Less than five per cent of individuals are affected by a condition known as underactive thyroid. The specific medical term for this condition is hypothyroidism. Basically this means that the thyroid gland does not produce enough of the thyroid hormone. Although this can lead to many problems including weight gain there are ways to control these problems. An effective underactive thyroid diet can make it much easier to prevent excessive weight gain even when thyroid issues are a concern.
One of the reasons that weight gain is such an issue with hypothyroidism is due to the hormonal and metabolic imbalance that this condition often causes. Because of this it is important to be very cautious about the way you eat. In order to effectively control your weight with hypothyroidism it is necessary to know what a proper underactive thyroid diet consists of.
First and foremost fruits and vegetables should be the main characters in your diet. Other foods should then be used to complement these. Organic vegetables are the best. It is also recommended that you consume plenty of whole grains, seeds, legumes and unpolished brown rice. These contain fiber which helps to keep your system working properly as well as providing vitamins and nutrients which are essential to promote higher energy levels.
Many individuals who suffer from hypothyroidism have deficiencies of iodine. Common places to find this nutrient include iodized salt, sea salt, seafood, eggs and low fat dairy products. Flouride and chlorine block the absorption of iodine therefore they should definitely be avoided by people who have hypothyroidism. Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided or at least limited. These things have no real value and only succeed in preventing the body from producing the needed hormones.
Other foods that should definitely be avoided are those that have a high number of calories but very few nutrients. While these foods taste good and increase your energy levels for a while they also tend to increase your weight levels very quickly. Foods in this category include sugar, fried foods, meat, saturated fat and processed foods. Avoiding these types of food will go a long way toward maintaining an effective underactive thyroid diet.
Many individuals with hypothyroidism have low levels of zinc. Studies have shown that zinc promotes production of the thyroid hormone. For this reason taking a zinc supplement may be extremely beneficial to those who suffer from hypothyroidism.
