If you suffer from hyperthyroidism, read about the dosing and don’ts of the hyperthyroidism diet. The thyroid is an endocrine gland in the front of the throat. It makes two important hormones called tetraiodothyronine and triiodothyronine, which are released into the bloodstream. Hormones made by the thyroid are important for keeping the body’s metabolism in check and making sure all its cells work right.
There are many problems with this important gland, and most of the time, women have these problems. According to statistics, one in 20 people has a temporary or permanent thyroid disorder. Hyperthyroidism is one of the disorders that severely affects a person’s life. These patients need to rethink their lifestyle and diet because the food they eat has a significant impact on their hormone secretion. Today’s article deals with the hyperthyroidism diet and examines the proper and forbidden foods for hyperthyroidism. be with us.
What Causes Hyperthyroidism?
The isthmus is a similar string that connects the thyroid’s two parts on either side of the trachea. Hyperthyroidism is one of the most common disorders of this small butterfly-shaped gland, which regulates the body’s metabolism through the secretion of the hormones tetraiodothyronine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
These two hormones control and monitor how the body’s cells use energy. Therefore, they affect the function of all organs in the body, even the way the heart beats.
Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid gland makes too much of the hormones tetraiodothyronine or triiodothyronine. These hormones speed up the body’s metabolism, which can cause weight loss and an irregular heartbeat.
One of the causes of hyperthyroidism, and one of the most common, is Greaves disease. This disease is usually passed down from parent to child and has to do with the patient’s genes. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body makes antibodies that tell the thyroid gland to make and release more hormones.
The overactive thyroid gland will also cause this gland to grow in size and cause a disease called goiter. This disease causes the patient’s throat to swell, which makes it hard to swallow and hurts the throat.
Hyperthyroidism is one of the disorders that affects a person’s life because it affects their diet, so be with us and have a good hyperthyroidism diet.
Read more about other diets.
What are the common signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
- Sudden weight loss
- increased heart rate and irregularities
- Enlargement of men’s breasts
- Visual disorders
- Increased appetite
- Anxiety and stress
- Mood swings
- Irritability and nervousness
- I’m feeling hot and sweating a lot.
- Muscle weakness
- hand tremors
- Changes in bowel movements and sometimes constipation
- thinning of the skin
- Fine and brittle hair
- Disruption of women’s menstrual cycle
Of course, most of these symptoms can be controlled by following a diet for hyperthyroidism, but in any case, you need to consult a doctor, explain your symptoms to him, and if necessary, start medication.
What are the dos and don’ts of the hyperthyroidism diet?
Consume low-iodine foods.
Including foods that are low in iodine in your diet can benefit your hyperthyroidism. Because iodine, as an essential mineral, in addition to its numerous benefits to the body, also improves the production of thyroid hormones, the entry of large amounts of it into the bodies of people with hyperthyroidism can worsen their condition.
Using salt without iodine, coffee, tea, raw or unsalted nuts, peanut butter, egg whites, honey, potatoes, oats, maple syrup, bread that doesn’t have salt, dairy, or eggs, and fresh fruits in your diet can help reduce and balance the production and secretion of thyroid hormones.
Use of cruciferous vegetables in the hyperthyroidism diet
This group of plants is called cruciferous vegetables because they have cross-shaped flowers. Including these vegetables in a hyperthyroid diet can prevent the thyroid from absorbing iodine and thus reduce hyperthyroidism.
Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, mustard, bamboo, and bukchu branches.
Buckwheat is one of the vegetables that stops the thyroid gland from absorbing iodine. This makes hyperthyroidism less likely to happen.
Vitamins and minerals
Some of the nutrients that work well in a hyperthyroidist diet and help keep thyroid hormone production and health in balance are:
- Iron: It is abundant in dark green leafy vegetables, lentils, nuts, turkey, red meat, and whole grains.
- Selenium: Brazilian nuts, mushrooms, tea, lamb and beef, oat bran, poultry, and sunflower seeds are rich sources of this mineral and nutrient.
- Roy: The primary sources of this mineral are beef, peas, cocoa powder, almonds, and pumpkin seeds.
- Calcium and Vitamin D: Spinach, collards, white beans, okra, and almond milk are among the substances that are high in calcium and vitamin D. Of course, do not forget that sunlight is the primary source of vitamin D and can meet all the needs of your body. It is enough to be exposed to sunlight for 15 minutes a day.
Include healthy oils in your hyperthyroidism diet.
Using natural, unprocessed fats from whole foods can reduce inflammation of the thyroid gland or even stop it from happening. This protects the health of the thyroid and balances its hormones.
It should also be noted that dairy fats such as butter and animal fats, as well as those that are high in iodine, should not be used in a hyperthyroid diet. Here are some healthy oils that are good for the thyroid gland:
- Flaxseed oil
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Avocado oil
- Sunflower oil
Beneficial spices in the hyperthyroidism diet
Some species have anti-inflammatory properties that help protect the thyroid and balance its function. By using these spices, in addition to adding flavor to food, you also add some antioxidants to your body. Turmeric, green pepper, and black pepper are some of these spices.
What are the don’ts of food and the hyperthyroidism diet?
Iodized foods
In the hyperthyroid diet, there are limits on how much iodine you can eat, and you should eat foods that can partially stop the thyroid gland from working.
When buying salt, be sure to look at the packaging and make sure it is not iodized. The US National Institutes of Health says that a teaspoon of iodized salt has 304 micrograms of iodine, and if you don’t do anything about it, your thyroid symptoms are likely to get worse.
It is good to know that seafood has the highest amount of iodine and that only 1 gram of seaweed has 23.2 micrograms, or, in other words, 0.02 milligrams, of iodine in its structure. Here are some seafood foods that you should avoid in your hyperthyroid diet:
- Fish
- Seaweed
- Shrimp
- Crab
- Carrageenan
People with hyperthyroidism should avoid seafood because it has the highest levels of iodine. Also, other foods that you should be careful about consuming due to the high iodine content in them and consume less of are:
- Milk and dairy
- Cheese
- Yolk
Prohibition of gluten in a hyperthyroidism diet
Gluten is a protein that is extracted from wheat, rye, barley, and other grains and is used as a thickener in ice cream, ketchup, etc.; it also makes the dough stretch and makes crumbly end products, such as biscuits.
This protein can damage a person’s thyroid by causing inflammation. Even people who are not allergic to gluten may be allergic to gluten and should therefore exercise caution.
Even though the US Food and Drug Administration says this product is “almost harmless,” you can limit how much of it you use by knowing what contains gluten. This will help you avoid more problems and complications.
The products are:
- Wheat
- Beer
- Malta
- Rye
- Triticale
Soya
Although there is no iodine in soy compounds, experts say that the proteins in them may interfere with the treatments used for hyperthyroidism and hurt it.
In a hyperthyroid diet, eating foods such as soy milk, soy sauce, tofu, and creams made with soy milk is not recommended for people with an overactive thyroid.
Caffeine
As hyperthyroidism accelerates metabolism, it is recommended that you avoid substances that increase metabolism. Caffeinated foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, sugar, and chocolate can aggravate the symptoms of hyperthyroidism and lead to increased anxiety, weight loss, nervousness, irritability, and an increased heart rate.
If you have an overactive thyroid, it is best to avoid or at least limit caffeine intake. You can also replace caffeinated beverages with natural herbal teas and flavored water.
Finally, if you have symptoms of hyperthyroidism, be sure to see your doctor and follow the prescribed treatments entirely and carefully. You can also get help from a nutritionist to get a hyperthyroidism diet and, by following it, reduce the effects of an overactive thyroid gland and protect the health of your body.