If you have an underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism, you may experience unpleasant symptoms such as intolerance to cold, fatigue, constipation, slow heart rate, depression, and weight gain. Approximately 5 in 100 people suffer from hypothyroidism, with women being at an especially high risk. If you’ve been diagnosed with this condition, you can mitigate the negative symptoms that come with it by making lifestyle changes, such as changing your diet.
Patients with hypothyroidism should avoid eating goitrogenic foods. Goitrogenic foods are foods that affect the functions of the thyroid by failing to supply it with adequate iodine.
Some foods to cut back on for the sake of thyroid health include soy, onions, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, gluten-rich items like bread and rice, and fruits in the rosacea family like apricots and cherries. All of these foods can have a negative effect on the thyroid, decreasing a person’s quality of life.
By substituting these foods for less goitrogenic alternatives whenever possible, people suffering from hypothyroidism may see noticeable improvements to their health. If you suspect that you may have hypothyroidism, consult your healthcare provider about testing, and if you find that your thyroid levels are low, be sure to reduce your consumption of the above foods.
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