BEST VEGGIES Food To Keep Your Thyroid Healthy

What is Thyroid?
Thyroid is an important endocrine gland responsible for producing and releasing hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development of the body. When this gland either makes less of or more of these hormones, it may lead to thyroid disease.

Causes of Thyroid
Thyroid disorders can be caused by various factors, depending on the type of thyroid that has affected you. The two main types of thyroid disorders are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and their causes can differ.

Symptoms of Thyroid
The symptoms of thyroid largely depend on the type of thyroid you have been affected with. The common symptoms of the thyroid include:

Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid)
Fatigue and weakness
Weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
Facial Puffiness and leg swelling
Intolerant to cold
Dry skin and hair
Constipation
Muscle pain
Depression or mood swings
Slowed heart rate
Memory problems
Menstrual irregularities

Some foods good for the thyroid include:

Fortified calcium sources– Dairy products, orange juice, eggs, salmon, or other items fortified with calcium and/or vitamin D can be excellent to bring to the center of your diet if you have Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease can lead to osteoporosis, and fortified calcium-rich foods can help work against bone density loss.

Protein-rich foods– Weight loss is one of the trademark symptoms of hyperthyroidism, so it's important to keep up your protein intake to maintain muscle mass. Chicken, turkey, beans, and nuts are excellent choices, as they provide lean protein and could potentially aid in weight gain or maintenance.

Zinc – Zinc is a mineral that’s been shown to support immune and metabolic function. [1] Excellent sources of zinc include fortified breakfast cereals, red meat, and chicken. You might also ask your healthcare provider if a zinc supplement could fulfill your dietary requirements.

Two types of foods are often recommended to help slow an overactive thyroid, but there’s little research demonstrating the longevity of their effects. [2] These include [2]:

Cruciferous vegetables – Kale, Brussels sprouts, radishes, and cauliflower are all known as goitrogenic foods—vegetables good for thyroids that need help lowering TSH production. Because they inhibit your thyroid gland’s ability to process iodine and produce thyroid hormones, they’re frequently cited for their potential to ease symptoms of hyperthyroidism. However, goitrogenic foods can also potentially induce hypothyroidism, and more studies are needed to justify how much and how effective they are as an antidote.

Selenium-rich foods – Selenium is a mineral that some research suggests could help improve thyroid function in people with Graves’ disease. However, its effects are short-lived. The only medically approved long-term treatment for hyperthyroidism is medication.

Finally, reducing your intake of certain substances may help assuage trademark hyperthyroidism symptoms like jitteriness, increased perspiration, or unstable mood. For instance, caffeinated drinks may aggravate certain hyperthyroidism symptoms such as:

Nervousness
Anxiety
Weight loss
Difficulty sleeping
If you experience hyperthyroidism symptoms like these, you might consider limiting or retiring caffeine to see if it helps lessen them.

Tips for Supporting Healthy Thyroid Function
While a kind-to-thyroid diet can support physical well-being, creating an overall balanced lifestyle is also important—especially for your mental health, if you have a diagnosed condition. Sometimes, feeling better could be a matter of:

Making time for daily movement – Exercise can be an excellent way to manage physical and psychological stress alike. If you experience anxiety as a result of hyperthyroidism, exercise can be an excellent outlet. On the other hand, people with hypothyroidism might find it a helpful way to create mood uplift and mitigate weight gain. Ideally, you’ll make time for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.

Partaking in stress-reducing activities – Too much stress can upend your body’s delicate balance of hormones, including those normally produced by your thyroid. Prioritizing enough high-quality sleep and finding sustainable ways to decompress—like mindfulness or nature walks—can be useful in managing stress levels.

Finally, if you’re concerned about your thyroid health, taking a thyroid test can give you a clearer picture of whether your thyroid expresses normal activity levels. Combined with a healthcare provider’s evaluation, you can start creating a diet and lifestyle that more consciously promotes your thyroid health.

Take A Closer Look at Your Thyroid with Everlywell
With Everlywell, you can take an at-home thyroid test to find out whether yours is producing TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 within a normal range. If your results indicate a need for further treatment, Everlywell can arrange a digital consultation to get a professional opinion on treatment and therapy options.