Diet and Hypothyroidism

Watch the video

• Watch the video on youtube

in promoting proper thyroid function, and the widespread prevalence of the disorder, cause many people with hypothyroidism to wonder if there is an effective diet to treat this condition.

For its part, the official medicine replies that there is no standard diet against hypothyroidism, first of all due to the different origins of this disorder characterized by an insufficient synthesis of thyroid hormones.

they are one of the most common root causes of hypothyroidism; on the other hand, we must not forget that even an excessive intake of the mineral can - in the long run - subvert normal thyroid function, creating hyper but also hypothyroidism.

Equally often, hypothyroidism has an autoimmune origin, because it is linked to alterations in the immune system (see Hashimoto's thyroiditis); more rarely, however, the thyroid does not function due to the ineffective hypothalamic stimulation, or due to its congenital absence.

is particularly useful in cases of reduced dietary intake, when hypothyroidism does NOT have a dietary origin, it is good to avoid any specific supplementation, since an excess of iodine could even precipitate the condition. In other cases, these products would be completely irrelevant, turning into a useless waste of money.

For this reason, when it comes to diet and hypothyroidism it is necessary to avoid generalizing:

since the disorder recognizes different causes of origin, the response to oral iodine supplementation may be different.

Under medical supervision, this practice can be of some use only in those cases in which hypothyroidism is supported by dietary deficiencies, now rarer than in the past due to the widespread practice of adding iodine to common salt. The contribution of the mineral may be also increased through the simple diet, simply by choosing foods rich in iodine, such as sea fish, seaweed, shellfish and whole sea salt.

However, a specific supplementation offers the advantage of being standardized in doses, a very difficult goal to achieve with the common diet.

(such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, soy, flax seeds, turnips, radishes, millet and tapioca) which - especially when eaten raw - significantly increase the need for iodine, disturbing the metabolism. These foods, called gozzigeni, should therefore be consumed in moderation, but only in the case of hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency.

and forskolin.
Unofficial medicine also recommends coconut oil, as it appears to stimulate the function of the thyroid gland and support metabolism.

In any case, all these products certainly cannot replace the efficacy of hormone replacement therapy for subjects suffering from hypothyroidism.

, can contribute to the onset of hypothyroidism.

While iodine is the fundamental element for the synthesis of the thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), selenium plays a fundamental role in their metabolism.

Grains, meat and fish are important sources of selenium.



Diet and Thyroid - Video

Problems with playing the video? Reload the video from youtube.

• Go to the Video Page
• Go to Wellness Destination
• Watch the video on youtube

, possibly accompanied by triodothyronine. In practice, the thyroid hormones, which are deficient in all cases of hypothyroidism, are taken with a simple tablet of medicine.

Effective, safe and in therapy for many years, levothyroxine must be taken according to medical indications; generally, it is recommended to take it on an empty stomach, at least 4-5 hours after taking iron or calcium supplements, as well as of the multivitamins that contain them. The same goes for antacids based on aluminum or magnesium salts, and for foods such as soy flour, nuts, and various drugs (cholestyramine, colestipol, sucralfate).

In general, excess fiber can also reduce intestinal absorption of synthetic thyroid hormones; however, the foods that are rich in it are very important to avoid constipation problems, quite common in people suffering from hypothyroidism. Fruits and vegetables, therefore, should be consumed at a sufficient distance from taking the medicine, without depriving in any way of their precious nutritional contribution.

The role of diet in the treatment of hypothyroidism is therefore aimed, at least according to official medicine, above all to avoid possible interactions with the medicines taken; in this sense, we refer to a "careful reading of the package leaflet and medical advice, dissuading readers. from the idea of ​​unconsciously modifying one's diet on the basis of what has been learned on the internet, especially on sites that - unlike this one - prefer to embrace the theses of unofficial medicine.