PharmEasy Blog

8 Most Effective Foods To Fight Thyroid Disorders!

Introduction

The thyroid gland helps to regulate the metabolic processes of the body. It produces thyroid hormones that regulate many biological functions and ensure proper health is maintained. When the thyroid gland becomes sluggish or overactive, it can lead to many problems1.

A healthy diet may help optimize thyroid gland function at times. Many components in our daily diet can help our thyroid gland stay balanced or achieve a state of equilibrium if it is not functioning correctly.

Before we take a look at the best foods to consume in order to fight thyroid disorders, it will be best to bust some common myths surrounding thyroid diet:

Did you know?

Common Myths About Thyroid Health

These vegetables include those like broccoli, cauliflower and kale, and they might interfere with how your thyroid gland uses iodine as it plays a role in hormone production inside the thyroid gland. The truth is that you should eat these veggies as they are a part of a healthy diet. Those having a tendency to form goitre should restrict their intake as suggested by their treating physician or Endocrinologist.

There’s no need to take these supplements if you are living in a country where other items have iodine in them, like table salt.

This is a misconception, as a gluten-free diet cannot help or cure Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in any way. Those individuals with certain medical conditions might derive benefits from such a diet

Did you know that beauty products can affect thyroid health? It is believed that plasticizers found in cosmetic products might affect the regulation of thyroid hormones and alter hormone levels2.

Dr. Smita Barode, B.A.M.S, M.S.

A weight gain of 5 to 7 pounds may be linked to an underactive thyroid, but beyond this, the thyroid has nothing to do with a significant weight gain.

Like everyone else, it is important to have a healthy and balanced diet. Diet alone cannot cause or cure thyroid-related problems.

Researchers say Goitre and/or hypothyroidism may occur as a result of eating soybeans, cauliflower, or cabbage. These are believed to be goitrogenic foods.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Let Us Take a Look at Some of the Best Foods for the Thyroid

1. Yoghurt

yogurt
Image Source: freepik.com

Dairy products, mainly yoghurt, are very nutritious and help to provide iodine to some extent. Iodine is needed for the optimal functioning of the thyroid gland3.

2. Fruits: Apples, Pears and Citrus

Image Source: freepik.com

Apples, pears, plums and citrus fruits are abundant with pectins15, which might help with detoxifying the body of mercury4. It is postulated that mercury exposure from seafood might at times contribute to the disruption of thyroid gland function5.

3. Nuts and Seeds

nuts
Image Source: freepik.com

Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and nuts are rich sources of zinc6. Low levels of Zinc have been associated with thyroid problems7. Add to the salads or munch on these as snacks to replenish your body with zinc.

4. Legumes and Beans

legume
Image Source: freepik.com

Beans and legumes are rich, not just in Zinc but fibre as well. These help to regulate the digestive system, especially bowel movement and prevent constipation8

5. Green Tea

green tea
Image Source: freepik.com

Hail the Orient. Green tea is known all over the world as an aid to boost metabolism. Green tea has catechins, a kind of antioxidant that might prompt fat cells to release the fat and help the liver burn off the excess fat9.

6. Whole Grains

whole grains
Image Source: freepik.com

The body uses up more energy to digest whole grains. The metabolism might increase with the extra fibre as the body has to work harder to break down the whole grains. Try to eat oats, brown rice, sprouts, sprouted grain bread and quinoa as a part of a healthy diet routine.

Just like Zinc, Selenium is believed to be another micronutrient that is essential for healthy thyroid functioning. Selenium is present in food items such as eggs, fish, meat, cereals and nuts10.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

7. Avocado

avocado
Image Source: freepik.com

Avocados are almost the wonder food of modern nutrition. Packed with antioxidants, good fats, fibre and essential nutrients, avocado is a good choice for those who have an imbalanced functioning thyroid, to support overall health and wellbeing.

8. Broccoli

broccoli
Image Source: freepik.com

Broccoli is rich in calcium and vitamin C. It is rich in fibre. Broccoli when consumed in very large amounts, can potentially add goitrogens and might cause disturbance in those with underlying iodine insufficiency11, 12. However, when consumed in moderate amounts, it can help with a healthy metabolism pattern and overall well-being. 

Consult your dietician or your doctor before you incorporate the above foods into your diet.

