What Not To Eat If You Have Low Thyroid

There are hormones produced by the thyroid that help your body regulate mood, metabolism and energy levels. Sometimes the thyroid doesn’t produce enough of the hormones. This is a disease called hypothyroidism. Your doctor will prescribe a synthetic form of thyroid medication if your condition requires. Your symptoms can be minimized by limiting certain foods and eating a good, healthy diet. Those symptoms may be depression, lethargy, weight gain, depression, menstrual irregularities, constipation, and cold sensitivity. Check with your doctor for further guidance.

Flour that is enriched

Whole grains that are processed are called enriched flour. When this happens, the grain loses valuable mineral, fiber, protein content, and vitamins. This results in an index of high glycemic value which results in a fluctuation of your levels of sugar in your blood. It is recommended you eat whole grains so your symptoms will lesson. The best thing to do would be to replace all enriched white breads, pasta, snack foods, and cereal you eat with whole grains or other complex carbohydrates.

Addition of Sugars

Added sugars like brown sugar, rice syrup, fructose, cane sugar, corn syrup, maltose and fructose, increase sweetness and calories but doesn’t benefit nutrition at all. Additional sugars also cause fluctuations in your energy level, mood and blood sugar. It also makes it harder to manage your weight and appetite. If you fill up on sugary foods, you don’t have room for naturally sweet items that are good for patients with hypothyroidism, like cherries and blueberries. In order to lower your intake of sugar, replace honey and sugar in coffee or tea with stevia. This is a sweet-tasting, calorie-free herb with antioxidant benefits. Also items like candy, pancake syrup, milk chocolate, jelly, frostings, frozen desserts, pastries, fruit punch and regular soft drinks should be avoided because of the sugars in them.

Particular vegetables

Some vegetables also might interfere with functions of the medication you take and the thyroid function. Even though they are excellent sources of fiber and antioxidants, you should avoidkale, spinach, cabbage, mustard greens, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, turnips, and broccoli according to the Medical Center at the University of Maryland if you have hypothyroidism. You should also stay away from skinless potatoes and mashed potatoes. Inflammation may be increased by fried vegetables and also add to weight gain. Try to eat the fresh varieties instead.

Gluten

Wheat, rye and barley have a storage protein called gluten. There is a correlation between thyroid disease and gluten intolerance. An article published in the November, 2010 issue of “Today’s Dietician”, states that it may be difficult to notice a gluten intolerance if you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Many of the symptoms are the same including abdominal pain, digestive problems and bloating.

If you think food like white and wheat breads, most cereals, commercially made baked goods, and crackers usually worsen symptoms of thyroid issues, attempt to use gluten-free items like brown rice, popcorn and wild rice, instead.

Protein

Peanuts, soybeans, certain grains, and pine nuts are proteins that affect thyroid function. If you have been advised to take thyroid hormones, make sure you speak with your physician before using product made from soy, according to the Medical Center for the University of Maryland. These soy products may hinder your medicine from being absorbed.