Being actively engaged in your own health and wellness is an empowering gift to yourself. Many people have hormone imbalances and autoimmune conditions and don't know what to do.
You can make simple dietary changes that support your thyroid health.
1 - Choose the right type of carbohydrates. Choose whole foods like vegetables, fruits and whole grains and eliminate processed flours and sugar.
2 - Eat a diet rich in minerals. Deficiency in iodine and selenium can cause thyroid problems. Iodine can be found in sea vegetables and and wild caught fish. Selenium can be found in Brazil nuts (no more than 2 per day), mushrooms, chia seeds, and organic red meat.
3 - Load up on fresh organic cruciferous vegetables. Cruciferous vegetables include: Bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, and kale.
4 - Support your gut with fermented foods. Fermented foods support gut health and gut health supports your thyroid. Add sauerkraut or kimchi to your meals. Kombucha and kefir are fermented beverages loaded with healthy bacteria that support gut health.
5 - Consume a moderate amount of healthy fat. Diets that are very high in fats like the ketogenic diet have been linked to thyroid dysfunction. Consume omega-3 fatty acids from wild caught fish, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds.
6 - Limit or eliminate gluten and dairy. Individuals with autoimmune conditions, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, are advised to avoid gluten because it can initiate the production of thyroid antibodies. These foods can also be thyroid disruptors. The molecular structure of the proteins found in both gluten and dairy resemble the thyroid (this is called molecular mimicry). If your immune system is reacting to either of these, it may also attack the thyroid.
7 - Avoid thyroid disruptors in the environment. These include chlorine, plastic containers, pesticides, and non-organic sunscreen. Don't buy canned foods with BPA lining. Swap plastic storage containers for glass. Consider getting rid of conventional cleaning products and explore healthier options.
8 - Limit foods with heavy metals. Fish tends to be high in mercury. The fish with the lowest mercury levels are salmon, cod, tilapia, and catfish.
If you think you have a thyroid problem, always reach out to your personal physician. Mineral deficiencies and heavy metals can be tested by your physician.
Reach out to me if you want to strengthen your thyroid health through nutrition and self care.