potential risks and benefits of such supplementation. “Ask for medical or dietetic advice before elevating the iodine in your diet, for inappropriate consumption may negatively affect thyroid function instead of balancing it,” agrees Bilibou. Selenium The thyroid contains the highest amount of selenium per gram of tissue of all organs in the human body. Without this important mineral, thyroid hormones will not work properly, and as such, it may be another key component of a hypothyroidism diet. According to The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (opens in new tab), low levels of selenium increase the risk of developing thyroid diseases. And as described in the International Journal of Endocrinology (opens in new tab), supplementation with this trace mineral helps patients with autoimmune thyroid conditions get relief from their symptoms. Selenium is also a powerful antioxidant that shields the thyroid gland from damage inflicted by free radicals. And according to Mason, a lot of us aren’t getting enough of this nutrient. “Our report showed that average intakes of selenium amount to 76% of recommended intakes,” she says. Source
