Diet for autoimmune thyroiditis: diet regimen and principles, permitted and prohibited products

Autoimmune thyroiditis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland of autoimmune origin. Unfortunately, every person who encounters him is forced to observe a special lifestyle and diet. With autoimmune thyroiditis, there are many limitations. But balanced nutrition is possible.

What is allowed to eat with this disease? And what not? What should be the menu? This and much more will now be discussed.

Briefly about the disease

Before you talk about the basics of the diet for autoimmune thyroiditis, you need to discuss the specifics of this ailment.

It manifests itself in violation of immunological control. In the body of a person suffering from this disease, antibodies to thyroid tissue are produced, as well as to thyroid peroxidase (this is the main enzyme of hormones) and thyroglobulin (a protein that accumulates in the structurally functional unit of the thyroid gland).

This violation leads to inflammation. It, in turn, causes the destruction of gland cells. As a result, hypothyroidism occurs.

What does the diet provide? The most important thing is to limit or completely eliminate foods that can enhance autoimmune reactions and inflammation, in addition, it is necessary to enrich the diet with products that can restore intestinal microflora. Since its change is the key factor in any autoimmune diseases.

Strictly Prohibited Products

In no case should you eat foods high in refined carbohydrates, as well as foods that contain omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

These foods contribute most to inflammation. Because the body, digesting them, produces the so-called oxidants - oxidizing agents that destroy cells and support inflammation. In addition, they contribute to dysbiosis, obesity, diabetes and the development of cancer of the intestines and breast.

Here is a list of products that are forbidden to consume:

• Grape seed oil.
• Wheat germ.
• Rapeseed, peanut, soybean, cottonseed, corn and sunflower oils.
• Pumpkin seeds.
• Rye, oats, lentils, chickpeas.
• Wheat.
• Sesame.

Omega-6 prevails in all of the above.

The ban on vegetables, cereals and more

Of course, the short list above is not all that you have to give up, observing a diet with autoimmune thyroiditis.

The ban is imposed on dairy products. After all, proteins and casein may not be fully digested, and this will create an additional burden on the digestive tract.

You can not use trans fats. Namely:

• Spread
• Margarine.
• Deodorized and hydrogenated oils.

You can also not eat starchy vegetables, which include:

• Corn.
• Potatoes.
• Carrot.
• Parsnip.
• Celery.
• Radish.
• Swede.
• Beans and peas.
• Beet.
• Squash.
• Radish.
• Pumpkin.
• Parsley.
• Horseradish.
• Jerusalem artichoke.
• Zucchini.

Some experts claim that nutrition with autoimmune thyroiditis also implies the rejection of cereals, grains and legumes. Doctors believe that gluten should be eliminated primarily from their diet. In other words, a gluten-free diet is recommended for patients .

Also, patients are offered to abandon nuts, seeds and nightshade vegetables. But opinions about the need to follow such a diet with autoimmune thyroiditis are contradictory. If desired, and after agreement with the doctor, you can try to adhere to it for 2-3 months, and then draw conclusions regarding effectiveness. The main thing is to observe the dynamics of antibodies to thyroglobulin.

Dishes That Will Harm

Before listing the allowed products for autoimmune thyroiditis, you need to select a separate list of those dishes that are strictly prohibited. It:

• Sugar, cream cakes, cakes and other baked goods.
• All GMO products.
• Rich broths.
• Fried food.
• Sausages and smoked meats.
• Goose, duck.
• Fatty Pork
• Coffee, strong tea, cocoa, chocolate.
• Semolina and white rice.

What should be included in the diet

It is highly recommended that you build your menu based on products containing omega-3s (fatty acids). Their consumption helps to correct dysbiosis and reduce inflammation.

Their sources are products of plant and animal origin:

• Flax seeds and oil.
• Seafood.
• Canola oil.
• Chia seeds
• Fish.
• The eggs.
• Arugula.
• Avocado.
• Spinach.
• Dill.
• Asparagus and plain beans.
• Cilantro.

The meat of animals and birds is also allowed, but only those that have been fed grass. It’s hard to find such a product. But cows, in any case, throughout the spring-summer period feed on plant foods. So the choice is best made in favor of beef.

Fish must also meet certain requirements. We must buy the one that lived in natural conditions - in the ocean or in the sea. Artificially fed fish contain too much omega-6.

Allowed Fruits and Vegetables

Continuing to talk about how to eat with autoimmune thyroiditis, you need to mention fruits and vegetables, the use of which is allowed. The list is as follows:

• Eggplant.
• Broccoli.
• Brussels sprouts.
• Green pea.
• Kohlrabi.
• Head and Beijing cabbage.
• Beet tops and turnips.
• Chard.
• Salads.
• Onions of any kind.
• Cucumbers
• Bell pepper.
• Garlic.
• Chicory.
• Sorrel and spinach.

