Having a thyroid condition is no picnic. But the good news is these conditions are manageable, especially if you maintain a healthy diet and avoid certain things. If you have an under-active thyroid, Dayanna Volitich recommends avoiding these 18 goitrogenic foods to help your thyroid gland function the way it is supposed to!
What are goitrogenic foods?
According to the Kresser Institute, goitrogenic foods cause swelling of the thyroid gland by interfering with iodine uptake. If iodine is not available, then “the thyroid cannot produce sufficient levels of thyroid hormones T4 and T3. The hypothalamus senses low T4 and releases TSH-releasing hormone, which triggers the pituitary gland to produce TSH. The thyroid gland responds to TSH by making more hormones. If it can’t keep up with demand, it grows bigger trying.”
As with many health conditions, some factors are out of your control, including your family history and the environment around you. But Dayanna Volitich says your diet also plays a prominent role — and since you’re the one in charge of your plate, you can decide which goitrogenic foods to avoid. And avoid doesn’t mean eliminate entirely. All you have to do is limit your intake of these foods to maybe once or twice a week!
The list does not include the obvious culprits like fast foods, salty processed snacks and sugary treats. You should be avoiding and limiting those already anyway, if you want to live a healthier life! So while there’s no such thing as a “hypothyroidism diet” that will make you well, eating smart can help you feel better in spite of your condition. Having said that, here is Dayanna Volitich’s list of 18 goitrogenic foods to avoid if you have hypothyroidism.
Goitrogenic foods to avoid:
- Broccoli and cauliflower
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Coffee
- Collards, kale, spinach, and Swiss chard
- Horseradish
- Mustard
- Rutabaga
- Turnips
- Millet
- Peaches
- Pine Nuts
- Radishes
- Raspberries
- Soy products
- Strawberries
- Sweet Potatoes
- Watercress
You can still eat your favorite healthy foods!
If you felt sad reading through that list, don’t despair! You don’t have to deprive yourself of all of them at once. Dayanna Volitich says even limiting quantities during meals of these goitrogenic foods can really help your thyroid function. You can also find great replacements for certain foods. For example, you can sub in green leaf lettuce instead of kale, swiss chard, or collards. And again, remember that you don’t have to cut these out of your life completely. Just make sure you limit the amount you eat and the number of times you eat them, and you’ll be well on the way to a healthier thyroid!
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