Most people are aware of the
obvious healthy foods that will benefit your thyroid as well as your overall
health. They include green, leafy and bright-colored vegetables, some fruits, plant
oils, cold-water fish, and free-range animal meats.
Also, most people are aware of the
obvious foods that are not good for your health, e.g. sugar, pastries, bread, trans
fats, alcohol, and tobacco.
However, there are some unhealthy
foods that you should avoid and some so-called healthy foods that you should
limit or avoid, especially if you are having problems with your thyroid and you
need to improve your metabolism, energy level, blood glucose, blood pressure, digestion,
nerves, weight, and/or immune system activity.
These foods include: Coffee, Cruciferous Vegetables (Raw), Dairy Products (Cow's Milk/Cheese), Drugs, Fatty Foods, Fiber (Excess), Grains/ Gluten, Processed Foods, Soy, Sugar, and Vegetable Oils.
Coffee
Almost everyone seems to loves
coffee, so I'm sure most people are tired of hearing that they have to give up
their coffee. Unfortunately, caffeine has been found to overstimulate the
thyroid and block the absorption of thyroid hormone medication. When you take
the medication with your morning coffee, this causes uncontrollable thyroid
levels. Instead, take your medication with water; and, wait at least 30 minutes
before having your coffee.
An even better option is to use
our DTD Autoimmune Diseases Nutritional Program so that you can get off the thyroid
medication and have your coffee whenever you want without any negative effects.
(We'll discuss this program later).
Cruciferous Vegetables (Raw)
This is a tricky one. As you are probably
aware, cruciferous vegetables (e.g. cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels
These vegetables contain
substances called goitrogens, which are compounds that can inhibit the
absorption of iodine by your thyroid gland. Iodine is a critical component in
the manufacture of thyroid hormones.
To avoid this problem, get a
physical exam to make sure that you're not iodine-deficient; and, steam or sauté
your vegetables to break down the .
If you are iodine-deficient, make
sure that you eat seaweed and wild-caught seafood (not farmed fish). These
foods contain iodine, plus selenium, Vitamin D and zinc, which are all helpful
for healthy thyroid function.
Dairy Products
Dairy products (e.g. cow’s milk, cheese,
ice cream) can create a lot of inflammation in the body. Many people (e.g. lactose-intolerant)
find dairy products difficult to digest and they are a common cause of
irritable bowel syndrome, bloating and reflux.
If dairy products are disrupting
your digestion, it means you will not be absorbing the nutrients from your
meals adequately. It can also promote the growth of harmful microbes in your
digestive tract such as bad bacteria, yeast and fungi.
The protein in dairy products is
called casein and in many people it worsens autoimmune disease just as much as
gluten.
Drugs
Most drug affect the biochemistry
and hormonal balance within your body, which can affect your thyroid. Avoid recreational
drugs such as alcohol, beer, wine and tobacco. And, if possible, avoid OTC
drugs and prescription drugs.
FYI: Alcohol has a toxic effect on
the thyroid gland and suppresses the ability of the body to use thyroid
hormone. Ideally, people with hypothyroidism should cut out alcohol completely
or drink in careful moderation.
Fried/Fatty Foods
Fried foods such as French fries and fried meats contain carcinogens and unhealthy fats that cause damage to our cells and negatively affect our hormonal balance.
Fats have been found to disrupt the function of the thyroid and the body's ability to absorb thyroid hormone replacement medicines. Fats may also interfere with the thyroid's ability to produce hormone as well.
Some health care professionals recommend that you cut out all fried foods and reduce your intake of fats from sources such as pasteurized butter, mayonnaise, margarine, and fatty cuts of meat.
Fats have been found to disrupt the function of the thyroid and the body's ability to absorb thyroid hormone replacement medicines. Fats may also interfere with the thyroid's ability to produce hormone as well.
Some health care professionals recommend that you cut out all fried foods and reduce your intake of fats from sources such as pasteurized butter, mayonnaise, margarine, and fatty cuts of meat.
Fiber (Excess)
I'm sure this one is a surprise. Getting
enough fiber is good for you, but too much can complicate your hypothyroidism
treatment. Amounts of dietary fiber from whole grains, vegetables, fruits,
beans, and legumes that go above 35 mg a day may affect your digestive system
and can interfere with the absorption of thyroid hormone replacement drugs. If
you're on a high-fiber diet, ask your doctor if you need a higher dose of
thyroid medication. Your maintenance dose may need to be increased if you
aren't absorbing enough medication.
