Helpful Foods for Hypothyroidism

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Originally published on 17th October 2017
Last updated on 17th December 2018

The more I learn about hypothyroidism, the more I understand how big a part diet can play in the disease and helping our symptoms and recovery. Especially since gaining my qualifications in Diet and Nutrition.

However, we often see infographics and articles about foods that we should be conscious of consuming when we have hypothyroidism, such as goitrogens, soy and gluten, but what about foods that are helpful to us?

Related Article: What is The Best Diet for Hypothyroidism?

And an important note: as someone who personally has a history of eating disorders / disordered eating myself, I am aware that the information in this article could be triggering if you’ve previously / are currently restricting foods. Do know that I will never suggest that any of us HAVE to cut out ANY food types, so I present this info for each of us to make that decision ourselves if we still have ongoing thyroid symptoms or struggles to manage the condition.

Some people may begin removing one or two foods from their diet and enter down a slippery slope in to disordered eating behaviours, so if this is you, and you start to feel anxious about food or much of your time and energy is preoccupied with this, please seek out support from a trained professional and be cautious about altering your diet. Disordered eating needs to be taken more seriously and I don’t wish to contribute to more people struggling with this.

I’m not a fan of massively restrictive diets which can encourage disordered eating behaviours, and thus, create more stress which, in turn, isn’t great for our health either.

Fish

The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish such as wild salmon, trout, tuna, or sardines make this food an excellent part of any hypothyroid patient’s diet. Hypothyroidism can increase the risk for heart disease as a result of higher levels of LDL, the ‘bad’ type of cholesterol, so fish rich in omega 3 can lower the risk for heart disease. Fish can also be a source of selenium, which is most concentrated in the thyroid and needed for optimal thyroid health.

Healthy Fats

Brazil Nuts 

Beans, such as Kidney Beans

Due to their protein content, beans can be a great source of sustained energy, which, if you live with hypothyroidism, you may be lacking. They’re also high in fibre, which can be helpful if you suffer with constipation, a common side effect of hypothyroidism. You can use them in stews, curries or even salads.

Fibre-rich Foods

Constipation is a common symptom of hypothyroidism and foods rich in fibre can help this. They can also help balance out wobbly blood sugar which is often coupled with Hashimoto’s and help you feel fuller. Just make sure not to eat loads of fibre-rich foods near taking your thyroid medication as this can affect absorption.

Bone Broth 

Seaweed and Kelp