Goiter: If this is true for hypo why does it not... - Thyroid UK

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Goiter

Roderick_0707 profile image
15 Replies

If this is true for hypo why does it not work for Hyper?

"REMOVE GOITROUS FOOD if you suffer from hypothyroidism. Goiter is a substance that slows down the thyroid. It is found in bok choy, broccoli, Brussels' sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, radishes, soy, soy milk, soy lecithin (often used as a filler in vegetarian food) and tofu."

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Roderick_0707 profile image
Roderick_0707
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15 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

A goitre is what you get in your neck, when your gland is increasing its volume in order to make more hormone.

What you get in broccoli is goitrogenic substances which can cause a goitre in people who eat too much, because they reduce the uptake of iodine by the thyroid gland.

Hwever, it's false to say you should remove all goitrogens especially if you're on thyroid hormone replacement, because l doubt if any of them would affect you, in small quantities.

But, l don't know to what you are referring when you ask why doesn't this work for hyper. Why doesn't what work?

Roderick_0707 profile image
Roderick_0707 in reply to greygoose

Thanks greygoose for your reply, I read this article while researching natural ways of helping Thyroid.

kenpista.com/hashimoto/food...

My question was if by eating these goitrogens you slowed down the thyroid with hypothyroidism then would it not 'assist' Hyperthyroid people by slowing down the thyroid?

I accept Goitre is a swelling and can be caused by too much of these vegetables.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Roderick_0707

But, the point is, just eating normal amounts does ñot slow down the thyroid. And even if you ate massive amounts, once you stpped eating them, things would go back to normal and you would stll have the hyper problem. The effect is only temporary, if at all.

Roderick_0707 profile image
Roderick_0707 in reply to greygoose

Thanks greygoose definitely don't encourage large amounts, more looking for a good wholesome diet and checking things out I read along the way. Unfortunately the article did not specify the amount of goitrogenic foods which can cause a lowering of thyroid function for Hypoactive people

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Roderick_0707

Most of the stuff written about goitrogens is pure myth. It's a case of people jumping on the band-wagon without checking the facts. Even the stuff about it being ok if it's cooked is not necessarily true. And goitrogens certainly are not a cure for hyperthyroidism. :)

puncturedbicycle profile image
puncturedbicycle

Current evidence suggests that a 'normal' amount of cooked goitrogenic veg is fine for all of us and better than cutting it from our diet. There are various objections to soy but for most of us a variety of veg (even the goitrogenic kind) is good and will not hurt the thyroid. Cooking further reduces any slim but potential risk.

If I can find the paper about the lady who made herself hypo eating kilos of raw bok choy daily I will post it. It is very unusual for such a thing to happen while it is extremely common (and harmful) for one's veg intake to be inadequate.

Roderick_0707 profile image
Roderick_0707 in reply to puncturedbicycle

Thanks puncturedbicycle I have read an article suggesting that such a paper exists in "The New England Journal of Medicine" I found this hope it helps nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/N...

puncturedbicycle profile image
puncturedbicycle in reply to Roderick_0707

Yes, that's the one! Bless her, I hope she made a full recovery.

Roderick_0707 profile image
Roderick_0707 in reply to puncturedbicycle

goes to show how too much natural foods can cause massive problems.

puncturedbicycle profile image
puncturedbicycle in reply to Roderick_0707

Well I think the argument that says that too much of a good thing can hurt you is pretty unimpeachable. :-) But I think in general it is difficult to get enough veg in us (considering what they compete for attention with) so in this case it is the huge amounts of one kind of veg that turned out to be harmful to this lady. She is/was also very elderly, so that may be a factor, age was not addressed.

Roderick_0707 profile image
Roderick_0707 in reply to puncturedbicycle

Absolutely agree fruits and veg are the original health food. The lady in question was trying to cure diabetes with a kilo+ of raw choy per day which does seem excessive. I too had diabetes T2 for a while, thankfully I found good dietary advice which reduced my blood sugars lowered my high blood pressure but then my thyroid went overactive so still work in progress!

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992

Wouldn't it be ok to supplement with iodine?

puncturedbicycle profile image
puncturedbicycle in reply to Simba1992

For hypothyroidism? It depends on whether or not you are deficient in iodine. If you have autoimmune disease it is not thought to be helpful.

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992 in reply to puncturedbicycle

Here information that a bit different?hypothyroidmom.com/busting-...

puncturedbicycle profile image
puncturedbicycle in reply to Simba1992

Unless he is suggesting (and can prove) that iodine deficiency causes autoimmune disease and/or folk w AI uat show iodine deficiency I can't really comment further.

Iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism, no one disputes that, but I haven't heard anyone else say it also causes the AI disease that causes hypothyroidism. Is that what he's saying? I'm not sure I understand what he's saying.

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