What nuts are not good for hypothyroidism?

20 Best Foods for Your Thyroid

Almonds! Eggs! Salmon! The thyroid-healthy diet doesn’t sound so bad.

January 18, 2018
January 18, 2018

If you’re a health-conscious individual, you probably structure your diet with something in mind. Maybe it’s for your weight. Maybe it’s for your heart. Maybe it’s for your brain. But have you ever thought about the best foods for thyroid patients? Yes, just like all of those other health-based goals, your tiny, monarch-shaped gland requires culinary attention—because it’s one of the most important parts of your body.

If you don’t keep it in good shape, you could suffer rapid weight fluctuation, a loss in bone density, and even a precipitous drop in sex drive. And so if you’re wondering about the foods that are good for your thyroid, you’ll want to keep this list with you on your next trip to the grocery store.

Almonds

Most nuts have some amount of selenium, which is a thyroid-healthy nutrient. But almonds also happen to have a high amount of magnesium, which, according to a study in Metabolism Journal, can keep your thyroid working smooth as butter. (Or almond butter.) That’s one of the primary reasons why almost are one of the best foods for hypothyroidism.

Spinach

All leafy greens are good for you, but spinach might be one of the best greens for the thyroid. According to a 2013 study in the International Journal of Trichology, there’s a direct link between zinc deficiency and hypothyroidism. Know what has a lot of zinc? Spinach.

Turmeric

This orange spice adds an instant wallop of flavor to your cooking, but, as it turns out, it’s also a powerhouse for helping keep your thyroid in tip-top shape. Turmeric contains a chemical compound called curcumin. And, according to a study in the Experimental Biology and Medicine Journal, that curcumin is can help block the formation of thyroid cancer cells.

Navy Beans

A study published in Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism found that foods high in iodine can help keep your thyroid’s hormone levels balanced. You can find iodine in most beans, but navy beans are your best source: In every cup, navy beans contain about 60 micrograms of iodine.

Brown Rice

A study published in the International Journal of Endocrinology found that there is a significant link between how much selenium is in your diet and how healthy your thyroid is; selenium, a naturally-found chemical element, helps balance out thyroid-hormone production. And brown rice happens to be chock full of it.

Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts also happen to be high in selenium. And, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating just two or three Brazil nuts a day will have a significant effect on your thyroid. So go nuts! ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Sunflower Seeds

Like brazil nuts and brown rice, sunflower seeds are also high in selenium. Plus these are the perfect snack to stash in your desk drawer to get you through meals—just the right amount of hold-you-over caloric value: a traditional one-ounce serving contains just under 200 calories.

Low-Fat Greek Yogurt

According to research in Nutrition Reviews, dairy is one of the best bets when it comes to eating for your thyroid; dairy is full of iodine. For our money, low-fat Greek yogurt is the way to go. In addition to loading up on iodine, you get a ton of muscle-toning, energy-boosting protein—and without the higher fat levels of regular yogurt.

Seaweed

Nori, dulse, kelp—whatever seaweed you prefer, it’s a good idea to slate some more into your diet. All of these tasty nautical greens are high in iodine. If you’re not a fan, however, don’t worry: You can get all the benefits from taking over-the-counter kelp supplements.

Eggs

Not only are eggs the perfect breakfast to start your day, these protein-filled magic foods also have a positive impact on your thyroid health. Eggs contain almost all of the nutrients your thyroid needs, including iodine, zinc, and selenium. Yes, eggs truly are all they’re cracked up to be.

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Sardines

Sardines are a great food to eat with your thyroid in mind due to their inherently high level of iodine. But these tightly-packed fish also have high levels of proteins and healthy fats, making them a well-rounded part of any diet.

Salmon

You should already be eating salmon already; the fish is chock full of heart-healthy omega-3’s. What’s more, a study in Clinical Nutrition Research found that eating salmon has a direct link to a healthier thyroid due to high iodine content.

Apples

One a day keeps the doctor away—especially if we talking about the health of your thyroid. A review in Clinical Nutrition Research found that frequent apple consumption was linked to a decreased risk of thyroid cancer. The reason? Nature’s favorite fruit happens to be packed with iodine.

Oranges

Studies have also found that oranges can be linked to a decreased risk for thyroid cancer. Be careful, though, because many other citrus fruits have been found to have the opposite effect on your thyroid health. So if you feel a craving for some Vitamin C, stick to oranges.

