When you have an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, you might often feel constipation, fatigue, depression, or some other serious health issues. Luckily, if you eat some specific foods, you can improve your thyroid functions and overall health.
An underactive thyroid can be very tricky to control. Therefore, you have to pay attention to what you eat and how much you eat it. This way you might be able to treat the thyroid. Also, the deficiency of some nutrients might negatively affect the function of the thyroid.
Thus, you should focus on eating more nutrients and thyroid-friendly foods that your body will love. After all, some foods can affect the body’s ability to absorb and even replace hormones. In addition, they would be very important for managing your thyroid.
Foods to Avoid
No such diet can be perfect for hypothyroidism, but you can eat smart and choose the right foods for your body. But, before we tell you what you should eat, here are the foods you shouldn’t eat.
1. Refined Flour Products
Try to avoid products from refined carbohydrates. These can have a major negative impact on your hormones and can make it difficult for you to manage your weight. These foods are cereals, pasta, bread, and baked goods.
2. Dairy
The underactive thyroid is sensitive to dairy. Therefore, you should try avoiding any non-organic products because they might cause inflammation and constipation. Also, you should purchase products that have been pasteurized.
3. Brassica Vegetables
The vegetables that belong to this family are the kale, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. The reason why you should avoid them if you have an underactive thyroid is that they contain molecules known as goitrogens.
These molecules can negatively affect the function of the thyroid. Therefore, it is best to be wary of these veggies.
4. Sugar
Among the many problems sugar can cause, one of them is the hormonal imbalance. Because it can highly imbalance the hormones, you shouldn’t consume it in excessive amounts. Otherwise, you will have a difficulty losing some pounds and maintaining a healthy weight.
Furthermore, sugar can affect the balance of the hormones when they need to help the metabolism function properly.
5. Gluten
Some people with an underactive thyroid might be sensitive to gluten. If they ignore this problem, the might face inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and nutrient deficiencies. So, try avoiding rye, barley products, and wheat, if you believe that they might be causing you problems.
6. Tap Water
Due to the fluoride that some tap water contains, it can be best to avoid it. Furthermore, the chlorine can also be an enemy of the thyroid, since it can affect the absorption of the iodine inside the body. As a result, you should consume only fresh water to avoid the chemicals.
Foods to Eat
Here are some foods you should start adding to your diet today.
1. Seaweed
This food is one of the best for an underactive thyroid. The reason for this is because the seaweed contains a lot of iodine, which can help avoid any nutrient deficiencies. Also, it protects the thyroid. Therefore, you should be trying wakame, kelp, kombu, and nori.
2. High-Fiber
Try eating more foods that contain a lot of fiber, especially if you have an underactive thyroid. Because this health issue usually causes digestive problems, it can be a great idea to reduce the intake on sugar and consume a balanced food with a lot of fiber.
This way, you can improve your health and digestion. So, you should eat fresh veggies like seeds, berries, lentils, and beans.
3. Sprouted Seeds
These popular seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids like ALA. In addition, they play a major role in the management of the hormones and the healthy thyroid formation. Furthermore, these healthy fats can balance the blood sugar levels and keep your body healthy and fit.
If you consider trying out these seeds, make sure to eat more chia seeds, hemp, and flax.
4. Probiotic
If you eat foods that contain a lot of probiotics, like the kombucha, kefir, kimchi, natto, and various other fermented foods, know that they can be useful for the healthy bacteria. To reduce the leaky gut syndrome, try keeping your guts healthy.
Moreover, provide the body with the necessary amount of nutrients and prevent inflammation.
5. Coconut Oil
A great way to losing some weight if you have an underactive thyroid is to consume coconut oil. So, replace the typical oil with the coconut one and take all the fatty acids that it can provide. Furthermore, you might be able to boost your metabolism, energy and even prevent fatigue.
The reason behind this is because the coconut oil has antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, which can remove inflammation.
Have you tried any of these foods before? Make sure to give us a comment and share this post with family and friends.
