Hyperthyroidism is a disease that affects the metabolic system and is characterized by abnormal production of thyroid hormones. Because of this pathology, a series of consequences occur in the body that can reach a certain severity depending on the alteration of the endocrine gland.
Hyperthyroidism is becoming more common among women because they are exposed to more hormonal variations throughout their lives. It is a disorder that requires treatment and special care in eating. Therefore, in the following article we are going to talk about the best diet for women who suffer from hyperthyroidism. Very attentive.
Hyperthyroidism: what is it?
Hyperthyroidism is a disease caused by a disorder in the thyroid gland, located in the front part of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple. The function of this gland, in addition to controlling the gastrointestinal, neurological, muscular, psychological, and cardiovascular systems, is to secrete hormones (specifically, it is responsible for producing the hormones thyroxin and triiodothyronine) that control metabolism, that is, the way in which the Different cells in the body use energy. For this reason, when the thyroid gland becomes destabilized, two types of disorder can be caused:
- Hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid: is the increase in activity above normal of the thyroid gland. Causes weight loss.
- Hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid: it is just the opposite of hyperthyroidism, that is, the decrease in activity of the thyroid gland below normal. Causes weight gain.
- The causes for which hyperthyroidism occurs are very varied, but in recent years it has advanced a lot due to stress, as several specialists point out.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism
Thyroid hormones are linked to a large number of areas of our body. For this reason, the symptoms of hyperthyroidism can be very varied and manifest in very different places depending on the organs that see their functional activity affected.
The most common symptoms of hyperthyroidism are the following:
- Weight loss.
- Nervousness.
- Tachycardia.
- General discomfort.
In addition, young people usually show other added symptoms such as:
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
- Irregular heart rhythm.
- extreme sweating
- Tremors.
- anxiety.
- Insomnia.
- Great sensitivity to heat.
- Fine and very brittle hair.
- Muscular weakness.
- Vision problems.
- Menstrual disturbance.
- Sterility.
- Diarrhea.
- Continuous desire to urinate.
- Increased appetite.
- Older people, for their part, also experience the following symptoms:
- Weakness.
- Drowsiness.
- Dejection.
- Confusion.
- depression.
Treatment of hyperthyroidism
- If you have any of the above symptoms, you should see your doctor who, after the respective tests, will diagnose whether or not you have hyperthyroidism and will prescribe the appropriate treatment for your specific case.
- The most common test is a simple blood sample to test for thyroid -stimulating hormone. This analysis will reveal if you are in an early or advanced stage of the disease.
- The treatment is usually based on drugs, although there is also the possibility of surgical intervention to solve the problem of the thyroid gland.
- In addition to the pharmacological treatment prescribed by the endocrinologist, diet also plays a fundamental role in dealing with this disease. Next, we give you a series of nutritional advice and we tell you what foods you can eat and what not if you suffer from it. Take note.
Foods suitable for hyperthyroidism
There are a number of highly recommended foods and products for the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Below you will find the most beneficial:
Vegetables of the cruciferous family
These foods have a high content of chromogenic and coffee acids, which stand out for their ability to inhibit the absorption of iodine (a triggering factor for hyperthyroidism). What foods are part of the cruciferous family? Cabbage, radish, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli.
Legumes
Nutritionists recommend the consumption of the following legumes (also very rich in chromogenic and caffeic acids) for the treatment of hyperthyroidism: chickpeas, soybeans and beans (beans).
Seeds and nuts
It is essential that you introduce nuts and seeds such as chestnuts, millet, flax seeds and pine nuts into your daily diet because they inhibit the production of thyroxine.
Fruit
- There is a large number of highly recommended fruits to keep the thyroid gland at bay:
- Oranges, lemons and figs: rich in caffeic acid.
- Avocados, plums and peaches: rich in chlorogenic acid.
- Pomegranate and grapes: fleshy fruits that have a high content of ellagic acid which regulates the production of thyroid hormones, specifically decreases them.
- Melon: rich in lithium.
Vegetables and raw foods
Traditional Chinese medicine states that raw foods are more refreshing, have many more nutrients, and help calm our thyroids. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you introduce raw vegetables and vegetables into your salads such as:
- Celery, pumpkin and lettuce: rich in caffeic acid.
- Peppers, cucumbers, carrots, aborigines: rich in chlorogenic acid.
- Onions, asparagus, endives, parsley and potatoes: rich in lithium.
Plants recommended for hyperthyroidism
- Wolf mint (Lycopus europaeus): ideal for inhibiting the action of iodine on the thyroid. You can consume it through an infusion such as a tea, although they also sell it in liquid form in herbalists. If you opt for this second option, you should take approximately 30 drops daily.
- Lemon balm: if you combine it with mint it will be even more effective. You can consume an average of three cups a day.
Foods to avoid if you have hyperthyroidism
The ones that we are going to mention below are foods that hyperthyroidism patients should avoid, since they stimulate the production of hormones in the thyroid (also known as hyperthyroid foods). In general, we are going to see that these are foods with a high iodine content.
- Different foods with iodine to avoid: Garlic, oats, coconut, hazelnut, strawberries, soybeans, sunflower, tomatoes, apples, lentils, mangoes, dates, pistachios, cashews, Brazil nuts, pineapples, peas, almonds, apricots, spinach, broad beans and corn.
- Herbs or species that should be avoided: Fennel, hyssop, ground ivy, ginseng and cinnamon.
- In general, seaweeds contain a lot of iodine, especially the species Fucus vesiculosus.
- Seafood, as it is one of the foods of animal origin richest in iodine.
Other nutrition tips for people for people with hyperthyroidism
- He eats five meals a day (three main meals and two snacks) with a fixed schedule for each of them.
- In each of the meals there must be presence of: protein, fat and carbohydrates.
- Don’t let more than an hour go by since you get up without breakfast and don’t let more than four or five hours go by between meals.
- Prepare a glass of warm water with two or three drops of lemon and drink it before breakfast.
- Do not mix starches in the same meal: bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, bananas, corn, beets, pumpkin…
- Reduce the consumption of red meat, sausages, fatty cheeses, egg yolks, processed or refined foods and exciting products (coffee, tea, chocolate…)
- Drink between 1.5 and 2 liters of water a day.
- Cook food on the grill, cooked, steamed or baked. Always avoid fried or breaded foods that contain a lot of fat and moderate the amount of salt you add to your dishes.
- Practice moderate physical exercise for at least 40 minutes a day.
- Try to reduce your stress level. To do this, you can put different relaxation techniques into practice or do yoga.