Of course, as mentioned earlier,
the best way to get around this problem is to follow an
autoimmune/thyroid-friendly diet such as the DTD Autoimmune Diseases Nutritional
Program so that you are able to control your thyroid without the need for the
medication.
Grains/Gluten
Wheat and other grains like rye,
barley, spelt, millet and oats contain gluten, which is a major trigger for
thyroid problems and autoimmune diseases.
Gluten can irritate the small
intestine and cause a great deal of inflammation in the body, and in some
people it can trigger an autoimmune thyroid-related disease such as Hashimoto's
Thyroiditis or Graves' Disease.
Gluten may also hamper the absorption
of thyroid hormone replacement medication.
Processed Foods
Processed foods may taste good, but, they are empty calories that leave us with food cravings and biochemical/hormonal imbalances. In addition, these foods tend to contain lots of sodium and partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats).
Having an underactive thyroid increases a person's risk for high blood pressure, and too much sodium further increases this risk. And, processed foods tend to have a lot of sodium. People with an increased risk for high blood pressure should restrict their sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams a day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The hydrogenated oil (trans fats) is a "fake" fat that, when absorbed by your cells, causes damage to the integrity of the cell wall, leaving the cell susceptible to bacteria, viruses and toxins. Studies show that this type of fat can cause damage to the myelin sheath of the nerve cells and may even trigger certain autoimmune diseases!
Having an underactive thyroid increases a person's risk for high blood pressure, and too much sodium further increases this risk. And, processed foods tend to have a lot of sodium. People with an increased risk for high blood pressure should restrict their sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams a day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The hydrogenated oil (trans fats) is a "fake" fat that, when absorbed by your cells, causes damage to the integrity of the cell wall, leaving the cell susceptible to bacteria, viruses and toxins. Studies show that this type of fat can cause damage to the myelin sheath of the nerve cells and may even trigger certain autoimmune diseases!
Soy
This food has been marketed for
years in the United States
The lectins in soy cause
irritation to the gut lining and worsen leaky gut syndrome in people with
autoimmune disease. Soy is also a source of goitrogens which inhibit iodine
absorption.
Soy is loaded with plant-based
phytoestrogen, and some researchers believe too much soy may increase a
person's risk for hypothyroidism. Even a small serving of soy each day is
enough to suppress thyroid function.
Soy is one of the worst foods for
your thyroid. Don’t underestimate how damaging this food is to your metabolism.
Sugar
You already know that sugar is bad
for you; now you know it’s bad for your thyroid gland as well. This is because
of the destructive effects sugar has on your immune system and your gut.
It raises inflammation in your
body and makes all autoimmune diseases worse. Sugar fuels the growth of all
sorts of harmful pathogens in your gut and fosters gut infections. If your gut
lining is overgrown with harmful microbes, they inflame the lining of your
intestines and cause “leaky gut syndrome”. This is an initiator and driver of
all autoimmune diseases. ("Leaky gut syndrome" will be discussed in
more detail later).
Vegetable Oils
Vegetable oils include corn oil,
sunflower, safflower, soybean, cottonseed, canola, grape seed and rice bran
oil. These oils are all very high in polyunsaturated fats. Your body does
require some polyunsaturated fat but the problem with these oils is the
delicate fats have been damaged. The extraction process (using heat and
chemical solvents) causes the polyunsaturated fats to become damaged and
oxidized. If you then cook with those oils, they become damaged even further.
Damaged fats create a great deal
of inflammation in your body. They act as free radicals and cause wear and tear
to your organs and tissues. Healthy fats to include in your diet include olive
oil, macadamia nut oil, avocado oil, raw nuts and seeds, oily fish, avocados,
coconut oil and grass-fed raw butter/ghee.
Note: Refer to the author's DTD Autoimmune Diseases & Natural Remedies ebook, DTD Power of Juicing ebook and/or DTD Cleanse/Detox ebook to help with thyroid dysfunction (e.g. hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Graves' Disease) and for natural thyroid remedies.
Death to Diabetes Website References:
Autoimmune Diseases web page
Thyroid Diseases web page
Note: Refer to the author's DTD Autoimmune Diseases & Natural Remedies ebook, DTD Power of Juicing ebook and/or DTD Cleanse/Detox ebook to help with thyroid dysfunction (e.g. hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Graves' Disease) and for natural thyroid remedies.
Death to Diabetes Website References:
Autoimmune Diseases web page
Thyroid Diseases web page
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