Understanding how Diet affects Thyroid Function
Let’s take a small walk around biology now, shall we?
Our human body has a thyroid gland that controls every aspect of our body’s metabolism. It releases thyroid hormones through thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) into the blood. That is the usual course however when the thyroid does not respond accordingly, you may develop either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism – more commonly differentiated as the one that causes weight loss and the one that causes weight gain respectively.
Believe it or not, everything revolves around diet. No, we aren’t claiming it is a cure rather it is an effective way to restore thyroid function. Nutrients such as Iodine, Zinc, and Selenium are considered beneficial. Though this aims at giving you a brief idea as to how to go about your diet, it is strictly recommended that you refer to our team’s best dietitian for thyroid treatment and plan your diet as per your requirements.
The thyroid diet differs from person to person. That depends on the type and severity of your condition, and the existence of other comorbidities such as diabetes or heart disease. If you’re someone who has any other problems, choosing your appropriate diet becomes a challenging task. Therefore, try to eat as healthy as possible.
What to include in your diet for Thyroid Treatment?
- Pineapple
- Coconut water
- Parsley
- Meat
- Fish
- Lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
- Coconut oil
- Eggs
- Dried beans
- Lentils
- Soybeans
- Tofu
These are some of the many food items that generally help curb thyroid levels. Vitamin B12, Selenium,and Iron are also required for making up hemoglobin levels. Calcium, zinc, and iron are also very important for one’s growth and maintaining blood pressure levels. Therefore, try your combination of food items and make observations accordingly.
What to exclude in your diet for Thyroid Treatment?
- Caffeinated beverages, like coffee and alcohol.
- Food items containing high amounts of sugar, or, sweet dishes.
- Foods high on the glycemic index. For example, Sugar. It is known for worsening issues like weight gain, etc.
- Grains like wheat, rye, and barley. They contain gluten that interferes with thyroid function.
- Broccoli, Cauliflower
- Butter and Meat
Miscellaneous Things You can do to keep a check on your Thyroid Treatment
- Regular Testing- If you’re someone whose family has a history of Thyroid, it’s better to stay a step ahead and get yourself regularly checked for Thyroid. You can get your Thyroid checked by giving a blood sample at any nearest diagnostic center. You should get your thyroid checked at least once every six months. If you’re someone who already is diagnosed with Thyroid issues, you should keep a close eye on your hormone levels by getting tested a little more frequently, or, as advised by your doctor.
- Stay Alert- Getting diagnosed with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism shouldn’t be taken lightly. Apart from weight loss and gain, these manifest in patients in a varied manner. You could experience hair loss, fatigue, constipation, and changes in periods of sleep cycles. Mental illnesses like depression, feeling down, difficulty remembering, lower attention span, problem concentrating, etc are some of the many other symptoms you might experience. Stay alert and inform your doctor about any changes you experience in your thyroid treatment journey.
- Avoid Self Medication- When you have Thyroid issues, it’s completely normal for you to experience multiple things. Hence, at times, you are unable to make sense of what is exactly happening to your body. In these moments of confusion, it’s recommended that you visit your doctor, or dietician, at the earliest and get authentic consultation instead of relying on the internet for information.
- Include Yoga- Being physically active is important forthe Thyroid. What’s more important is to do activities or poses focused on boosting Thyroid function. Many poses that we do in Yoga have been found to boost thyroid function. Hence, try to include some selective exercises which help you maintain the functionality.
- Maintain the Correct Weight- As we all know, Hyperthyroidism results in weight losswhereas Hypothyroidism causes weight gain. As a result, post your diagnosis, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight depending upon your condition. Your doctor and dietician can help you with this by a combination of diet and medicine. Try to achieve the desired weight. This will in turn reduce the risks of further developing any body weight -related comorbidities.
- Avoid overeating and stress- Any activity that leads you towards unregulated lifestyle choices can make all your efforts futile and make you more susceptible to further damage. If you’re someone who has mood swings, make sure you don’t give in to your unhealthy snacking cravings.
Getting diagnosed with Thyroid is troublesome. However, with the best dietician for Thyroid treatment, it’s fairly possible to manage this condition. The combination of the right diet and correct medicines can make your journey easy and manageable.