The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck. It secretes thyroid hormones, namely T3 (Triiodothyronine), T4 (Thyroxine) and Calcitonin. It helps regulate our body’s metabolic processes, maintaining body temperature, blood calcium levels, heart-functioning, brain development, and muscle movements.
Irrespective of age, both men and women suffer from thyroid issues due to a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, and stress.
If the thyroid gland becomes sluggish or underactive, then the condition is called hypothyroidism. It is mainly characterized by specific symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, constipation, sensitivity to cold, puffy face, hair loss, and muscle cramps.
If the thyroid gland becomes overactive, then the condition is called hyperthyroidism. It is mainly characterized by specific symptoms such as weight loss, excessive sweating, sensitivity to heat, insomnia, depression and mood swings.
Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism leads to many health complications. Therefore, to control the ill effects of the thyroid on the body, it’s necessary to know the information about the best foods to eat for thyroid health, along with physical exercises and medications. So, if you are experiencing thyroid symptoms in your daily life, it’s better to include these supernatural foods in your regular diet to boost your thyroid health.
Here, let us take a note on the five best foods for healthy thyroid:
1. Seeds and Nuts
- Zinc and selenium-rich foods are the best foods for thyroid health.
- Pumpkin and sunflower seeds are rich sources of zinc. Low levels of zinc in the body are associated with thyroid imbalances.
- Zinc-rich foods are vital for the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the body.
- They also help in the synthesis and balancing of thyroid hormones in the body.
- Selenium rich foods such as Brazil nuts and Hazelnuts are the richest dietary sources required by the body for the synthesis of thyroid hormones.
- The thyroid mineral selenium converts T4 (Thyroxine) into T3 (Triiodothyronine).
- It is a fact that eating three Brazil nuts per day will help you replenish powerful antioxidants and thyroid minerals in the body.
2. Coconut
- Coconut is one of the best foods to avoid thyroid imbalances.
- Including raw or cooked coconut in your diet helps improve the metabolism of thyroid patients who seem to have slow or sluggish body functioning.
- Coconut contains components such as Medium Chain Triglycerides (MTCs) and Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs), which plays a crucial role in the metabolism process and help burn calories in the body.
- Coconut water is a revitalizing low-calorie natural drink. Consuming coconut water regularly helps you keep your thyroid gland healthy, lose weight, and reduce fatigue.
- Coconut oil also has numerous health benefits, especially for the underactive thyroid. Many naturopathy doctors recommend coconut oil as a dietary source for treating abnormal thyroid.
3. Fruits
- Apples, plums, pears, and citrus fruits like amla are the best foods to eat for thyroid health. These are abundant with pectins, gelatin-like fibre that help in detoxifying the mercury in the body and ensure the proper production of thyroid hormones.
- Amla (Indian gooseberry) is fully loaded with nutrients, effective in enhancing immunity and combating diseases.
- It possesses eight times more vitamin c than an orange and 17 times that of a pomegranate.
- Amla is one of the proven best hair tonics that promote hair growth by slowing down greying, strengthening hair follicles, preventing dandruff, and enhancing blood flow to the scalp.
4. Beans
- Beans are one of the best foods for healthy thyroid as they help regain the energy that is drained out due to fatigue.
- Beans are the ideal source of proteins, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
- They are rich in fibres. Hence, they can be included in your diet to avoid constipation, a common side effect of hypothyroidism.
- Beans like Moong are an excellent source of iodine and are easily digestible compared to other beans. Adding moong beans to your diet is a perfect option for those with lower metabolism occurred by a thyroid disorder.
- Just remember not to munch these beans excessively as they can interfere with your digestion and hypothyroidism treatment.
5. Dairy products
- Dairy products such as milk, yoghurt and cheese provide essential vitamin D and Iodine to your thyroid diet and aids in improving thyroid levels in the body.
- Dairy products such as milk, yoghurt and cheese provide essential vitamin D and Iodine to your thyroid diet and aids in improving thyroid levels in the body.
- According to the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism studies, it was found that vitamin D supplements enhanced TSH levels in individuals with hypothyroidism and thyroid antibodies in autoimmune thyroiditis people.
- Yoghurt and curd are the best foods for thyroid health. They fulfill the iodine requirements in the body, which is needed for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland.
- Milk contains a good amount of calcium, protein and iodine along with vitamin D.
- Therefore, including dairy products in your diet boosts your thyroid health.
Conclusion:
Maintaining a good diet is the key factor for an individual’s overall well-being. Enrich your life with good lifestyle practices, yoga, meditation and eating healthy foods rich in essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, relieves you from thyroid imbalances and copes with better weight management. If you are unable to deal with your thyroid problems, then it’s the right choice to consult an Endocrinologist to get better thyroid treatment.