7 Foods to Avoid When You Have Low Thyroid Function

By Holly Franklin

There are foods to avoid when you have low thyroid function because they can interfere with you overcoming the condition. You see there are certain foods which can affect the function of the thyroid gland.
If you know what you can and cannot eat it will make tackling you hypothyroidism a lot easier. So in our article today we are going to looks at foods to avoid when you have low thyroid function.
Fatty Foods
Recent research suggests the fat can interfere with your thyroid gland capacity to produce thyroid hormone. When you're suffer with low thyroid function you're ability to produce thyroid hormone has already been reduced so fatty foods will make the problem worse.
Healthcare professionals suggest you cut out all fired food from your diet and lower your intake of fats. Fats come from many sources such as butter, margarine, mayonnaise and fatty cuts of meat.
Gluten
When you have hyperthyroidism you should look to decrease your intake of gluten. Gluten is a protein found in foods processed from grains such as wheat, barley and rye. Gluten can irritate your small intestine and stop it from absorbing vital thyroid hormone it needs to work properly.
Cruciferous Vegetables
What are cruciferous vegetables I hear you ask? Well cruciferous vegetables are a vegetables from the family Brassicaceae and are widely cultivated. Vegetables such as Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and green leafy vegetables are all cruciferous vegetables.
Digesting cruciferous vegetables can block the thyroids' capacity to absorb iodine. Your thyroid needs to absorb iodine to work properly. If you are going to eat some these vegetables then cooking them first will reduce the effect they will have on your thyroid gland.
Sugary Foods
When you suffer with hypothyroidism it will most likely cause your metabolism to slow down and that's why many people with low thyroid function gain weight. To avoid putting on more weight it is best to avoid sugary foods as they are "empty calories", meaning they contain no nutrients. If possible it is best to cut out sugar from your diet completely.
Soy
It is well-known estrogen can inhibit with your body's ability usage of thyroid hormone. The reason is soy is packed with plant-based phytoestrogen which many believe increases a person's risk to low thyroid function. So it is advised if you have hypothyroidism you keep your soy intake to a minimum.
Processed Foods
Processed foods as a rule have tend to have a lot of sodium in them. If you suffer with hypothyroidism it is advised you avoid sodium. When you have an underactive thyroid you are at greater risk of high blood pressure.
Sodium intake increases your risk of getting high blood pressure. So when you go food shopping remember to read the food labels as they let you know the sodium levels in the food. A good guide is to keep your sodium intake below 1,500 milligrams a day.
Too Much Fiber
Yes fiber is good for you but too much fiber can interfere with your absorption of thyroid hormone. Dietary guidelines suggest the average adult eat 20 to 35 grams of fiber a day from sources such as vegetables, beans, legumes and fruits.
Eating Healthy Will Improve Your Hypothyroidism
If you look at the foods to avoid when you have low thyroid function you'll see that eating healthy will help improve your hypothyroidism. The most common symptom of hypothyroidism is weight gain.
To find out why your thyroid makes you gain weight and how to tackle this problem read our article about thyroid weight gain or download our free thyroid report right now.
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