Chicken

Chicken is an excellent diet choice for a lot of reasons. For one, it’s a lean meat—a great source of protein. For another, it’s culinarily versatile; you can toss it into anything, from a salad to a quesadilla. And finally, according to research in the International Journal of Trichology, it’s full of zinc, a great nutrient for regulating thyroid hormone levels.

Carrots

It might be a myth that carrots help your eyes, but it’s no lie that they help your thyroid. Carrots contain high level of a micronutrient called beta-carotene, which is the body can convert into either retinol or an antioxidant. And according to a study in Cancer, there is a positive correlation between people with high levels of beta-carotene and people with healthy thyroids.

Milk

As we mentioned, dairy is excellent for thyroid health. But milk does double duty: It’s a great source of B12. And a study published in the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association found that B12 deficiencies were linked to thyroid hormone deficiencies. Plus, you get a healthy dose of calcium, too. (But you knew that.)

Oysters

In addition to being both delicious and wildly popular (try walking around any hipster enclave without seeing a snazzy new oyster joint), oysters are full of zinc. And, according to research in the International Journal of Trichology, there’s a direct link between zinc levels and a healthy thyroid. Too little zinc can result in wildly skewed hormone levels.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is the rare fat that may actually have a positive effect on thyroid health. According to nutritionist Natalie Longo, coconut oil is a great thing to consume to help your thyroid stay healthy because of the unique fat content it has: Instead of increasing your LDL (or bad) cholesterol, it increases your HDL (or good) cholesterol.

Try Going Vegan

Even though a lot of thyroid-healthy foods are derived from animals and animal products, studies have shown that eating a vegan diet may also be effective. In fact, a 2013 study published in Nutrients found that people following a vegan diet less likely to develop hypothyroidism, a condition where your thyroid produces fewer hormones than it should.

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Taking Synthroid the right way

In order for Synthroid to be effective, it should always be taken the same way every day. This is important because the amount of medicine you need is very precise. And even the way you take Synthroid can affect how much medicine your body is getting. It’s important to always take your medication exactly as your doctor prescribed.

The right way, every day

Remember, certain foods and supplements can interfere with Synthroid

Foods containing soy and cottonseed meal can make Synthroid less effective. Walnuts, grapefruit juice, and dietary fiber can also make Synthroid less effective. If you eat any of these on a regular basis, check with your doctor. He or she may need to adjust your dose of Synthroid.

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Some supplements and medications can also interfere with the way Synthroid works. To avoid this, you should take Synthroid 4 hours before or after taking:

Iron supplements and multivitamins with iron
Calcium supplements or multivitamins with calcium
Antacids

Synthroid Q&A

Q: What do I do if I miss a dose?

A: It is important to take Synthroid exactly as your doctor prescribed. If you miss a dose, speak with your doctor for advice on what to do.

Q: Can I take Synthroid at a later time on weekends and holidays?

A: You should take Synthroid the same way every day as your doctor prescribed.

Q: What do I do if I’m traveling to another time zone?

A: When traveling to another country or time zone, ask the doctor or pharmacist if you need to adjust the time of day that you take Synthroid. Remember to pack more tablets than you need in your carry-on bag or purse in case you get delayed or decide to stay longer.

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Hypothyroidism can be controlled with a pill.

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SYNTHROID® (levothyroxine sodium) tablets, for oral use is a prescription, man-made thyroid hormone that is used to treat a condition called hypothyroidism in adults and children, including infants. It is meant to replace a hormone that is usually made by your thyroid gland. Generally, thyroid replacement treatment is to be taken for life. SYNTHROID should not be used to treat noncancerous growths or enlargement of the thyroid in patients with normal iodine levels, or in cases of temporary hypothyroidism caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland (thyroiditis).

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Thyroid hormones, including SYNTHROID, should not be used either alone or in combination with other drugs for the treatment of obesity or weight loss. In patients with normal thyroid levels, doses of SYNTHROID used daily for

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Top 7 Hashimoto’s Food Myths

I was inspired by a question from a reader, and wanted to share some of the most common myths and questions I hear about food, the thyroid and Hashimoto’s.

I hope this article helps you figure out the optimal diet for you!

As the case, often with myths and «urban legends», many of the these are based in facts that have been misunderstood and twisted.

Myth 1: Goitrogens need to be avoided in Hashimoto’s, so I can’t eat broccoli.

