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Low Thyroid - Foods to avoid

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Note most advocate that a moderate consumption of cooked ( or lightly steamed) goitrogenic foods to be ok.

I didn't know almonds and flaxseed are gitrogenic - I eat both ( in moderation.)

Thank you for posting.

Flower

Justiina profile image
Justiina in reply to

I heard almonds and flaxseeds are goitrogrenic but been eating them as I feel it does not make much difference for me. Same with millet.

I eat flaxseed and almonds cooked as well as make almond pancakes and put flaxseeds in the dough.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to

Well, there you go then! You've both just proved the point I'm always trying to make. Not all hypos are affected by all goitrogens. It is just ludicrous to suggest that all hypos should stop eating all those foods. What is there left to eat if you cut out all that???

When I first started reading on forums - about ten years ago - hardly anybody had ever heard of goitrogens, and were blithely eating them them all - with the possible exception of millet - never met anyone that eats that. And, I Don't think, for the most part, they felt any the worse for it.

Can't remember how I came across them, but it explained why I reacted so badly when I ate strawberries or walnuts. So, I've had a special interest in them ever since. I've talked to people about them, and have found that most hypos Don't suffer any ill effects from any goitrogens. So, why shouldn't they eat them?

"Goitrogenic foods are foods that interfere with iodine absorption, leading to an enlargement of the thyroid gland, otherwise known as the formation of a “goiter”. A steady stream of iodine is necessary to keep your thyroid running optimally."

All that is true. But, in order to affect that 'steady Stream of iodine' you would have to be constantly eating a hell of a lot of goitrogens for a hell of a long time before you developed a goitre. It doesn't automatically happen after one nibble of cabbage! However, if you live exclusively on cabbage soup, you might have a problem.

Also, if you Don't rely on your gland for any of your hormone, as a lot of us don't - or if you have no gland - there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't eat them. They aren't going to affect the hormone replacement you're taking (except soy, that's a different story).

Even before I was diagnosed, and didn't know what a thyroid was! I knew that strawberries, walnuts, corn and pears upset me. But I could eat cabbage and the rest with no problem. Not all hypos are effected by all goitrogens. It's very important to remember that. Once I got onto a decent dose of the right thyroid hormone replacement, they didn't bother me at all.

You Don't have to cut them all out. But, if you have the impression that something is having a bad effect on you, stop eating that. Sounds like common sense to me. I think all these articles written about goitrogens are written by people who Don't even have a thyroid problem. It's just theory without knowing how these things work in practice.

But, be warned, cooking is not the universal panacea they seem to think it is! I once had a slice of cake with walnuts in it - can't get more cooked than that - and it made me just as bad as if I'd eaten the walnuts raw. If a goitrogen is going to get you, it's going to get you whether you cook it or not! lol

in reply to greygoose

Absolutely agree gg.

Hence I said ....... [.. .that a moderate consumption of cooked (or lightly steamed) goitrogenic foods to be ok. ....] ..... ! ! ..

as advocated by Dr Barry Durrant Peatfield, Dr Datis Kharrazian, Izabella Wentz, Dr James L Wilson and Chris Kresser amongst many others.

As consumption of suggested goitrogens are thought to inhibit the uptake of iodine and so possibly interfere with thyroid hormone production, I consider it a small compromise to avoid excessive amounts of raw goitrogenic foods and possible thyroid disruption which may occur at any level of regulation including thyroid hormone synthesis, metabolism, transport or even cellular level uptake.

It is also advocated by ThyroidUK.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

Flower

Goitrogens

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/246...

Thyroid function disruption

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/266...

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to

Flower, you didn't understand a thing I said. Was it a bit muddled? I can get carried away at times. :)

Josiesmum profile image
Josiesmum

Thanks for posting. I wish these kinds of list would be accompanied by a list of things you CAN eat, or are recommended TO eat, otherwise it can feel like there's hardly anything left which can be quite demoralising.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Josiesmum

Josiesmum, see my reply to Flower above. :)

Treepie profile image
Treepie

Agree with you josiesmum and justina . I eat a little flaxseed ,plenty of dairy and all greens. I find wholemeal bread can soon have me feeled bloated but thats it.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Treepie

Treepie, see my reply to Flower above. :)

Treepie profile image
Treepie

Straight talk as always GG. Budgies eat millet!

boing profile image
boing

That list is horrible! Do we have to basically live on a diet of meat and potatoes with a few bananas, apples, tomatoes and cucumbers to balance it out! Basically it seems that all of the foods currently deemed to be particularly healthy are off the menu! I, for one, will not be paying it too much attention except perhaps the soy. What else off that list are the more important things to cut out would you say? Thanks

cc120 profile image
cc120

I posted, but don't think I could limit my diet to suit, for a start can't stop eating roasted peanuts. Would eat hazelnuts but so expensive.

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