Hypothyroidism is a condition when the body does not make enough thyroid hormone. Consequently, people with hypothyroidism may feel tired, lose hair, gain weight, feel cold, depressed, etc.
Recently, the use of drugs has been one of the most common methods to treat hypothyroidism. However, doctors recommend that while using drugs, patients should adjust their nutrition to increase the effectiveness of treatment.
Combining nutrients and medication can help restore thyroid function and minimize symptoms of hypothyroidism.
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What is hypothyroidism?
The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck and is also the largest endocrine gland in our body. Its function is to store thyroid hormone, which secretes two hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), affecting all organs in the body.
Hypothyroidism is thyroid dysfunction when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones T4 and T3.
The thyroid hormone is the most vital of all hormones in your body. Without it, you couldn’t survive. Even the best sorts of thyroid hormone replacement medication will do you no good if you don’t have the right kind of thyroid hormone.
Hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine help maintain the body’s metabolism, control body temperature, regulate protein production, and affect heart rate. When the amount of hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine is not enough, the activities of our organs will be slowed down, causing severe health effects.
Causes of hypothyroidism
Primary hypothyroidism: Autoimmune or idiopathic thyroiditis.
Hypothyroidism with goiter: Autoimmune diseases, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Central hypothyroidism or secondary hypothyroidism: Damage to the pituitary gland, hypothalamic disease, deficiency or structural abnormalities of thyroid hormone production TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone) from the hypothalamus, or lack of thyroid hormone thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the pituitary gland.
Post-thyroidectomy: Hypothyroidism in adults appears after the patient has received iodine radiation therapy or total or partial thyroidectomy. Besides, thyroid disorders may appear later (from 4 to 25 years) after chemotherapy with an antithyroid drug such as methimazole or propylthiouracil.
Silently progressive hypothyroidism: Adults with thyroid disorders may occur in postpartum women as a consequence of silent thyroiditis or subacute granulomatous thyroiditis.
In addition, there are other reasons: Congenital deficiency of enzymes involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones, low iodine levels, environment or food containing the tumor, or the use of certain drugs, dysplasia, or hypoplasia of the thyroid gland.
Who is most likely to get thyroid disease?
- Women aged 60 years and older: When you are getting older, your immune system is weaker, causing an increased risk of diseases, including the risk of hypothyroidism.
- People with an autoimmune disorder.
- People with grandparents and parents who have had autoimmune diseases.
- People had ever received iodine radiation therapy or used to take thyroid-suppressing drugs.
- People have had radiation exposure to the chest or neck area.
- People with previous thyroid surgery.
- The mother has been pregnant or given birth within the past six months.
Some symptoms of hypothyroidism
In its early stages, the symptoms of hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid are often vague and difficult to recognize because people can be confused with the signs of old age in the cases of elderly patients. However, you should pay attention when the body suffers from the following abnormal symptoms:
- Anorexia
- Constipation
- Poor memory capacity
- Signs of depression
- Dry skin
- Hoarseness
- Muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness
- Women with the disease often experience menstrual irregularities or some problems during menstruation.
- Low libido
- Thyroid eye disease
When the disease is at a late stage, the patient may appear more severe signs such as an enlarged tongue, swollen face, darker and rougher skin tone, etc.
Elderly with thyroid disorders
Hypothyroidism is prevalent in the elderly. It occurs in about 10% of women and 6% of men > 65 years of age. Although thyroid disorder is usually easy to diagnose in young adults, hypothyroidism can be vague in older adults.
Older patients have less typical symptoms than younger patients, and patients’ symptoms are often subtle and vague. Many elderly patients with thyroid disorders have a nonspecific aging syndrome—confusion, anorexia, weight loss, falls, urinary incontinence, and reduced mobility. Musculoskeletal symptoms (especially arthralgia) occur frequently, but arthritis is rare. Muscle pain and weakness, often resembling polymyalgia or polymyositis, and may have high CK levels. In the elderly, hypothyroidism can mimic dementia or parkinsonism.
Measures to treat hypothyroidism
Only a small number of cases of hypothyroidism caused by complications with synthetic antithyroid drugs or transient hypothyroidism due to thyroiditis resolved spontaneously. Most cases of hypothyroidism require thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
Synthetic thyroid hormone replacement drugs such Synthroid should be taken daily as the body needs a new dose of the medicine each day.
If the dose is too high and can cause complications such as nervousness, tremors, osteoporosis, and increased bowel movements, blood tests should be done to check if the dose should be changed or not.
What nutrients are essential for patients with hypothyroidism?
While there is no cure for hypothyroidism, it can be effectively managed with medication and lifestyle changes. One of the most important things patients can do is to make sure they’re getting the right nutrients
Iodine: This is an essential mineral to produce thyroid hormones. People who are iodine deficient have a high risk of hypothyroidism. Therefore, you can use iodized table salt in food during cooking or choose iodine-rich foods such as cheese, milk, iodized salt, eggs, seafood, sea fish, seaweed, and dark green vegetables.
Selenium: It plays a role in “activating” thyroid hormones, which helps the thyroid gland avoid damage by free radicals. Some foods rich in selenium include tuna, shrimp, beef, chicken, ham, tuna, sardines, eggs and legumes, porridge or oatmeal, and whole-wheat bread. You mustn’t use selenium supplementation at high doses without your doctor’s supervision because an overdose of selenium can be toxic.
Zinc: This nutrient can help the body regulate TSH and stimulate the release of other thyroid hormones. People with hypothyroidism should consume zinc-rich foods such as oysters, crab, beef, pork, chicken, legumes, pumpkin, cheese, and yogurt.
