Foods to Avoid
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are no specific foods to avoid if you have hypothyroidism. [7] The trick to managing hypothyroidism through dietary modification is to make sure you’re getting a balanced diet. This means getting all the nutrients you need in the proportion you need them.
If you have hypothyroidism, you should consider limiting your intake of these foods to maintain healthy levels. While they aren’t inherently bad, consuming excess can have adverse effects on thyroid function or interfere with treatment.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. Under normal circumstances, these vegetables are good for your health. They contain a lot of fiber and nutrients for proper body function. Despite these benefits, if you have an underactive thyroid you might want to reconsider adding them to your diet.
These vegetables may interfere with hormone production in the thyroid, especially if you have iodine deficiency. [8] Research suggests that consumption of cruciferous vegetables may inhibit your body’s ability to utilize iodine, which is needed for proper thyroid function. [9] Luckily, doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that only consuming these vegetables in high amounts can cause a real impact on your ability to use iodine. [10]
You can make these vegetables safer for your thyroids by cooking them before eating. Ideally, you should avoid consuming more than five ounces of these cooked vegetables to protect your thyroids.