Also Read: Typhoid – What to Eat and What to Avoid?

Lifestyle Tips for Managing Thyroid Health

Apart from the above, here are some other things to be mindful of if you have a thyroid problem:

Also Read: What to Eat and What to Avoid in Anal Fistula

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are some other ways to manage hypothyroidism aside from diet?

Some ways to keep hypothyroidism under a healthy check are as follows:
– Include aerobic exercises that make you sweat, such as cycling, swimming and running. 
– Better Stress management is essential for better overall health and thyroid hormone-related imbalances
– Follow a good power-down routine every night by ensuring 6-7 hours of quality sleep to balance hormone levels. 
– Stay on track with your thyroid medications.

Which foods are bad for hypothyroidism?

If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you should avoid foods like tofu, soy, fried and fatty foods, sugary foods, processed and packaged items and alcohol.

What are some signs that a person has hypothyroidism?

Some tell-tale signs that you might be having an underlying condition of hypothyroidism are14:
– Fatigue
– Hypersensitivity to cold
– Dry skin 
– Puffy face
– Hoarseness 
– Muscle weakness 
– Weight gain 
– Impaired memory 
– Slow heart rate  

References

  1. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). How does the thyroid gland work? InformedHealth.org – NCBI Bookshelf. 2024 [cited 2025 Apr 10]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279388/ 
  2. Bereketoglu C, Pradhan A. Plasticizers: negative impacts on the thyroid hormone system. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2022 Mar 18 [cited 2025 Apr 10];29(26):38912–27. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9119869/ 
  3. Office of Dietary Supplements. Iodine. Office of Dietary Supplements – NIH. [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 10]. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/ 
  4. Eliaz I, Weil E, Wilk B. Integrative Medicine and the role of Modified Citrus Pectin/Alginates in heavy metal chelation and detoxification – Five case reports. Complementary Medicine Research. 2007 Jan 1 [cited 2025 Apr 10]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18219211/ 
  5. Pamphlett R, Doble PA, Bishop DP. Mercury in the human thyroid gland: Potential implications for thyroid cancer, autoimmune thyroiditis, and hypothyroidism. PLoS ONE. 2021 Feb 9 [cited 2025 Apr 10];16(2):e0246748. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7872292/ 
  6. Healthdirect Australia. Foods high in zinc. Healthdirect. [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 10]. Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/foods-high-in-zinc 
  7. Binitha M, Betsy A, Sarita S. Zinc deficiency associated with hypothyroidism: An overlooked cause of severe alopecia. International Journal of Trichology. 2013 Jan 1 [cited 2025 Apr 10];5(1):40. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3746228/ 
  8. MedlinePlus. Healthy food trends – beans and legumes. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 10]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000726.htm 
  9. Jurgens TM, Whelan AM, Killian L, Doucette S, Kirk S, Foy E. Green tea for weight loss and weight maintenance in overweight or obese adults. Cochrane Library. 2012 Dec 7 [cited 2025 Apr 10];2012(12). Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8406948/ 
  10. Sharma VK, Sohn M, McDonald TJ. Remediation of selenium in water: A review. Elsevier eBooks. 2019 Jan 1 [cited 2025 Apr 10];203–18. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-science/selenium 
  11. Hess SY. Iodine: physiology, dietary sources, and requirements. In: Elsevier eBooks. 2013 [cited 2025 Apr 10]. p. 33–8. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/goitrogen 
  12. Galanty A, Grudzińska M, Paździora W, Służały P, Paśko P. Do brassica vegetables affect thyroid function?—A comprehensive systematic review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024 Apr 3 [cited 2025 Apr 10];25(7):3988. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11012840/ 
  13. Ranabir S, Reetu K. Stress and hormones. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2011 Jan 1 [cited 2025 Apr 10];15(1):18. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3079864/ 
  14. National Library of Medicine. Hyperthyroidism. Graves’ Disease | Overactive Thyroid | MedlinePlus. [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 10]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/hyperthyroidism.html 
  15. Flutto L. PECTIN | Properties and determination. In: Elsevier eBooks. 2003 [cited 2025 Apr 10]. p. 4440–9. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/pectin

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Likes 600
Dislikes 24

Share

Subscribe

Get 30% OFF on medicines