Truth: Those poor cruciferous vegetables! Delicious and healthy vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale and cauliflower have gotten a bad rap due to some old nomenclature and outdated patterns in thyroid disease. Goitrogen is a word that was coined in the 1950’s to describe a substance that causes the formation of a goiter, also known as an enlarged thyroid gland. It’s a very deceiving word, and can mean a variety of different things for different substances, ranging from suppressing the release of thyroid hormone to changing the way thyroid hormone gets produced in the body to suppressing the absorption of iodine.

In relation to cruciferous vegetables, they have been identified as «goitrogenic» because they have the potential to block iodine absorption.

This was a concern in the 1950’s, as then, the primary reason for hypothyroidism was due to iodine deficiency, and any further changes in iodine levels were potentially problematic. However, since public efforts have been made to add iodine to the salt supplies of most industrialized countries, Hashimoto’s has become the primary reason for hypothyroidism, responsible for 90-97% of cases of hypothyroidism in the United States. Iodine deficiency is not wide spread in people with Hashimoto’s, and thus eating cruciferous vegetables (unless a person is otherwise sensitive to them) is perfectly healthy for people with Hashimoto’s and should not impact thyroid function. In the case that a person does have hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency, he/she can still enjoy crucifers as long as they are cooked or fermented. Cooking/fermenting will break down the iodine blocking content.

There is one goitrogen that I do always recommend avoiding with Hashimoto’s, and that’s soy. You can read more about the breakdown of the science behind goitrogens HERE.

Myth 2: I do not need to get off gluten, tests said that I was not sensitive

Gluten is a substance found in wheat, barley. and rye. Gluten is a staple of the Standard Western Diet, in America, Europe and Australia, and it is found in breads, cakes and pastries and most processed foods. People with Hashimoto’s are more likely to have Celiac disease compared to others, and getting off gluten helped some people dually diagnosed with Celiac and Hashimoto’s shed their Hashimoto’s diagnosis (antibodies went into remission, and thyroid function returned to normal). However, it’s not just Celiac disease.

My personal and clinical experience has shown that non-Celiac gluten sensitivity is one of the biggest triggers in Hashimoto’s.

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Lab testing can be very helpful, especially if you get the right kind of testing, (If you missed it, I wrote about my favorite food sensitivity lab test in the last email) but unfortunately testing technology is not perfect. More often than not, false negatives can be seen for common reactive foods like gluten, dairy and soy. The best test for figuring out if you are sensitive to gluten is doing an elimination diet, when you avoid gluten for 2-3 weeks, then try it again to see if you react to it.

In surveying my clients, 90% of them felt better on a gluten-free diet. Only 10% were diagnosed with celiac disease. Going gluten free can help alleviate many symptoms associated with Hashimoto’s, such as fatigue, hair loss, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, pain, acid reflux, weight gain and many others, as well as can reduce the autoimmune attack on the thyroid gland.

Going gluten free is one of the first things I recommend with Hashimoto’s. You can access my Gluten Free Quick Start Guide and favorite recipes.

Myth 3: Almonds are a health food. I should eat them everyday

In an effort to eat a healthier, nutrient dense diet, many people turn to almonds as a substitute to eating grains. This is because almonds are very tasty and quite versatile, they can be made into Paleo breads, used as a substitute for bread crumbs and can be eaten as snacks.

Unfortunately, many people can be sensitive to almonds, and in fact, after gluten, dairy and soy, almonds are one of the top reactive foods for people with Hashimoto’s. I often see people develop new food sensitivities because they have not healed their guts (see Myth #7). You run a greater risk of becoming sensitive to almonds if you eat them over and over again, day after day. If you don’t react to them now, rotate them with other foods, eating them every 3-4 days.

Myth 4: The best source of Selenium is from eating Brazil nuts

Selenium deficiency has often been cited as a trigger for Hashimoto’s. Selenium is a required nutrient for proper thyroid function, and has been shown to reduce the autoimmune attack on the thyroid gland. However, this effect is dose responsive, and thus selenium is considered to be a narrow therapeutic index supplement. Studies have been done on the specific dose of Selenium needed to reduce thyroid antibodies. Doses below 200 mcg were not helpful for reducing thyroid antibodies, and doses >900 mcg per day were found to be toxic. Selenium content in Brazil nuts can vary tenfold, depending on where the Brazil nuts were grown. This means that a Brazil nut can contain anywhere from 55 mcg to 550 mcg of Selenium. Unless your Brazil nuts were tested for Selenium content, you may be unknowingly overdosing or under-dosing yourself. Also, many people with Hashimoto’s may be sensitive to nuts! Selenium methionine in supplement form, at a dose of 200 mcg has been clinically tested to show a 50% reduction in thyroid antibodies, over the course of three months. Some clinicians may recommend a dose as high as 400 mcg per day. I’ve had great results with Pure Encapsulations brand Selenium.