In addition, you should also eat food rich in fructose and natural, simple sugars like oranges, mangoes, pineapples, apples, tomatoes, and bananas. It is beneficial for people to eat a healthy diet to improve hypothyroidism symptoms.
Which nutrients are detrimental to patients with hypothyroidism?
Goitrogens
American Thyroid Association informs that some types of food might impair healthy thyroid function. So you should avoid it. Goitrogens are compounds that can interfere with the normal function of the thyroid gland. Surprisingly, many common foods contain goitrogens, including:
- Soybean foods: Tofu, tempeh, edamame.
- Some vegetables: raw cabbage, raw kale, raw cauliflower, raw spinach, etc.
- Fruit and starchy plants: Sweet potatoes, cassava, peaches, strawberries.
- Some seeds: Millet, peanuts, brazil nuts.
Gluten
Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. People with celiac disease or autoimmune disease should not eat foods containing gluten because the body will mistakenly attack and cause damage to the area around the intestines.
That’s why people with Hashimoto’s disease, which is the leading cause of hypothyroidism, need to eliminate gluten-containing foods from their diet to help improve symptoms.
Avoid foods during hypothyroidism treatment.
Fortunately, you don’t need to avoid many foods if you are treating hypothyroidism. You should avoid eating specific foods like highly processed foods because they are often high in calories leading to weight gain. Here is a list of foods and supplements you should avoid:
- Millet
- Highly processed foods: Hot dogs, cakes, cookies.
- Supplements: It is essential for thyroid health to adequately intake selenium and iodine. However, too much iodine or selenium can be harmful so take selenium and iodine supplements only if you are instructed by the doctor.
Here is a list of foods you can eat moderately. These foods contain goitrogens which are known as irritants if consumed in large quantities.
- Soy foods: Tofu, tempeh, edamame beans, soy milk.
- Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, kale, spinach, cabbage, brussels sprouts.
- Some fruits: peach, pear, and strawberry.
- Drinks: Coffee, green tea, and alcohol – these drinks can irritate your thyroid.
Good foods to support thyroid health
There are many food options for a hypothyroidism diet (healthy meal plans):
- Eggs: Whole eggs are best because iodine and selenium are found in the yolks, while the whites are high in protein.
- Meat: All meats, including lamb, beef, and chicken.
- Fish: All seafood, including salmon, tuna, halibut, and shrimp.
- Vegetables: All vegetables – cruciferous vegetables can be eaten in moderation, especially when cooked.
- Fruit: All fruits, including berries, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, etc.
- Gluten-free grains and seeds: Rice, buckwheat, quinoa, chia seeds, and flaxseeds.
- Dairy: All dairy products, including milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.
- Beverages: Water and other non-caffeinated beverages
People should follow a hypothyroidism diet plan that includes easy-to-digest foods such as sweet, ripe fruits, lean meats, eggs, beef liver, and seafood, which are low in calories and full of nutrients.
Tips for maintaining a healthy weight
It is very easy to gain weight when you have hypothyroidism due to a slow metabolism. Here are some tips to help you maintain a healthy weight.
- Rest a lot: try to get 7-8 hours of sleep every night because sleeping less than this can cause weight gain, especially in the belly area.
- Practice mindful eating: paying attention to what you’re eating, why you’re eating, and how fast you’re eating can help you feel your food better. Studies have also shown that this can help you lose weight.
- Do yoga or meditation: yoga and meditation can help you reduce stress and improve your overall health. Research has also shown that they help you maintain a healthy weight.
Special note for pregnant women with hypothyroidism
The diet for people with hypothyroidism needs to be more special during pregnancy because it can affect the developing baby’s growth.
It is essential that you take your medication regularly and eat well-balanced meals in order to keep up good health, both mentally as well physically during this stage of life! Apart from hypothyroidism, what to eat or what not to eat, the following are necessary notes for pregnant women with hypothyroidism.
Proper nutrition
Iodine supplementation: Use of iodized salt to process food or foods rich in natural iodine such as shrimp, crab, and seaweed. Iodine deficiency will help regulate and improve thyroid function.
Fiber is very good for the digestive system, it helps limit constipation – a common symptom in pregnant women.
Goitrogens and Gluten-free diet Because Goitrogens and Gluten compounds make thyroid conditions worse, significantly affecting the health of mother and baby.
Supplement with Vitamin D.
Protein: Foods such as chicken, eggs, and lentils … are rich in protein; they help provide energy to limit fatigue for pregnant women with hypothyroidism.
Drinking milk is beneficial for pregnant women with hypothyroidism: Because milk contains a lot of calcium and essential vitamins to improve the health of pregnant women and is great for the development of the fetus.
Good supplement for hypothyroidism
Not only is it the best diet, but supplements also play an essential role in thyroid disease treatment. Despite not being thyroid medication, supplements help improve hypothyroidism. Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT), is a treatment for hypothyroidism that has been around for a long time (since the 1890s) and has changed lives. The Real Thyroid is a natural desiccated thyroid supplement (manufactured in Vietname by Eastern Pharmaceuticals) that manages your symptoms without the prescription price tag.
Real Thyroid contains 60 mg of NDT (1 grain) of pig thyroid extract, 38 mcg of T4, 9 mcg of T3 plus T2, T1, and calcitonin. It not only is lactose and gluten-free but also contains a small quantity of other active ingredients than thyroid extract: seaweed powder 65 mg, 10 mcg potassium iodide, and 6 mcg of selenium yeast. Therefore, people with thyroid disease should consider eating certain foods and supplements to boost thyroid function.
The thyroid is just a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck but it plays a vital role in health. Nutrition plays an important role and significantly affects the treatment of hypothyroidism. There is no magical diet that will cure your hypothyroidism, but for health and wellness, people with hypothyroidism should create a diet that fits their needs.