Do any foods suppress thyroid function?

[pat987]

I heard that some foods can impair the function of the thyroid, is this true and if so what are they?

[surrey321]

Yes they can, but from what I have read they call these goitrogenic. My understanding is that these foods contain goitrogens and they interfere with the body's ability to absorb iodine.

However, I'm pretty sure that they aren't so bad if you eat them cooked rather than raw and maybe not every day. Examples are cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale etc. I discovered this after reading some of the posts at lowthyroidhelp.com

[Jackie]

Hi If you are having an absorption problem it often is the pancreatic enzymes. There is a specific stool test called Faecal Elastase, which tests for this. Replacement enzymes on a script to take 20 mins before food. Or as an enzyme, totally safe to take from Holland and Barrat, very similar thing, 20 mins before food, essential.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[James30]

Thyroid Function, Which foods suppress

Of the websites that came up I selected the last two, good luck.

google.com/#hl=en&output=se...

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standing1.home.mindspring.c...

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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goitrogen

[James30 in reply to James30]

It looks like only the last one got through.

[nostoneunturned]

Fluoride also suppresses thyroid, avoid fluoridated toothpaste, non-stick pans, tea has fluoride also and aluminium in it potentiates fluoride's effects, find out more about fluoride on:

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

and for Dr B's article on fluoride:

rense.com/general57/FLUR.HTM

[helvella Administrator]

Mary Shomon's article on goitrogens is fairly complete and quite compact (i.e. doesn't take long to read):

thyroid.about.com/od/sympto...

Rod

[julietta in reply to helvella]

Hi Rod, does this mean that goitrogenic foods can also affect the absorption of NDT? Or if we are fairly fully replaced with NDT/thyroxine , will they affect us less? x

[helvella Administrator in reply to julietta]

The Thyroid Manager website says this:

Goitrogens

A number of compounds have the ability to inhibit thyroid hormone synthesis (Fig.5-3). Irrespective of their mechanism of action, they are collectively called goitrogens , because as a result of a decrease in serum thyroid hormone level. TSH secretion is enhanced, causing goiter formation. Some goitrogens occur naturally in food, and others are in drugs with goitrogenic side effects. The least toxic and those possessing the highest thyroid-inhibiting activity are used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism.

thyroidmanager.org/chapter/...

I feel that the term goitrogen usually refers to substances which affect thyroid hormone in people who are NOT taking thyroid hormone.

If you are taking thyroid hormone, the emphasis changes away from manufacture of thyroid hormone towards absorption from the gut. And there are LOTS of things which affect absorption.

However, you still have similar effects from substances which affect transport, and conversion of thyroid hormone - which effects are common to people taking thyroid hormones and those who do not.

I wrote a blog some time ago - and am hoping to produce a better version in future:

thyroiduk.healthunlocked.co...

Rod

[julietta in reply to helvella]

That's really helpful - thank you Rod. I'll look forward to the better version blog. Incidentally, I have found your abbreviations blog invaluable! x

[helvella Administrator in reply to julietta]

And I keep updating it - so make sure you get the latest, greatest, ever, by downloading a new copy from time to time.

[Heloise in reply to julietta]

I definitely felt deficient when having soy milk or flour products and I am on NDT.

[greygoose]

Goitrogenic foods:

Almonds

A complete list of goitrogenic fruit and veg, as far as I know!

Almonds

Asparagus

Babassu (a palm-tree coconut fruit popular in Brazil and Africa)

Bamboo shoots

Bok choy

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Cassava

Chick peas (garbanzos)

Flaxseed (this is up for debate, do a google search)

Garlic

Groundnuts

Herbs of the Barbarea and Residea families :

Horseradish

Kale

Kohlrabi

Leafy greens (turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens)

Legumes (beans and peas)

Lima beans

Linseed

Maize

Millet (cooking seems to INCREASE goitrogenic effect)

Mustard

Mustard greens

Nectarines

Onion

Peaches

Peanuts (roasted are probably okay)

Pears

Pine nuts (pignoli)

Processed meats

Radishes

Rapeseed (oil) - from which canola is derived

Rutabaga

Spinach

Sorghum

SOY in all it's various forms -- AVOID

Strawberries

Swede

Sweet potatoes

Swiss chard

Turnip greens

Walnuts

White turnip

Wasabi

Watercress

The good news is that not every hypo is affected by every goitrogen. An ilimination diet is the best way to find out if any of these foods affect you. They always say that cooking partially destroys the goitrogenic effect, but don't count on it!

Other things to avoid are fluoride, chlorine and bromide. Be aware that it is difficult to find a loaf of bread in England these days that does not contain soy flour!

Hope this helps, Grey

[meki in reply to greygoose]

OK What can I eat bearing in mind I do not eat meat or dairy11

[Hannah13 in reply to meki]

I have been eating most of the fruit and vege on that list as I love fruit and vege. I am hypo. Does anyone know what symtoms you would be likely to get after consuming any of these? What fruit and vege are left to eat if we cannot have these on the list.

Any guidance would be welcome.

