What you eat can affect your thyroid gland as well as your body's
ability to use thyroid hormone. Learn which foods to avoid when managing
hypothyroidism.
Soy
The hormone estrogen can
interfere with your body's ability
to use thyroid hormone, says Stephanie Lee, MD, PhD associate chief of
endocrinology, nutrition, and diabetes at Boston Medical Center and an
associate professor at the Boston University School of Medicine. Soy is loaded
with plant-based phytoestrogen, and some researchers believe too much soy
may increase a person's risk for
hypothyroidism. People with hypothyroidism should moderate their intake of soy.
However, because soy hasn't been definitively linked to hypothyroidism, there
are no specific dietary guidelines.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cabbage, can
interfere with the production of thyroid hormone, particularly people who have
an iodine deficiency. Digesting these vegetables can block the thyroid's
ability to absorb iodine, which is essential for normal thyroid function.
People with hypothyroidism may want to limit their intake of broccoli, Brussels
sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, turnips, and bok choy. Cooking the
vegetables can reduce the effect that cruciferous vegetables have on the
thyroid gland. Limiting your intake to 5
ounces a day appears to have no adverse effect on thyroid function.
Gluten
People with
hypothyroidism should consider minimizing their intake of
gluten, a
protein found in foods processed from wheat, barley, rye, and other grains,
says Ruth Frechman, RDN, a dietitian and nutritionist in the Los Angeles area
and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Gluten can irritate
the small intestine and may hamper absorption of thyroid hormone replacement
medication.
Fatty Foods
Fats have been found to disrupt the body's ability to absorb
thyroid hormone replacement medicines, Dr. Lee says. 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 butter, mayonnaise, margarine, and fatty cuts of
meat.
Sugary Foods
Hypothyroidism can cause the body's
metabolism to slow down,
Frechman says. That means it's easy to put on pounds if you aren't careful.
"You want to avoid the foods with excess amounts of sugar because it's a
lot of calories with no nutrients," she says. It's best to reduce the
amount of sugar you eat or try to eliminate it completely from your diet.
Processed Foods
"Processed foods tend to have a lot of sodium, and
people with hypothyroidism should avoid sodium," Frechman says. Having an
underactive thyroid increases a person's risk for high blood pressure, and too
much sodium further increases this risk. Read the Nutrition Facts label on the
packaging of processed foods to find options lowest in 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.
Excess Fiber
Getting enough fiber is good for you, but too much can
complicate your hypothyroidism treatment. Guidelines currently recommend that
older adults take in 20 to 35 grams of fiber a day. Amounts of dietary fiber
from whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, and legumes that go above that
level affect your digestive system and can interfere with 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.
Coffee
Caffeine has been found to block absorption of thyroid
hormone replacement, Lee says. "People who were taking their thyroid
medication with their morning coffee had uncontrollable
thyroid levels, and we
couldn't figure it out," she says. "I now have to be very careful to
tell people, 'Only take your medication with water.'" You should wait at
least 30 minutes after taking your medication before having a cup of joe.
Alcohol
Alcohol consumption can wreak havoc on both thyroid hormone
levels in the body and the ability of the thyroid to produce hormone. Alcohol
appears to have 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.
Hypothyroidism can be a tricky condition to manage, and what
you eat can interfere with your treatment. Some nutrients heavily influence the
function of the thyroid gland, and certain foods can inhibit your body's
ability to absorb the replacement hormones you may take as part of your thyroid
treatment. There's no such thing as a "hypothyroidism diet" that will
make you well, but eating smart can help you feel better despite the condition.
Here are nine foods to limit or avoid as you manage hypothyroidism:
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