Hypothyroidism and Nutrition

About hypothyroidism and nutrition

No matter what the disease or illness, there will usually be an overwhelming amount of nutrition information available. The information will inform you of how to manage the condition through diet and what foods to avoid or what foods to eat in large quantities. Quite often there are some sources that even guarantee a cure through food! Unfortunately so much conflicting and often restrictive dietary information tends to confuse people. Additionally, a lot of what is out there is unsupported and not recommended by dietitians. Hypothyroidism is no exception. This article provides general information about hypothyroidism and nutrition.

What do you need to know?

The information below might help to clear up some confusion surrounding hypothyroidism and nutrition. In conjunction with these points, follow a healthy, balanced diet as recommended by your dietitian.

Drug – food interactions

There are some foods that potentially bind to thyroid medication and interfere with its absorption. In most cases, these foods should still be fine to consume in moderation and when distanced from the time the medication was taken. However, despite scientific evidence being very mixed, it is best to err on the side of caution and eat the following foods accordingly:

Soybean flower should be eaten in moderation. Evidence is varied but some studies have shown that it may interfere with thyroid function.
Cotton seed meal should be avoided as it may suppress thyroid function.
Walnuts should be eaten in moderation and preferably several hours after taking medication

Supplements:

Fibre supplements – Like any other medication, fibre supplements should not be taken at the same time as thyroid medication. It can decrease proper absorption of the medication.
Calcium supplements – Avoid taking calcium supplements close to thyroid medication. It has the potential to interfere with absorption of the medication.
Iron supplements – Avoid taking iron supplements close to thyroid medication. It can decrease proper absorption of the medication.
Some other medications – Check with your GP for further information on drug interactions.

If you eat the above foods, it may mean your medication dosage needs to be monitored and altered.

Goitrogens

Cruciferous vegetables release a compound known as goitrin. Examples of cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, kale and cabbage. Goitrin can interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis which is why it is commonly stated that cruciferous vegetables should be avoided. However, this is normally only an issue if you are iodine deficient and therefore thyroid hormone synthesis is already impaired. Most other individuals should be unaffected but eating excessive amounts is still not recommended. Additionally, cooking these vegetables is said to denature a lot (if not all) of the potential goitrogenic effect.

In saying this, cruciferous vegetables should be eaten in moderation as a precaution. They should not be eliminated from the diet because they have important health benefits but ensure you are also getting dietary iodine (see my blog article on – Dietary iodine.)

Weight maintenance

Despite medication attempting to regulate hormone imbalances, it is common for individuals with hypothyroidism to struggle with maintaining a steady weight. Often weight gain is experienced and is harder to lose. This again makes eating a healthy diet a priority and not overindulging in energy dense foods very important.

Contact us for results focused nutritional advice

This article was written by our dietitian Belinda Elwin who is a Dietitians Association of Australia member and an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist.

If you have any questions about hypothyroidism and nutrition make an appointment. We’ll provide you with a simple and effective routine targeted to your concerns. Contact us today!