Hypothyroidism diet:

Foods to eat, signs and symptoms of underactive thyroid you shouldn't ignore

Mar 29, 2019 | Salome Phelamei

https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/hypothyroidism-symptoms-diet-tips-for-patients-best-and-worst-food-to-eat/391140

Making simple lifestyle changes, such as dietary modifications and regular physical activity, may be helpful if you’re suffering from hypothyroidism.

It has been shown that a person’s food habits can have a significant impact on the symptoms of hypothyroidism. While there are no specific foods or dietary supplements that can cure thyroid disorders, there are several nutrients that can help improve your thyroid health. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which your body doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones.

Thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland - TS3 and TS4 - are essential for the functioning of nearly every organ. Having hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, can affect metabolism, disrupt heart rate, body temperature, and cause a number of health problems.

Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism

Depending on the severity of the hormone deficiency, the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism may vary from person to person. However, common signs may include:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Hair loss
• Elevated blood cholesterol level
• Memory loss
• Joint and muscle pain
• Dry, rough skin
• Increased sensitivity to cold

Hypothyroidism affects more women, especially older women, than men and can have a significant impact on the quality of life. Left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems over time, including heart disease, infertility, obesity, joint pain, etc.

Treatment: Medication and Dietary changes

There’s no proven way to prevent this condition, however, treatment, which focuses on supplementing the thyroid hormone can help manage hypothyroidism. In most cases, doctors prescribe synthetic thyroxine, a medication that is identical to the T4 hormone.

Making simple lifestyle changes, such as dietary modifications and regular physical activity, may be helpful if you’re suffering from hypothyroidism. It’s important to eat a healthy, balanced diet consisting of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

Research has shown that increasing protein intake can help speed up metabolism. Also, moderate- to high-intensity aerobic exercise may help boost thyroid hormone levels in people with hypothyroidism, which may also help improve metabolism.

Diet and nutrition tips for hypothyroidism

Foods to eat

Iodine: Since the body cannot make iodine, an essential nutrient that is required to make thyroid hormones, it’s important that you get this mineral from your diet. A deficiency in iodine can lead to an enlarged thyroid gland, known as a goiter. Foods rich in iodine are milk, cheese, iodised tablet salt, whole eggs, fish, seaweed, etc.

Selenium: This essential mineral that helps the body activate thyroid hormone also has antioxidant benefits. Maintaining this micronutrient levels in the body may help prevent thyroid disease and promote overall health. By adding selenium-rich foods to your diet, you can increase your selenium levels- this includes eggs, tuna, sardines, chicken, turkey, Brazil nuts, legumes, whole wheat bread, etc.

Zinc: Like selenium and iodine, zinc is an essential nutrient that can have beneficial effects on thyroid hormones. One small-scale research found that zinc supplementation, whether alone or in combination with selenium, significantly increased levels of thyroid hormones - T3 and T4. Foods rich in zinc are yogurt, legumes, oysters, crab, fortified cereal, pork, chicken, etc.