Myth 5: Raw dairy is fine for Hashimoto’s, it’s only the pasteurized dairy that’s problematic

Proponents of this myth rely on the information that pasteurization process changes the protein structure of dairy proteins, making them more reactive. However, if you’ve already been sensitized to the dairy proteins casein or whey from drinking conventional milk, consuming raw dairy, organic dairy, lactose free milk, or goat’s milk may still be a problem. Perhaps if you drank raw dairy your whole life, you may have not developed a sensitivity, but in general cow’s milk is difficult to digest for most adults with Hashimoto’s. Goat’s milk is highly cross reactive as well for those with cow milk sensitivity. Camel milk, however, may be well tolerated by people with Hashimoto’s as the proteins are different enough not to cross react. Symptoms like nasal congestion, constipation, acid reflux, joint pain and thyroid antibodies can improve by going dairy free. Dairy was a huge trigger for me, now 60% of my clients report felt better on a dairy free diet as well!

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Read more about my acid reflux/dairy story HERE and why you should avoid dairy HERE.

Myth 6: Low carb eating is bad for people with thyroid issues

Some people report feeling tired after starting a protein/fat heavy diet like the Paleo diet, but this is not always due to needing carbohydrates. In fact, some people with autoimmune disease and Hashimoto’s feel amazing on a ketogenic diet (a low carb diet where the body breaks down fats for fuel, instead of relying on carbohydrates). If you’re feeling tired on a diet that is mostly comprised of fats and proteins, this could be due to low stomach acid, which leads to improper protein digestion. Most people with Hashimoto’s have been found to have low stomach acid/no stomach acid, and this impairs our ability to digest protein foods. Improper protein digestion may make us tired because digestion takes a lot of energy, and people who are low in stomach acid may find themselves naturally gravitating towards carbohydrates for energy, as carbohydrates do not need as much digestive juice as proteins for proper digestion.

Increased intake of proteins coupled with a lack of carbohydrates may results in feeling more tired as a result of protein being a bigger burden, as well as we may have a harder time getting nutrients for energy from our foods. Try starting your day with a green smoothie (to help along digestion, lowering the burden), increasing your veggie intake and taking the protein digestive enzyme Betaine with Pepsin, before you determine if low carb is a good choice for you or not. Many people have found that taking this supplement helped with fatigue. A guide on how to use Betaine with Pepsin can be found in my Digestion and Depletion book chapter. You view it for free, click HERE.

Myth 7: Diet can heal everything: If I just take out more foods, I will be healed

While some people have had great success though changing their diets, even going into complete remission from Hashimoto’s, this is not always the case. Don’t get me wrong, eating a nutrient dense diet that is free of reactive foods can do wonders, and is one of the first things I recommend, but if you’ve been on a clean diet for 3 months and not seeing results or getting stuck, you likely have an unwanted guest living inside of you and causing inflammation within your gut.

This gut infection can stand in the way of you healing. Gut infections lead to intestinal permeability, one of the main triggers of Hashimoto’s.

Most infections require targeted treatments such as herbs, antibiotics, antifungals or antiprotozoal agents in order to be eradicated. Otherwise, the person can be sensitive to whatever foods he/or she is eating.

If you’re someone that’s plateaued in your healing, be sure to get tested for a gut infections ASAP, so you don’t run the risk of losing more foods. The tests I recommend include:

Bacterial Overgrowth Breath Test-Genova KIT for SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
GI Effects Gastrointestinal Function Comprehensive Profile (One day collection)-METAMETRIX KIT for bacterial/fungal infections
GI Pathogen Screen with H. pylori Antigen-BioHealth KIT for parasitic infections/H Pylori.

You can view all of the tests I recommend HERE , and I cover them in greater detail in my book, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause.

Read more about non-diet related root causes HERE.

I hope that this information helps you on your journey!

Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD