Hypothyroidism is a condition where your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. This is also known as an underactive thyroid. While there are many types, they all have a few common side effects. The most common is weight gain. In an effort to combat this particular side effect, many people look for hypothyroidism diets.
Is There a Hypothyroidism Diet
Specifically, no. The term ‘hypothyroidism diet’ gets thrown around a lot but there is not any specific scientifically proven diet. However, the broad definition of a diet is a process that changes the intake of food in an effort to improve health or lose weight. So, with that definition in mind, it is possible to loosely create your own hypothyroidism diet and customize it to your lifestyle. It’s important to understand that any drastic changes you make should only be done after consulting with your doctor.
Will the Medicine Help
The medicine prescribed for this condition is more important to your health than a hypothyroidism diet. This is due to the fact that there are certain elements that need to come into play. The first is to take the medicine on the regular schedule, and the second is to know that certain foods have the potential to lower its effectiveness. These include walnuts, soybean flour, iron supplements (including multi-vitamins containing iron) and calcium supplements.
What Food Groups Help
The research on a hypothyroidism diet is not yet conclusive, but it does seem to suggest that increasing iodine and soy in your diet can improve thyroid functions. It has even been said that the rise in iodine and soy levels in developed countries have led to much lower occurrences of this issue.
Conclusion
As mentioned above, there is no specific hypothyroidism diet for those affected to follow. The basic elements of many diets, however, can come into play here. These include figuring out what works best with your daily medication and your specific body, and also consulting a medical professional when needed.
