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Choose the Right Foods to Support Your Thyroid Health: A Guide for Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders and Health
If you are living with an autoimmune thyroid disorder, understanding which foods will support your health can be complex. To help you make informed decisions about how to nourish your body, this guide provides expert advice on the dietary habits that will help maintain a healthy thyroid.
What is the Connection Between Diet and Thyroid Health?
The thyroid is an organ located in the front of the neck that plays a key role in controlling metabolism, energy, and hormone production. When someone has an autoimmune disorder, like Grave’s disease or Hashimoto’s, their body produces antibodies that attack, inflame, and ultimately damage the healthy functioning of the thyroid.
Since the food you eat influences your immune system, it is important to carefully consider your choices when selecting meals to support a healthy thyroid. Eating the wrong foods can lead to inflammation and the development of chronic conditions, altering the balance of hormones and impacting your ability to keep your thyroid healthy.
Which Foods are Best for Supporting Thyroid Health?
The most beneficial dietary choices include ample amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, combined with moderate intake of lean animal proteins like poultry and fish.
These food items are loaded with vitamins and minerals that are essential for maintaining healthy hormones and powering metabolic processes. Enjoy them with unsaturated fats like extra virgin olive oil, avocado, nuts, and nut butters for improved absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Foods to Avoid for Thyroid Health
It is important to also limit your intake of unhealthy foods that can lead to inflammation and problems in your gut microbiome. Try to limit your intake of sugar, saturated and trans-fats, processed and refined carbs, fried foods, and processed meats.
Additionally, you should be careful with gluten. Even though it is a whole grain, it can actually trigger inflammation in individuals with autoimmune disorders. A gluten free diet may help reduce discomfort, fatigue, and other thyroid disorder-related symptoms.
Put it into Practice
Incorporating these nutritional changes into your lifestyle may help support your thyroid health. Aim to fill your diet with foods that are rich in B vitamins, zinc, iodine, and selenium. Try to replace unhealthy food choices with a variety of fresh, organic produce. If you have any questions, be sure to talk with your doctor about the best nutrition plan for you.
Following a nourishing diet that limits inflammation and encourages optimal health of your immune system is an excellent starting point for supporting your thyroid. Choose the right foods to support your health and you will be on the right track towards feeling your best.
