By Sneha Sadhwani Sewlani, Clinical Nutritionist
Thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland, which is in the neck and is responsible for producing thyroid hormones. These hormones play vital roles in the body like regulating your sleep pattern, management of body weight, depression, anxiety, and mood swings.
Thyroid-related problems are often managed with medications and hormone therapy. But you can even manage thyroid-related problems by adding the right foods to the diet and eliminating the wrong ones. Let us find out:
Check Your Iodine Intake to Prevent Thyroid Disorder
Iodine is an essential mineral, that is required by the body for the formation of thyroid hormones. Both excess and deficient intake of iodine is linked to thyroid disorders, says research.
By choosing to eat the right amounts of iodine, thyroid disorders can be prevented. The body does not make iodine; hence, you need to get this important mineral from your diet.
Good food sources of iodine include:
- Seaweed
- Fish such as cod and tuna
- Milk and milk products
- Iodized salt
Add Zinc-Rich Foods
Studies have found that zinc, an important trace mineral is required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Furthermore, deficiency of zinc can result in hypothyroidism. It was further found that zinc supplementation improved thyroid function in nine individuals with low zinc levels. Foods rich in zinc include:
- Legumes
- Shellfish
- Nuts
- Seeds such as hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds
- Milk and milk products
- Whole grains
- Dark chocolate
Eat Foods Rich in Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral that improves the ability of the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. Studies have reported that treating patients with mild to moderate thyroid eye disease with selenium supplements, slowed the progression of symptoms. Hence, maintaining the correct levels of selenium in the body may help in the prevention and management of thyroid disease.
Good food sources of selenium include:
- Nuts
- Seafood
- Egg and poultry
- Whole grains
Add Vitamin A-Containing Foods to Your Diet:
Vitamin A plays an important role in thyroid hormone metabolism. Insufficiency of vitamin A increases the secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which means that the thyroid gland cannot produce enough thyroid hormones, thus leading to hypothyroidism. Studies have found that sufficient vitamin A intake may reduce the risk of hypothyroidism as well as improve the thyroid function.
Foods rich in vitamin A include:
- Organ meat
- Fatty fish
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Orange-red-yellow colored fruits and vegetables
- Green leafy vegetables
Avoid Goitrogens
Goitrogens are substances that interfere with the uptake of iodine in the thyroid gland. This may have a negative impact on the thyroid health. When these substances are consumed in excess, they may lead to the enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is also known as goiter.
Hence, it is best to limit the intake of foods containing goitrogens, such as:
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Collard greens
- Kale
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