What Else Can I Do to Help My Body with my Thyroid Condition?
Other things to do that can help you manage a thyroid problem include eating right, exercising often, and constantly monitoring how you're feeling. I use an online spreadsheet. If you want the template, just ask.
Eating right can make a major difference. I'm not just talking about portion control and avoiding sweets. Some foods can actually help your thyroid do its job, and others can hurt its ability to work optimally.
Do Eat. If you're struggling to feel good because of a thyroid problem, then give your system a boost by making sure it has the nutrients it needs to adequately regulate thyroid hormones. Try to keep these foods in your diet:
- Meats: fish (high in iodine)
- Vegetables: kelp, root vegetables (both iodine rich)
- Lots of B vitamins, including from sources like whole grains, nuts (not peanuts), and seeds.
- Lots of A vitamins, such as what's available in foods like dark greens and yellow vegetables. Be sure to see the list of vegetables below that can harm thyroid function.
- Take a multi-vitamin, fish oil, or flax oil supplement that is free of soy (tough to find, but they're out there. One good brand is Holista, available at places like Amazon and CVS.
Eat Sparingly. Some foods, known as "goitrogens," can inhibit your thyroid's ability to function at full capacity (by slowing down the production of thyroid hormones). If you've got a thyroid problem, then you know that you need every bit of help you can get.
- Vegetables: Cabbage, brussell sprouts, mustard greens, broccoli, turnips, kale, spinach, cauliflower
- Fruit: Peaches, strawberries, pears
- Nuts: Peanuts
- Other: Soy (really!). And soy is in everything -- from chocolate (via soy lecithin) and in many vitamins (including fish oil).
(Want to add more to these suggestions? Email mary@thyroidstory.com).
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