Hyperthyroidism is what happens when there is an excess of the thyroid hormone inside your body. This condition is also known as thyrotoxicosis (toxic is in the name). It normally occurs when a person has either an overactive or enlarged thyroid gland that produces an excess of the thyroid hormone.
The thyroid hormone is very important to your body. It helps your body to utilize energy, helps to regulate your body temperature, and helps your hormones to properly function. Hyperthyroidism is most often caused by genetic factors but can also be a result of developing a type of thyroid cancer.
Also Read: How Coriander Seeds Help the Thyroid Gland
Treating Hyperthyroidism with Your Diet
If you are suffering from hyperthyroidism, you should see your doctor and develop a proper treatment plan. Your doctor can prescribe antithyroid medications that can help bring balance to an overactive thyroid gland. You can further aid your treatment by avoiding certain foods that can cause your thyroid to act up.
The best way to treat hyperthyroidism with your diet is to reduce the amount of iodine you’re consuming. Most doctors will prescribe a type of low iodine diet as part of a hyperthyroidism treatment plan.
There are more foods high in iodine than you might realize. Below are some high-iodine foods to avoid if you have hyperthyroidism.
Foods to Avoid If You Have Hyperthyroidism
1. Seafood
Lots of seafood and seafood additives have an excess of iodine. This means that if you are attempting to treat your hyperthyroidism, you have to avoid the sushi bar. It can be tough to cut seafood out of your diet though because it is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which your body needs. Replace seafood with nuts, avocadoes, or seeds; other foods that contain lots of omega-3 fatty acids.
2. Seaweed
Don’t just avoid fish either; seaweed is one of those superfoods that has a rising reputation as a health food. Normally, it is a good choice because it has a multitude of vital vitamins and minerals and is extremely low in calories. Unfortunately, some of those minerals are iodine, which is what you don’t want when you’re trying to combat hyperthyroidism.
3. Iodized Salt
This one is a bit of a freebie and probably something you should be cutting out of your diet or at the very least, reducing your intake already. Iodized salt is plain salt mixed with trace amounts of iodine. It’s normally the salt you see on your kitchen table. Consider replacing it with pink salt or Himalayan salt if you are not keen on getting rid of salt completely.
4. Soy Products
Most people don’t associate soy-based food with iodine, which is correct. Soy products don’t have high amounts of iodine. But ingesting soy products can interfere with radioactive iodine uptake which can interfere with your hyperthyroidism treatment. So, if you’re treating hyperthyroidism, avoid soy milk, tofu, soy sauce, soybean oil, and edamame beans as well.
5. Gluten
Gluten foods don’t automatically contain high amounts of iodine, but consuming gluten can negatively impact your hyperthyroidism. Research has shown that there is a correlation between thyroid disease and celiac disease. Thyroid disease is more common amongst people who have celiac disease than those who don’t. Eating a gluten -free diet is hence recommended when you suspect hyperthyroidism.
6. Coffee
While coffee does not contain iodine, it does contain caffeine, the active ingredient that gives you energy and keeps you awake when you drink it. Caffeine has been shown to worsen some of the symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism, such as palpitations, anxiety, tremors, and insomnia. Remember that caffeine is in more products than just coffee though.
Some other products that contain caffeine are:
- soda
- green tea
- black tea
- energy drinks
7. Egg Yolks
It can be hard to accept, but if you’re trying to make a proper anti hyperthyroidism diet you may have to give up egg yolks which contain a sizable amount of iodine. But you only have to give up the yolk, not the egg itself. It’s time to begin exploring the egg white omelet. It’s just as tasty as your typical omelet without injecting too much iodine into your diet.
8. Red Food Dye
Iodine is a common ingredient in red food dyes. This is normally a benefit, but if you have hyperthyroidism, it is probably something you should start excluding from your diet.
Hyperthyroidism is a medical condition where the thyroid gland becomes overactive and produces an excess amount of the thyroid hormone. If you are suffering from hyperthyroidism, you should develop a treatment plan with your doctor. Part of that treatment plan should include a proper diet that will reduce the amount of thyroid your body produces.
