What dietary taboos should you pay attention to when you have hyperthyroidism?

The most important dietary taboo for patients with hyperthyroidism is to strictly control the intake of iodine. The rest of the food to be avoided are foods that will aggravate the symptoms of hyperactivity and hypermetabolism. There is no need to overdo it, but don’t step on the core red lines.

To put it bluntly, iodine is the "raw material" for the thyroid to synthesize hormones. Hyperthyroidism itself means that the thyroid gland "works too hard" and produces too much hormone. At this time, stuffing high-iodine foods into the body is equivalent to transporting several more trucks of raw materials to the factory that is running at full capacity, which will only make the condition more out of control. Two months ago, I accompanied my cousin who had hyperthyroidism for a re-examination. Her indicators had been closer to the normal value for most of the year. After the summer, she was greedy and ate two seafood buffets. She always bought seaweed rice balls as snacks on the way from get off work. As a result, the re-examination of thyrotropin dropped directly back to the level when she was first diagnosed. The doctor scolded her.

The most easily overlooked source of iodine in daily life is actually the edible salt at home. After being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, the first thing to do is to replace ordinary iodized salt with non-iodized salt. Although the amount consumed every day is small, it cannot be sustained every day, and the impact is actually greater than eating an occasional seafood meal. The iodine content of algae such as kelp, seaweed, and wakame is several times higher than that of ordinary seafood. Don't touch it if you are greedy. There are also those pickled braised meats, plums, and prepackaged snacks. Many of them are seasoned with iodized salt. When buying, check the ingredient list more often, and try to touch as little as possible if it is not labeled as iodized salt. There is another point that many people have not noticed. Most restaurants and takeaways outside use ordinary iodized salt. When the acute phase indicators are not stable, try to order as little takeout as possible and eat out less. If you really want to go, tell the waiter in advance not to add iodized salt, or try to choose dishes that use less salt, such as steamed and stir-fried dishes. The less you can consume, the better.

In addition to the red line of iodine, there are also some foods that are not to be touched at all, but you should weigh them carefully when eating. For example, strong tea, coffee, functional drinks and other caffeine-containing foods make patients with hyperthyroidism prone to panic, insomnia, and emotional irritability. Drinking too much can add energy to the already excited nerves. My cousin used to rush to work on a project and had two cups of iced Americano every day. She was so flustered that she had to pant while climbing two floors. After changing the coffee to warm milk, she recovered in less than a week. There are also spicy foods. If you are afraid of heat, have frequent bowel movements, or have a tight throat, it is better to eat less hot pot and spicy hot pot, otherwise it will easily aggravate your discomfort. If you don’t have any reaction, you don’t need to feel too much psychological burden if you eat an occasional meal.

As for people with hyperthyroidism who are not allowed to eat cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage, there is actually no consensus in the industry. Some doctors think that the glucosinolates in these foods will affect the thyroid's absorption of iodine, so it is best to eat less.； Some doctors also say that as long as you don’t eat several kilograms of raw food at a meal, but eat half a plate of cooked food, the intake will not be enough to affect the condition, and there is no need to kill it in one go. My cousin now eats stir-fried broccoli once a week, and her indicators have always been very stable.

In fact, the diet for hyperthyroidism is not as complicated as everyone thinks. The core is to ensure the intake of iodine, and the rest can be adjusted according to your body's reaction. After all, everyone's tolerance is different. If you feel uncomfortable, don't eat it. There is no need to overly restrict food and stress yourself out, which is not conducive to recovery.