Contributed by: Healthians Team
Introduction
The thyroid is frequently blamed for all health problems. Always cold? Blame it on the thyroid. Tired? Examine your thyroid. Gaining weight? It’s got to be your thyroid.
Although the thyroid regulates several functions in the body, including temperature, metabolism, and digestion, it receives far too much negative attention.
What is a thyroid gland?
The thyroid is an important endocrine gland that produces thyroid hormones, which regulate many body activities and ensure health.
When the thyroid gland becomes sluggish or overactive, many issues might occur. One of the most effective ways to boost thyroid gland function is through our diet.
Many components in our regular diet can help our thyroid gland stay healthy or establish a state of homeostasis if it is not functioning properly.
What can go wrong with the thyroid?
- Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) – not enough thyroxine is created for the body’s metabolic needs.
- Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) – too much thyroxine is created for the body’s metabolic needs.
This blog is a two-part series focused on information on thyroid health.
Before we go into the finest foods to battle thyroid, we will dispel some popular myths about how nutrition and diet affect thyroid health.
Let’s get started on some of the myths about what you can and cannot eat if you have thyroid disease.
Myth #1: If you have a thyroid condition, you should avoid eating cruciferous veggies.
Fact:
Cruciferous veggies include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale. Some researchers think that these types of vegetables can interfere with how your thyroid absorbs iodine, which plays a vital role in hormone manufacturing within the thyroid gland.
Hence, people with thyroid problems should avoid cruciferous vegetables. The truth is that unless you’re already sensitive to cruciferous vegetables, you can — and should — eat these veggies, in moderation, because they have a lot of beneficial vitamins and nutrients that are part of a healthy diet.
Myth #2: A gluten-free diet can aid in the treatment of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Fact:
Gluten gets its fair share of criticism, with many nutritionists telling us that a gluten-free diet can be the key to better health for certain individuals.
A growing body of research hints that eliminating gluten is essential for treating thyroid disease. This is a complete myth, as gluten-free foods like wheat, barley, and rye cannot assist or cure Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in any manner.
Myth #3: People with thyroid disorders have to consume special diets.
Fact:
Claims about hypothyroidism diets abound. However, there’s no evidence that eating or avoiding certain foods will improve thyroid function in people with hypothyroidism.
A healthy and balanced diet is essential for everyone, including you. Thyroid disorders cannot be caused or cured just by diet.
Myth #4: Foods like soy are bad for your thyroid
Fact:
Soy is found in a variety of foods, including dressings, soy milk, tofu, and soy sauce. There’s long been a heated debate over the potential negative effects of certain compounds in soy.
Some researchers believe that the components in soy — called isoflavones — can raise levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which influences how much T3 and T4 the thyroid produces.
Other research, however, indicated that soy has no effect on thyroid hormones and very modestly raises thyroid-stimulating hormone levels.
However, there’s no evidence that people who have hypothyroidism should not consume any products that contain soy.
Generally, experts recommend that people who have a borderline thyroid should consume soy in moderation.
Final thoughts
There obviously may not be a one-size-fits-all approach that will work for everyone.
Therefore, in addition to a certain diet that can help bolster thyroid function lifestyle changes can also result in improved thyroid functioning.
Thyroid disease might manifest itself in the form of mild anxiety, irritability and nervousness. The cause of these symptoms can be discovered with a simple blood test.
