Suffering from Hypothyroidism? Avoid these foods

Hypothyroidism is a disorder caused by underactive thyroid gland. It is a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone for normal functioning of the body. Here are the foods that one needs to avoid in order to control their thyroid levels.

Soy:

Soy is much hyped healthy food. But it is loaded with plant-based phytoestrogen and the problematic compound in soy, for thyroid, are the isoflavones and some researchers believe too much soy may increase a person's risk for hypothyroidism. People with hypothyroidism should moderate their intake of soy. Cooking does not destroy soy isoflavones. Eliminate soy as much as you are able from your diet.

Processed Foods:

Processed foods tend to have a lot of sodium, and people with hypothyroidism should avoid sodium. Processed foods cause inflammation in the body. Inflammation inhibits T4 to T3 conversion. Focus on whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains over processed fare. Healthy omega-3 fats found in oily fish, such as salmon, as well as flaxseeds and walnuts, reduce inflammation and promote overall health. Trans fats and saturated fats increase inflammation, and cutting back your intake could help reduce overactive thyroid symptoms.

Raw intake of Cabbage,Cauliflower and Broccoli:

Raw cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower also contain goitrogens. Eating too many cruciferous vegetables has caused hypothyroidism according to various studies. But cooking cruciferous vegetables denatures the goitrogens, making them safer to eat.

Fatty foods and sugary foods:

Hypothyroidism can cause the body's metabolism to slow down. That means it's easy to put on pounds if you aren't careful. You should avoid the foods with excess amounts of sugar because it's a lot of calories with no nutrients. It's best to reduce the amount of sugar you eat or try to eliminate it completely from your diet. On the other hand, fats have been found to disrupt the body's ability to absorb thyroid hormone replacement medicines. Fats may also interfere with the thyroid's ability to produce hormone as well. Some health care professionals recommend that you cut out all fried foods and reduce your intake of fats from sources such as butter, mayonnaise and fatty meat etc.

Caffeine and Alcohol:

Caffeine has been found to block absorption of thyroid hormone replacement. You should wait at least 30 minutes after taking your medication before having a cup of coffee. Alcohol wreaks havoc on the functions of the thyroid gland and the levels of thyroid hormone in the body. Alcohol has a noxious effect on the thyroid gland, and it suppresses the capacity of the body to use the thyroid hormone in an effective manner. Therefore, it is best to cut out the consumption of alcohol completely for best results.

- Divya