Thyroid hormone imbalance can be caused by a range of issues, including vitamin deficiencies, medications, liver dysfunction, autoimmune disorders, blood sugar or digestive issues, and much more. Thyroid diseases are more common than diabetes or heart disease, too—as many as 30 million Americans live with a thyroid disease, and over half of those people haven’t even received a diagnosis.
The easiest changes to make involve your diet and eating habits. Among the top causes of thyroid imbalance is simply eating too little in the first place. Beyond under-eating, though, there are also food items and chemicals that do more harm than good for our bodies.
Here’s what you should know about seven foods and chemicals that have been found to be responsible for thyroid issues.
Avoid Iodine At All Costs With A Hyperactive Thyroid
Iodine is one of the chemicals that the thyroid gland needs in order to produce hormones triiodothyronine and thyroxine (T3 and T4). These and other hormones play important roles in our development before we’re even born; without sufficient levels of thyroid hormones, a developing fetus will not be able to guard against neurodevelopmental disorders. This chemical is an essential element in biology with an important presence in many different lifeforms.
The elemental chemical itself is actually synthesized within our bodies. Iodide travels through the bloodstream to reach the follicular cells of the thyroid gland, where it’s absorbed and then oxidized into the iodine that is used to manufacture hormones. The chemical element itself reaches a lethal dose for humans at just 2 to 3 grams, which is why our bodies have to maintain such a delicate balance.
Foods that contain high concentrations of iodine should be avoided if you suffer from hyperthyroidism. Seaweed and kelp, along with cod, shrimp, and tuna contain high amounts of iodine. Eggs contain it, as does whole milk, yogurt, ice cream, and white bread.
The opposite is true for anyone with an underactive thyroid gland. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism around the world, affecting two billion people. It’s also the leading preventable cause of mental disabilities in developing fetuses. Iodized salt is the most widely available combatant for iodine deficiency, and is used by 70% of households around the world. Doctors may recommend these same iodine-rich foods for patients living with an underactive thyroid gland.
Toxic Compounds Found In Packaging And Products Around Us
Many things that we use in our day-to-day lives contain toxins and chemicals that are more harmful than helpful. We may not be able to eliminate these toxic compounds from our lives altogether, but there are steps we can take to stay away from them.
Bisphenol A, most commonly known as BPA, is an organic, synthetic compound that has been used to manufacture plastics and resins since the 1960s. Polycarbonate plastics (and epoxy resins in particular) are widely used in the packaging and storage of food and beverages. The Food and Drug Administration has said that very low levels of BPA are safe, but its review is ongoing. [3]
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences recommends that you keep polycarbonate plastics out of the microwave and dishwasher; high heat can break down the plastic and allow BPA to make its way into foods. Some consumers have decided to only purchase BPA-free products.
BPA has been identified as an endocrine disruptor, affecting hormone production and causing issues for thyroid function as well. Another chemical that’s caught the attention of researchers is perchlorate, used mainly for propellants and fuel but also present in bleach and fertilizers. The Environmental Protection Agency recently identified perchlorate as a public health concern, due to its presence as a contaminant in public drinking water. [4] This chemical can also disrupt the normal function of the thyroid gland in children and adults.
Be Careful With Caffeine And Stimulants
Coffee (and caffeine in general) can end up doing more harm than good for people who have trouble with their thyroid, although studies have uncovered a wide range of findings.
Consuming coffee within an hour of taking a thyroid hormone reduces the latter’s absorption, according to findings that were recently published in Thyroid, a medical journal. People who drink coffee with their dose of thyroid medication ended up experiencing a drop in thyroxine (T4) levels of anywhere from 25 to 57 percent. The small intestine absorbed less of the T4 that was released into their bodies. [5]
A 2004 study worked with rats to test the effects of caffeine on the thyroid gland. Researchers found that caffeine ingestion at high doses dramatically increased the development of lesions on the thyroid gland in rats with iodine deficiency. The study did note, though, that small changes in thyroid function do occur between different animals as a result of simple variability. [6] In humans, a 300-milligram dose of caffeine had no effect on the plasma concentrations of T3 and T4, though, according to Coffee And Health by Gérard Debry. He concluded that humans would have to drink 20 cups of coffee in one sitting in order for caffeine to have a significant effect on the body’s endocrine and hormonal functions. [7]
Medications that alter thyroid function include dopamine agonists and amphetamines, commonly present in antidepressants and medications that treat ADHD, Parkinson’s, and many more conditions. Patients should look into all of their prescription medications and whether they interfere with thyroid function.
Replace caffeinated beverages with water and fruit juice if you’re concerned about the effects of caffeine on your body. If you still find yourself with coffee cravings, at least take extra care to avoid consuming it until an hour has passed after taking your thyroid medicine.
Stay Away From Added Sugar
Cane sugar. Dextrose. High fructose corn syrup. These are just three of the many added sugars that manufacturers use as ingredients in the food items that we use every day.
Soft drinks, syrup, jam and jelly, cookies, cakes, pastries, candy, and many other items contain these added sugars. It goes beyond sweet treats, too. Added sugars are found in salad dressings, cereal, sauces, and bread products. The added sugars found in all of these products provide our bodies with very little in the way of nutritional benefits. Sugar is digested immediately and rapidly absorbed, causing spikes in blood sugar and insulin release. If you live with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, your blood sugar may be highly sensitive to these changes‚ not to mention that hypothyroidism can produce blood sugar problems all on its own.
