Best Diet For Hypothyroidism: What to Favor and What to Avoid to Stop Your Low Thyroid Symptoms & Weight Loss Resistance
The best diet for hypothyroidism recommendations include the foods to favor and certain ones to avoid - despite the fact that they are generally considered healthy foods...
...as well as specific natural supplements and plant-based remedies that help with your low thyroid symptoms.
Stick to this hypothyroidism diet and you'll see a big difference in how you feel - you'll be able to control most of the low thyroid symptoms, as well as your weight.
Also, eating five or six smaller meals - rather than three major meals (or even two, like I used to) - stabilizes your metabolism and helps your low thyroid symptoms subside.
Let’s get down to it, there's a lot to be covered.
The best diet for hypothyroidism includes: brown rice, whole grains, bran, oatmeal, carrots, onion, spinach, asparagus, avocado, olive oil, apricots, bananas, sunflower seeds and oily fish. Lean protein from chicken, turkey and trimmed red meats are OK too.
Make sure to include lots of foods rich in fiber (both soluble and insoluble), especially if you are trying to lose weight. Fiber gives you a feeling of fullness and helps with the constipation as well. Try to get the fiber from the foods you eat rather than from a pill, because the natural fiber in rice, whole wheat and oatmeal is much better absorbed.
A last important item included in the best diet for hypothyroidism is coconut oil. Regular use of coconut oil supports your thyroid function increasing your metabolism with up to 25 %. You can't go wrong with it, coconut oil weight loss benefits are huge... Find out how to consume this versatil oil and how much to take daily in our section on coconut oil weight loss.
And there’s one more point you need to remember when you are on a hypothyroidism diet. Get active. A 30 minute daily workout does wonders in reducing your low thyroid symptoms and increasing your metabolism. Pick your favorite from the best exercises to lose weight quickly >>
Best Diet For Hypothyroidism – What to Avoid
Before learning which specific foods to eat less of on a hypothyroidism diet, remember this: cut as much as you can on stimulants like coffee, caffeinated drinks, smoking and alcohol, as they inhibit your thyroid function.
You'll also want to use various stress management techniques, as the effects of stress on health lead to a serious thyroid dysfunction.
So which are the foods to eat less of or plainly avoid on a hypothyroidism diet?
You knew that many of these are considered healthy, right? Well, although healthy for most people, these foods are not such a good idea if you experience low thyroid symptoms.
Why?
Well, the problem with these foods is that they interfere with your body's absorption of iodine, an essential trace mineral and a very important component of the thyroid hormones.
So obviously, the best diet for hypothyroidism does not favor these so-called goitrogenic foods, since they decrease thyroid hormone production and increase the chances of developing a goiter (the enlargement of the thyroid gland not associated with overproduction of thyroid hormone).
And there’s the third group of foods to...
...avoid at all costs on a hypothyroidism diet: highly processed, or refined foods (white bread, cookies, pastries - basically all white flour products) and packaged food products.
These contain a high quantity of simple carbs (refined carbohydrates), preservatives and/or other chemicals that interfere with the insulin production, further disrupting your thyroid function.
The Best Diet For Hypothyroidism – Supplements & Herbal Remedies
Remember, the lack of iodine is the main culprit in hypothyroidism. So you may want to get iodine-rich sea salt vs. regular salt, or mix some seaweed (kelp or dulse) powder in your regular table salt, as seaweed provides the highest amount of iodine.
Also, consider taking zinc and selenium supplements, as these trace minerals improve thyroid function – among other health benefits.
Some no-side effects herbal remedies that should be part of a best diet for hypothyroidism are:
Oats extract (Avena sativa), which is very effective in treating sexual dysfunctions too
Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) and Dulse - seaweeds that grow on rocks in the North Atlantic and Northwest Pacific oceans providing iodine, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C and calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, chromium and zinc)
Indian Coleus (Coleus forskohlii) – a plant frequently used in Asian traditional medicine for its wide health benefits, well-known for its thyroid-increasing and fat-burning effects
When using herbs in conjunction with synthetic thyroid hormone, always consult your doctor first, so s(he) can make any necessary adjustments. Also, make sure that the herbal remedy you take is manufactured under rigorous pharmaceutical standards to ensure its safety and efficacy.
My clients who are struggling to lose weight with hypothyroidism are always asking not only about the best diet for hypothyroidism, but for a natural remedy to use without side effects.
Since I only go with natural, well-tested, high quality products that yield verifiable results and have a money-back guarantee, I highly recommend Thyroid Assist, a safe, non-addictive, pure herbal formula. Check it out and see if it's something you'd like to try too >>
"Thank you, thank you, thank you for putting together such a wonderful site! Eye-opening info on the different body types... it really helped me understand how to adjust my meals to lose weight without craving sweets and being hungry all day... or crushing after lunch. I've already lost 12 pounds in the last three weeks and I'm thrilled!! Never ever thought it would be so easy!"