Do you have a Thyroid Condition? Here are the Thyroid Foods to Avoid

Time to read 4 min

If you have a thyroid function condition and are looking to naturally balance your hormones then there are certain foods you should avoid. You should also know these thyroid foods to avoid if you are managing hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism and are looking to maintain levels.


With hypothyroidism, cruciferous vegetables, soy, gluten, and soft drinks should be avoided as they contain specific compounds that may affect symptoms. Some of these foods can also impact the body's ability to regulate the absorption of thyroid hormone in the body, while also impairing the functioning of the thyroid gland.

These are the top foods you should avoid when you have a thyroid condition

People with a thyroid condition should avoid foods such as fatty foods, processed foods, and packaged foods as well as they can impact the body's ability to absorb thyroid hormones. Your thyroid is a vital gland that controls several functions which can be affected by the wrong type of diet.

Cruciferous vegetables (Kale, cabbage, etc)

Cruciferous vegetables contain compounds called goitrogens which may interfere with normal hormone production. You want to avoid consuming large amounts of the food type, and opt for more thyroid friendly nutrition sources instead.


Broccoli is a viable alternative to most cruciferous vegetables, and can be consumed in a variety of forms. You can also cook these vegetables properly to make them more friendly if you have a thyroid condition.



Gluten foods

You can improve your digestive health by eliminating gluten if you have an allergy. You can also go for more whole grains that are rich in nutrients, rather than standard gluten based breads and pasta.


You can follow a gluten free diet to the extent of avoiding it in restaurants as well. This can help in preventing the risk of hormone unbalancing caused by an intolerance to gluten. You can also focus on rice, potato, and other sources of carbohydrates when expanding your diet.

Soy

You should avoid foods with soy such as tofu and miso, as they have isoflavones which could affect the thyroid. If you have a thyroid condition and are on medication, then you might find some benefits in cutting out soy.


You may also want to wait for sometime before consuming soy when you are on medication as well. It's best to opt for alternatives.


Fatty foods and processed foods

You can significantly improve your overall health markers by cutting out highly processed and high fatty foods. This can help in improving your overall health and lowering your critical biomarkers. This can also have a positive effect in helping regulate your hormones.


You can opt for home-cooked and non-processed foods, which can be controlled in a more sustainable manner. You can also opt for more healthier options, such as salads, fruits, Indian meals, etc.

Why does diet impact your thyroid function?

Your diet and thyroid functions can be understood better by looking at different factors.

Intolerance to certain foods

Goitrogens, which are compounds found in certain foods, may impact your body's normal thyroid function. You may also have an intolerance to certain foods which could worsen the problem.

Diet affecting medication absorption

Your diet can impact the absorption of your medication for thyroid, which is why it is important to regulate what you consume. Certain foods may make it more difficult for your body to absorb medicine.

Diet impacting wellbeing

Your diet can impact your sense of wellbeing, which could affect your overall health.

Diet influencing vitality

A diet that is rich in nutrients tends to make you feel more active, which improves your total health.

Here's what you can eat when you have a thyroid condition

You can focus on these foods to help boost your health outcomes.

Fruits

A range of fruits such as apples, peaches, pears, and bananas, can be consumed when you are managing a thyroid condition.

Eggs

Eggs are one of the most important foods you should consume when you have a thyroid condition for the nutrients.


Meat

You can consume chicken, turkey, and other meats to help in optimizing your nutritional intake.

Non-starchy vegetables

Opting for greens, zucchini, carrots, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, and other non-starchy vegetables should be your go-to consumption.

Good fats

Avocados, olives, and other good fats should be consumed for their health value.



Seeds

You can consume a range of nuts and seeds regularly to help regulate your hormonal profile better. 

What are the symptoms of a thyroid condition I should be careful of?

There are key symptoms that you should be aware of when you have a thyroid condition. These may also be underlying symptoms that may not escalate or may go away depending on various factors.

Extreme fatigue

Hypothyroidism can lead to chronic fatigue as a major symptom. You can get the right tests done to check if you have a thyroid function issue.

Higher sensitivity to cold and heat

This is one of the most important signs that you should be careful of. When experiencing this symptom you should check for core reasons with a complete blood test.

Skin related issues

You may have dry skin that is caused due to an issue with your thyroid hormones. You can have these issues arise as a result of an underactive thyroid.

Changes in weight

Unexplainable weight changes can be attributed to your thyroid, especially if you have a prior history with hypothyroidism.

Changes in voice

Women may develop a hoarse voice which could be as a result of thyroid function changes.

Lack of quality sleep

You may find that your quality of sleep is impacting significantly due to thyroid function issues.

Poor mood regulation

You may have mood regulation issues that are impacting your quality of life as well. These may be caused due to a dysregulation of thyroid hormones in the body. 

Where can I get a thyroid function test in India?

You can get the thyroid gland function test to check for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism through our platform.

How do I get a food intolerance test in India?

You can get the complete food intolerance test in India through MyDiagnostics.

Can I get tested at home?

Yes, for most of our tests you can get a home test option done which includes home sample collection and certified laboratory testing. 


* Medical Disclaimer - The following information is for educational purposes only. No information provided on this website, including text, graphic, and images, are intended as substitutes for professional medical advice. Please consult with your doctor about specific medical advice pertaining to your condition(s).

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