This does not mean that all forms of sugar are the enemy. Sugar is naturally present in fruit as fructose and in dairy products as lactose. Fruit provides your body with vitamins, water, fiber, and many more essential nutrients, while candy is just nutritionally void. Many Americans don’t eat enough fruit to begin with, and a handful of strawberries is much better for you than a bowl full of strawberry ice cream.
There are plenty of ways to indulge in occasional treats while avoiding added sugars. Instead of foods with high fructose corn syrup, for example, making use of more natural sugars might help fill a craving. Natural options like honey offer antioxidants as well as vitamins and minerals; honey is still a sugar, though, so it should be used in moderation.
Be Cautious Of Soybeans And Soy Foods
Thyroid research is centuries old and still evolving. One 1933 study focused on the relationship between food and the thyroid gland. The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, stated that “no organ of the body is more sensitive to food conditions than the thyroid gland.” The research concluded that “the more perfect the constitution of the diet, the more normal is the thyroid gland, both as to its size and as to its action.”
A 2006 feature in Thyroid identified concerns within the medical community about soybean products and their potential interference with thyroid function. Studies conducted involving both healthy men and women revealed very little evidence that soy products had negative effects on euthyroid, iodine-replete individuals.
Soybeans and soy products contain isoflavones—compounds found in plants with estrogenic activity that can have hormonal effects on the human body. It isn’t all bad, however; studies have ended in a wide range of conclusions, and as such, there’s a bit of subjectivity at play. Soy has been a major component of Asian diets for 2,000 years, and its presence has often been attributed to the low levels of heart disease that are found in that part of the world.
Studies have found that soy foods inhibit the absorption of thyroid hormones in patients with underactive thyroid function, however. Researchers discovered that some hypothyroid adults required an increased dose of thyroid hormone when soy products were present in their diets, though they also included that “only very modest effects” were noted during their clinical trials.
The study concluded that hypothyroid adults don’t need to entirely avoid soy foods. Instead, they should ensure that their iodine intake is adequate. As with many aspects of health and nutrition, balance is key.
Alcohol Is Poisonous, And That’s All There Is To It
Alcohol is one of the most commonly consumed psychoactive substances around the world and it comes with many risk factors in the way of disease and disabilities. [8] Alcohol has been found to be responsible for many impacts on the thyroid gland and its function.
Thyroid function is impacted by alcohol consumption as a result of cellular toxicity in particular—the same toxicity, of course, that leads to a myriad of other diseases and disorders. Consumption interferes with the stimulation and secretion processes of the thyroid gland, leading to issues with hormone production and changes in the volume of the gland. Thyroid volume is reduced in patients with alcohol dependency; those patients also experience more frequent and severe cases of thyroid fibrosis.
Studies have found complex correlations between alcohol use and thyroid function, resulting in a lack of consensus in the medical community. Researchers have had trouble conducting human studies to begin with, mainly because many participants are going through detoxification programs. Other studies simply have difficulties recruiting active drinkers to begin with.
The established conclusion is that alcohol consumption affects nearly every aspect of the thyroid gland’s function. The National Institute of Health also points out something interesting: Mood disorders are often present in conjunction with alcoholism as well as hypothyroidism. Very few studies have delved into this, but the NIH suggests that alcohol’s effects on the thyroid gland may very well change the hormonal makeup in our bodies that produce the cravings and withdrawal effects experienced by alcoholics.
Pay Attention to Dairy Products—They Could Be Good Or Bad
Milk and milk products like cheese, butter, yogurt, and ice cream all contain iodine and lactose—two things that can affect thyroid function for better and for worse. People with hyperthyroidism may want to avoid these products due to their iodine content, while anyone with hypothyroidism may want to avoid milk products due to the high insulin response that they provoke in the digestive system.
Still, as with so many findings in thyroid research, results can go both ways. Hyperthyroidism commonly triggers the body to absorb calcium from within the bones, which could lead to osteoporosis. That’s why some hyperthyroid patients may want to consume more dairy—it will help counteract those effects and force the body to metabolize higher amounts of calcium.
A study that took place in Sweden and Norway found an association between dairy consumption and an increased risk of thyroid cancer—similar studies in the United States, though, did not find the same association. Studies focusing on people with vegetarian and vegan diets have found that a plant-based diet tends to provide protection against hypothyroidism.
Many people who suffer from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a form of hypothyroidism, also experience lactose intolerance. A 2014 study published in Thyroid reported that patients who consumed a lactose-restricted diet saw a decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. Researchers concluded that hypothyroid patients should consider restricting dairy consumption in their diets. [9]
Safe alternatives to milk and milk products include almond, hemp, rice, and coconut milk, as well as non-dairy cream substitutes.
What Works For Some Doesn’t Work For All)
All of these findings should tell you one thing: Health and medicine can be highly subjective.
Not only have different studies produced widely different results, individual approaches to medicine can vary, too. One medical professional may work and think in an objective realm based solely on facts and measurements, and another may think in a more humanistic framework that pays closer attention to subjective information like a patient’s thoughts and feelings.
In the end, your health is your responsibility to monitor, treat, and learn about. If you believe that you could be living with a thyroid condition, take the first steps towards treatment by consulting a medical professional.
http://www.restorationhealth.net/thyroid-emphasis.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroid#Disease
[1] http://www.thyroidawareness.com/about-your-thyroid
[2] https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/
[4] https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations/perchlorate-drinking-water
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18341376?dopt=Citation
[6] http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01926230490431853