Hypothyroid Diets and Alternative Thyroid Treatments

Hypothyroid diets are too often overlooked in both mainstream and alternative thyroid treatments. Poor diet can harm the thyroid’s ability to make T4 thyroid hormone, as well as the cell’s ability to convert T4 (Synthroid) into the active thyroid hormone, T3 (Cytomel and Armour Thyroid).

Dietary deficiency of Iodine was once a very common cause of both hypothyroid as well as thyroid enlargement (goiter). However, since Iodine began being added to most brands of table salt , a hypothyroid diet due to Iodine deficiency is now relatively rare. People who eat little seafood and who take very little salt might want to check their multivitamin to be sure that it contains iodine.

However, too much iodine is also not good on a hypothyroid diet. Too much iodine can actually block the thyroid’s ability to make hormone, so high dose iodine supplements are not recommended.

Hypothyroid diets due to thyroid-blocking actions from cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower can block thyroid if these otherwise highly nutritious foods are eaten in very high doses. Certain medicines can also block thyroid hormone such as Lithium. L-Carnitine, a powerful and potentially useful energy promoting nutritional product can also block the thyroid if taken in high doses.

Selenium and Hypothyroid diets. Selenium may be the “sleeping giant” of natural thyroid therapies. Selenium is essential for converting T4 thyroid hormone into it’s active form, T3. Selenium may also have the ability to suppress anti-thyroid antibodies for persons who suffer from thyroid inflammation or thyroiditis. Repairing a selenium deficit, could in some people, actually repair thyroid metabolism by increasing the intracellular conversion of T4 to T3.

Effective hypothyroid diets should seek a broad range of natural foods including whole grains, seafoods, nuts, and seeds. Include a broad based multi-vitamin. Vitamin D and Zinc may be important.

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