6 Ways The Vegan Diet Makes Hypothyroidism Worse

If this is the case for you, limiting soy consumption until the problem is corrected is recommended. Solutions include adjusting thyroid hormone dosage or correcting iodine deficiency to ensure a healthy vegan thyroid diet. There are many sources that synthroid instructions suggest removing "goitrogenic" food from your diet.

• Choosing whole grain and fiber foods, as well as eating balanced meals and snacks is key (protein and fat sources).
• Vegetarians, on the other hand, eliminate meat, but will often still consume dairy and other products that are derived from animals.
• Sociodemographic characteristics and diet according to diagnosis of hypothyroidism in the prevalence and incidence studies.
• However, eating a healthy vegan diet will likely benefit your health in general.
• A study conducted in Iran looked at the effect of low iron in young women by collecting urine and serum samples of iron deficient adolescent girls.

Vegan, with a thyroid condition?

However, from my survey results, personal experience, and working with thousands of people with Hashimoto’s over the years, I have found a way of eating that seems most beneficial for the majority of people. To read about Jewish restrictions concerning the use of pork, and the use of desiccated thyroid, go to this thyroid page. They say it's an excellent product formulated by Dr. Tori Hudson, and better than Synthroid with no side effects. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

• As a reminder, please comment on our FDA Citizen Petition, requesting clear labeling of animal-derived ingredients in medications.
• Dr. Tripathi can be reached via her website drannitripathi.com should you have any queries regarding this article or wish to contact her for a consultation to improve your own health.
• Non-protein amino acids serve specialized functions outside of protein synthesis.
• Brazil nuts are an exceptional choice, offering a generous dose of selenium.
• Begin with easier to digest meat sources such as chicken and fish before transitioning to beef.
• Additionally, vegan and raw vegan diets can be extremely helpful for cleansing and detoxifying, especially for those with persistent protein digestion issues (very common in Hashimoto’s).

Stop the Thyroid Madness was one of the 2016 Winner Blogs

You can also search online for specific medication names and the company who makes them. Hashimoto’s can become more severe over time, so taking early action is beneficial and can slow the progression of the disease. Nonetheless, you might find it tricky to have enough of these nutrients.

Beef or chicken liver and shellfish are all excellent sources of heme iron, a form of iron that is easily absorbed by the body. On the other hand, iron-rich plant foods, such as spinach, contain the non-heme form of iron, which is less readily absorbed and utilized by the body. Many vegans will find it hard to absorb the required amount of iron from plant foods alone, putting them at greater risk for thyroid disease. The data available about the health benefits of a vegan diet for hypothyroidism are inconclusive. We recommend you focus on foods that make you feelyour best, instead of strictly sticking to one diet or another solely for the sake of it. Incorporating more nutrient-rich plant-based foods into your diet certainly won't hurt.

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Synthroid is also used to treat or prevent goiter, or an enlarged thyroid gland. This can be caused by hormonal imbalances, radiation treatment, surgery or cancer. Synthroid can cause many side effects, leading some patients to seek natural alternatives.

From Exhausted to Energized: I Beat Hypothyroidism with a Plant-Based Diet

While nutrient-rich, consuming large amounts of cruciferous vegetables may potentially interfere with iodine absorption for vegans. Excessive sugar intake, even from vegan sources, can lead to inflammation and disrupt hormonal balance, including thyroid function. Tofu, tempeh, and legumes such as chickpeas provide ample plant-based protein for vegans, supporting thyroid health. Pumpkin seeds and chickpeas are stellar plant-based sources of zinc.

While going gluten, dairy and soy free is something I recommend for everyone with Hashimoto’s, a lot of people will find that they further benefit from a Paleo-style diet. They report feeling better, having more energy, and losing weight. Sprinkle some animal protein, eggs, and dairy (if you tolerate it) to hit at least 100 grams of protein per day, and now you’re onto something. Vitamin D deficiency is super easy to treat, though, so it’s not something that vegans need to worry about too much. With up to ⅓ of the global population being vitamin D deficient, it’s clear that pretty much everyone has a hard time getting their daily dose of vitamin D. It’s already hard enough for thyroid patients as is, so there’s no need to complicate the picture further.

I would choose Cytomel over Synthroid if I could but it really comes down to the doctor's prescription and as of now, I don't need T3 supplementation. Until there is a better, non vegan option out there, this is my choice. Before the surgery, I was taking 112mcg of synthroid and was doing great. I continued to do well until late July when I started getting fatigued. Over the next month or so, I continued to get more and more fatigued and foggy and I gained over 5 pounds.

If you have an underactive thyroid gland, what you eat may affect your thyroid disease, including the absorption of your thyroid medication. Ahead, what to know about eating a plant-based diet for hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Selenium is an essential trace mineral that supports immune function, thyroid health, male fertility, and the production of endogenous antioxidants.

At least one study showed that up to 68% of hypothyroid patients may be B12 deficient (4) just by virtue of the impact hypothyroidism has on B12 absorption. Having more muscle mass means more thyroid hormone action which means a higher metabolism and better thyroid function. I’ve found that these 10 foods cause the most problems for thyroid patients. Learn which foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease of any type. If you look at the data, there’s no question that the vegan diet has the potential to improve a huge number of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (1). The contents of this website and our other publications, including The Vegan Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice.