I understand the thyroid drama. Modern medicine was unable to address my problems with Graves and later Hashimoto’s disease. For many years I did a lot of trial and error until I came up with my ‘Thyroid Healthy Diet’ plan.
There are foods that you should eliminate from your diet and there are foods that you should add to your daily food intake. This is not a diet in the sense that you are trying to lose weight, but rather a healthy eating habit.
Not everyone will agree that there is a connection between diet and a healthy thyroid. I challenge you to try it for a few weeks and monitor for any changes in how you feel.
One more thing before we continue, it is important to understand that the majority (90%) of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are the result of autoimmune problems. This means that your immune system is attacking your thyroid.
One of the first topics I delve into with clients is their current diet.
FOOD INTOLERANCES
Do you see “gluten free”, “dairy free”, etc. popping up in health stores today? This is because many people drop out of the “big five”; gluten, dairy, corn, eggs and soy and experience significant changes. To find the culprits, I always start with an Elimination Diet and this produces clear and unbiased results. You can also get a food intolerance test (not allergy, it’s different) but they are far from accurate. Gluten is an infamous food if you have a thyroid condition and eliminating it is key. However, many times, you will need to eliminate more than just the gluten.
FIX YOUR DIGESTIVE TRACK (also known as gut)
As mentioned above, most thyroid conditions are autoimmune diseases. There are tons of lymphocytes and other immune cells in the gut, which protect the body from viruses, bacteria, and other invaders. This is why most people with thyroid conditions also experience frequent bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea. A change in diet will help your gut tremendously. “All disease begins in the gut,” said Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, and I’m not sure why this isn’t taught in school today.
REDUCE TOXICITY
of additives, preservatives, artificial sweeteners (!), excess sodium, trans fats, and toxins lurking in your home. The toxicity of water is HUGE in thyroid conditions; we added fluoride in the US which is now linked to slowing down the thyroid; Fluoride is believed to leach into thyroid cells and inhibit iodine uptake and therefore thyroid hormone (T4) production.
DETOX
Your liver and your intestine, as this is where the hormone T4 (inactive hormone) is converted to T3, the active hormone which is actually what gives us energy. Most cells in our body need T3, not just T4. If you are taking Synthroid, you are taking a synthetic version of T4 that has yet to be converted to T3. If you have a slow liver and gut, you won’t convert properly. Consider doing a yearly detox, every two years by fasting, juicing, etc. to give your body a break.
ADDRESS STRESS and ADRENAL FATIGUE
This is a big topic, especially with women. You will not be able to repair your thyroid without repairing your adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are also part of the endocrine system and are activated when you are stressed. I recommend looking for symptoms of adrenal fatigue to see if you have them. De-stress by working with a therapist, life coach, meditating, breathing, thinking positive; whatever works for you is key.
ELIMINATE FOODS WITH GOITER
if you suffer from hypothyroidism. Goiter is a substance that slows down the thyroid. It is found in bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, radishes, soybeans, soy milk, soy lecithin (often used as filling in vegetarian food) and tofu. Cooking them reduces their goiter properties, but you should still limit them in the recovery phase.