Hannah

[greygoose]

What do you normally eat? There are loads of things you can eat in the way of fruit and veg:

Vegetables :

• Artichokes

• Aubergines (egg plant)

• Avocado

• Beetroot

• Breadfruit

• Carrots

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Courgettes (zucchini)

• Cucumber

• Dandelion

• Endives

• Fennel

• Lettuce

• Marrow

• Mushrooms

• Okra

• Ordinary potatoes

• Pumpkin (of various sorts)

• Tomatoes

Fruit :

• African cucumber

• All citrus fruit (grapefruit, orange, lemon, lime, Satsuma, Clementine, tangerine, kumquats

• All types of melon

• Apples

• Apricots

• Bananas

• Black currants

• Blackberries

• Cherries

• Dragon fruit

• Figs

• Gooseberries

• Grapes

• Greengages

• Guava

• Jackfruit

• Kiwis

• Logan berries

• Lychees

• Mangos

• Mangosteen

• Medlars

• Mulberries

• Papaya

• Passion fruit

• Pawpaw

• Pineapple

• Plums

• Pomegranates

• Quince

• Rambutan

• Raspberries

• Red currants

• Rhubarb

• Star fruit

• White currants

Nuts :

• Brazils

• Chestnuts

• Hazelnuts

• Macadamia

• Pecans

• Tiger nuts

You can eat rice and oats. However, if you don't eat meat or dairy I have no idea how you get your protein, amino acids and B vitamins. Not to mention iron. Iron is difficult if you rely on vegetables. Most people think that spinach is an excellent source, however spinach is also an iron absorbtion inhibitor. See below.

[greygoose in reply to greygoose]

This is an informative article about iron:

Iron Rich Foods for

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Written by Gloria Tsang, RD

last updated: November 2004

For iron deficiency anemia in women, a diet with iron rich foods along with iron supplements is often recommended. Absorption of iron from food is influenced by multiple factors. One important factor being the form of the iron. Heme Iron, found in animal sources, is highly available for absorption. Non-heme iron on the other hand, found in vegetable sources, is less available. Iron rich foods of an iron rich diet are listed below:

Iron Rich Foods containing Heme Iron

Excellent Sources

• Clams

• Pork Liver

• Oysters

• Chicken Liver

• Mussels

• Beef Liver

Good Sources

• Beef

• Shrimp

• Sardines

• Turkey

Iron Rich Foods containing Non-Heme Iron

Excellent Sources

• Enriched breakfast cereals

• Cooked beans and lentils

• Pumpkin seeds

• Blackstrap Molasses

Good Sources

• Canned beans

• Baked potato with skin

• Enriched pasta

• Canned asparagus

Warning: Pregnant women should not eat liver because of its very high Vitamin A content. Large amounts of Vitamin A can be harmful to the baby.

The absorption of Non-heme iron can be improved when a source of heme iron is consumed in the same meal. In addition, the iron absorption-enhancing foods can also increase the absorption of non-heme iron. While some food items can enhance iron absorption, some can inhibit or interfere iron absorption. Avoid eating them with the iron-rich foods to maximize iron absorption.

Iron Absorption Enhancers

• Meat/fish/poultry

• Fruits: Orange, Orange Juice, cantaloupe, strawberries, grapefruit etc

• Vegetables: Broccoli, brussels sprouts, tomato,

Iron Absorption Inhibitors

• Red Wine, Coffee & Tea

• Vegetables: Spinach, chard, beet greens, rhubarb and sweet potato

• Whole grains and bran

• Soy products

So, you see, Soy is bad on several levels, not only is it goitrogenic, but it is also an irone absorption inhibitor.

[greygoose in reply to greygoose]

However, as I said before, you don't have to cut all goitrogens out definitively (except soy!). You cut them out for a couple of weeks and then reintroduce them one at a time to see if they have any effect on you.

I hope this helps, Grey

[Hannah13 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks Grey for the comprehensive list - very helpful. I always eat vege well cooked. Would we feel any symptoms right away (as I have not noticed anything untoward after eating the 'culprits' other than the odd tired day) - what sort of symptoms should we look out for?

Hannah

[greygoose in reply to Hannah13]

Symptoms vary from person to person, I can only tell you about me. I was very sensitive to walnuts, strawberries, pears and maize (also soy, but that's another story). If I ate any of them by mistake, I knew within a half hour sometimes. Sometimes a few hours. Symptoms were like all the thyroid hormone had suddenly been drawn out of me: so tired, I couldn't stand, so cold I couldn't stop trembling, but feverish as if I were starting flu. It could be that my responses were excessive but I have heard some other people saying the same thing.

And before anybody starts talking about food allergies, now that my TSH is well suppressed, and anyway, I think, my thyroid is dead (Hashi's), I can eat them all without any problem (except soy)! lol

(However, I did know one woman who'd had her thyroid removed but still insisted that cabbage affected her in the same way. Who knows...)

But you really do need to do the illimination diet to be absolutely sure that they aren't sabotaging your thyroid hormone replacement.

Hugs, Grey

[Hannah13 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks Grey - I have felt as you have described but never linked it to food - I shall certainly take note and will try the elimination thing. I love cabbage, brussels, swede etc but will take note from now on.

I do try to avoid soya too but very difficult when it is in nearly everything.

Many thanks

Hannah