The foods that can trigger your thyroid issues
Can certain foods trigger or even contribute to thyroid disease? Many people look to their diet when diagnosed with a condition such as Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease. There are a few key food types to consider if you want to take care of your thyroid health.
Does food really make that much of a difference?
Absolutely. The food that we eat (and don't eat) is one of the most important things to consider when it comes to thyroid health.
Why?
Food can either support or hinder our gut health - which is where a lot of thyroid disease begins
It is our #1 source of nutrients for the thyroid
It can be pro or anti-inflammatory - so it can influence healing and flare-ups
All of these mechanisms affect various body systems that can have a domino effect on the thyroid - for example the nervous system
We do it every single day - usually multiple times per day! That means more chances to get it right
That’s why you want to think about which foods can support your thyroid, and which can potentially trigger or exacerbate the issue.
Foods that can trigger your thyroid issues
Gluten
In most cases, I recommend clients with thyroid disease remove gluten from the diet. This is because gluten isn't just something that you can be intolerant to - it can also trigger your thyroid flares.
There is a component in gluten that looks biochemically similar to another compound found in the thyroid. When the immune system attacks the gluten component in the bloodstream, it also attacks the thyroid. This is known as molecular mimicry.
As the majority of thyroid disease is autoimmune, there is also a higher risk of Coeliac disease - another autoimmune condition. A combination of Coeliac disease and thyroid disease can be a perfect storm of inflammation and immune reactions.
This is why I recommend that anyone with an autoimmune thyroid condition remove gluten from the diet and see if their symptoms improve as a result.
Food intolerances
Food intolerance and thyroid disease often go hand in hand for several reasons:
Intolerances increase the overall inflammation levels in your body - this is a problem for flares and the disease process of thyroid conditions
They affect gut integrity - inflammation and impact on gut health can lead to increased intestinal permeability (or leaky gut) and trigger the immune system
They can impact the digestion of food - this increases your risk of nutrient deficiencies, including those that are vital for a healthy functioning thyroid gland.
Many of the clients I work with come to me when their thyroid replacement therapy hasn't helped their symptoms. For most of those people, the reason is that there is a secondary factor such as a food intolerance flaring their symptoms and preventing them from healing.
Processed foods
Honestly, processed foods can be a problem for almost any health issue! But when it comes specifically to thyroid health, processed foods are:
Full of additives and ingredients that you may be sensitive to
Devoid of many nutrients – this essentially makes them ‘empty calories’
Highly inflammatory – which is a big trigger and disease process when it comes to the thyroid
Lead to blood sugar fluctuations - this has a knock-on effect on your thyroid and other hormones
That’s why it’s best to avoid these foods whenever possible. The occasional treat is fine as long as it’s not a specific trigger food for you. But if you consume processed foods on a regular basis, you may find your thyroid symptoms flaring.
Are there specific foods that are bad for hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism?
There sure are - stay tuned for future articles exploring these topics.
Reminder: it’s not just about removing foods!
You can cut out one, two, 10 or even 20 foods to heal your thyroid. But the problem with this is that a particular food wasn't the only trigger that caused the condition in the first place!
Can intolerances contribute to thyroid disease? Absolutely.
Can eliminating intolerances alleviate symptoms? Sure.
But unless you do the work to heal the underlying causes, eliminating foods will only cause you misery in the long-term.
To get your thyroid health back on track, you need to address:
Nutrition
Hydration
Movement
Stress and self care
Sleep
Mindset
The good news is that you don't have to do this alone. I’ve created two ebooks to help you on your thyroid journey, whether your thyroid is over or underactive. If you have hyperthyroidism or Graves’, check out this ebook here. If you have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s, this is the ebook for you.