Bad Diets for Thyroid

One of the reasons fad diets often fail is because they are not sustainable. The other reason is because they usually harm different systems in the body as much as they are meant to help. As with all health issues, when it comes to diet, everything should be in moderation. The following five diet points all involve TOO much of a “good thing”:

Raw Veggies

The Problem: Cruciferous vegetables (kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts) can inhibit thyroid function. Their anti-nutrients block iodine, often resulting in hypothyroidism.


Moderation: Still eat these! They are really good for you, if you cook them properly. Steaming with unrefined salt can deactivate the iodine blockers.

Strict Vegan

The Problem: Strict vegans don’t get any protein from animals. In order for the body to convert thyroid hormone (T4 into T3), it needs animal protein.


Moderation: Keep eating the plants, but maybe take the whole diet with a grain of unrefined salt. If you can stomach it, add a little bit of meat, poultry (or eggs!) or fish into your diet.

Soy

The Problem: Soy ingredients can be found in a variety of different products, and many of us ingest soy on a regular basis and have no idea. Soy can inhibit thyroid peroxidase (TPO), an enzyme involved in the production of thyroid hormones.


Moderation: Avoid what you can--tofu, soy milk, soy meats, soy nuts, soy chips, tofurkey, soy protein, texturized vegetable protein (TVP), MSG, plant protein, etc. Also, get good at food reading labels and look for soy on the ingredient list.

Smoothies

The Problem: Many smoothies contain fresh or frozen greens (too much of #1) and a soy or vegan protein source (too much of #2 and/or #3). Also, the human body was not designed to drink proteins and carbs. If it was, we would find them as liquids in nature. Carbohydrates need to mix with saliva in order to take the pressure off our liver and digestive tract.


Moderation: Use smoothies as a treat or dessert, not a meal replacement.


No Fat

Okay, so this doesn’t exactly fit perfectly into my model of too much, it’s more on the flip side of being too little.


The Problem: No-fat or low-fat diets inhibit the body’s ability to absorb essential vitamins (A, D, E and K) necessary for creating hormones and supporting endocrine functions as well as keeping everything in check.


Moderation: Eat fats that are good for you!


All in All...

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