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Hypothyroidism, also known as underactive thyroid, is a condition where your thyroid gland does not produce adequate amount of thyroid hormone which is needed for proper functioning of your body’s metabolism. Women over the age 50 are more at risk of developing hypothyroidism, though it can affect men and women at any age.
Synthetic hormones are usually prescribed to treat the condition but diet therapy is crucial for proper impact of medicine for treating underactive thyroid. Hypothyroidism diet treatment is not meant for replacing the current medical treatment or any medication prescribed to you, rather making dietary changes will help to support the thyroid functioning.
Benefits Of Making Dietary Changes
Hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid can produce symptoms like decreased heart rate, fatigue, hair loss, weight gain or weight loss and lack of appetite. Making dietary changes is the best defense for treating hypothyroidism. Consuming foods that support the thyroid function can be helpful for managing the symptoms by promoting a healthier metabolic rate, boosting thyroid functions, helping to manage a healthy weight and improve your overall health condition.
Diet For The Treatment Of Hypothyroid
Adding certain foods in your diet on regular basis that encourages thyroid functions and avoiding the foods that interfere with thyroid function will boost the thyroid level in your body and ease the symptoms.
Low Carbohydrates
Including low carbohydrates can be helpful in improving underactive thyroid. Some healthy carbohydrates that you should include in your diet are lot of fruits and vegetables, low fat milk, yogurt, cheese and whole grain foods. Choose the foods that are rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins. Protein can help to normalize the thyroid function by transporting thyroid hormone to all the tissues.
Green vegetables and carrots, cauliflower, pumpkin, cabbage, squash and radish are all healthy carbohydrates. Also eat foods that are rich in antioxidants and highly beneficial for proper functioning of thyroid gland. Such foods are cherries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and bell peppers.
Vitamin B-Rich Foods
If you have been diagnosed with under active thyroid, pay extra attention to up your vitamin B level. Vitamin B is useful for deriving energy and brain functioning. Whole grains, nutritional yeast, mushrooms, nuts, seeds, eggs, milk, tofu, oysters, beans, chicken, shellfish, avocados and dark green leafy vegetable are good sources of B vitamins.
Essential Fatty Acids
For proper functioning of thyroid gland, essential fatty acids are highly beneficial. Omega-3 and omega-6 foods along with other foods containing fatty acids have been found to improve hypothyroid conditions. Foods containing these fatty acids must be incorporated in your diet as they are not produced by the body naturally. The best source of omega-3 fatty acids are flaxseeds, olive oil, sunflower, walnut, avocado, fish, vegetables and whole grain.
Iodine-Rich Foods
Iodine deficiencies can affect your thyroid function. Eating iodine rich food can help to improve thyroid function. Sea weed like kelp, kombu, arame, hijiki and dulse are high in iodine.
Foods To Avoid
Many people with hypothyroidism have reported improvement in their thyroid functions after eliminating gluten from their diet. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and spinach, mustard green and soybean can interfere with production of thyroid hormone and hence should be avoided.
Avoid processed and refined sources of food and foods rich in sugar and starchy vegetables like white bread, pasta, potatoes, cakes, biscuits etc.