In general, the use of those vegetables that do not contain starch is allowed. It is also necessary to include fiber and fruits (except bananas) in the diet, since their use will help reduce inflammation and improve peristalsis.

Vitamins

They need to enrich your diet. Here are the vitamins for autoimmune thyroiditis to take is really important:

• A, E and C. These are effective antioxidants that reduce inflammation. Most of them are found in vegetable oils (but they should not be abused), fruits and vegetables.
• Vitamin D. Scientists believe that its deficiency is a provoking factor in the development of autoimmune diseases. It is found in fermented milk products, raw yolks and oils, but since such products need to be consumed in limited quantities, you can replace them with seafood, fish liver, tuna, herring, mackerel and mackerel.
• Vitamin B ₉ . Its content is high in Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach, green onions, lettuce, as well as in peanuts and legumes.
• Vitamin B ₁₂ . It is found in pork, beef and veal liver, in fish (salmon, sardine, herring, mackerel), in mussels and other seafood, in green salad, onions and spinach. Vitamin B ₁₂ is also part of sour cream, kefir, feta cheese, cheese and cereal breakfasts, but the consumption of these products is also limited.

Macro and microelements

Adhering to the correct lifestyle and diet with autoimmune thyroiditis, you must not forget about the need to include in your diet products containing the necessary macro- and microelements for the body. Especially the following:

• Iodine. It is found in seaweed, shrimp, mussels, sea cucumbers and fish.
• Selenium. The most important element with antioxidant focus. It is enough in oat and wheat bran, whole grain flour, pink salmon, chickpea, lentils and beans. Selenium helps to reduce the autoimmune process, as well as the functioning of the thyroid gland.
• Magnesium. It is part of cocoa, wheat bran, cashew nuts, buckwheat, soybeans, almonds, brown rice, spinach, oatmeal and chicken eggs.
• Zinc. This element is found in seafood (especially oysters), sesame and pumpkin seeds, chicken hearts, animal liver, peas, lentils, beans and peanut butter.

These substances normalize microflora. Namely, the quality of digestion, digestibility and synthesis of vitamins depends on it.

For those who refused a gluten-free diet

It was described above about what is possible and what cannot be eaten with autoimmune thyroiditis. I must say that the menu for people who decide not to follow a strict gluten-free diet will be especially diverse. Their food is more diverse:

• Fatty fish and seafood (salmon, cod, tuna, salmon, flounder). It is recommended to eat 3 times a week for 100-150 g. It is best to eat slightly salted fish, because due to heat treatment it loses a considerable amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Seafood salads are recommended to complement seaweed.
• Fresh vegetables and fruits. If a person wants to eat something starchy, then it must first be soaked in water (with its reusable change) for several hours.
• Pickled vegetables and cabbage.
• Bran, fenugreek, flax and sesame seeds.
• Raw fruits and berries, decoctions of them. They perfectly stimulate metabolic processes, and also supply the body with pectins, fiber and help fight constipation and excess weight, which people with thyroid problems are prone to.
• Vegetable soups (borscht, beetroot soup, cabbage soup). It is advisable to diet, without adding fry.
• Veal, chicken, beef. The meat must be baked or boiled.
• Offal. But only if they are not contraindicated due to high cholesterol.
• Bran bread, soy flour products and rice cakes. In baking, you need to add the allowed seeds and bran.
• Dairy products and milk with minimal fat content.
• Eggs, but only 2-3 times a week.
• Brown rice, oatmeal and buckwheat. It is necessary to cook friable cereals, slightly without adding cereals.

From these products you can make a very diverse, balanced and non-repeating menu. With autoimmune thyroiditis, you can eat tasty and wholesome.

Supplements and Drink

Many people are interested in how to season meals if you have to follow a diet. Well, it is allowed to use unrefined vegetable oils in a small amount. Most benefits can be obtained from avocados, flaxseed, sesame and olive.

Walnut oil is also useful. By the way, it is allowed to use. In a walnut, Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids are ideally correlated.

You can drink green tea with ginger or lemon, a rosehip broth, water without gas, and also natural juices.

The special benefits of cherries

It must be said separately. The fact is that these red berries are rich in compounds that have anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects. One flavonoid quercetin is worth it!

Ellagic acid contained in cherries also benefits (destroys cancer cells while maintaining healthy ones). Only 200 grams of berries per day is enough to lower the level of uric acid in the blood.

But you only need those berries that grew on trees that are not fed with pesticides.

Diet

It is recommended to switch to a 6-time meal. Thus, it will be possible to prevent a feeling of hunger during the day. An example menu might look like this:

• Breakfast: green tea with ginger, fresh fruits and oatmeal with prunes.
• Second breakfast: fruit salad.
• Lunch: vegetable salad with olive oil, boiled chicken, brussels sprouts soup and a glass of compote.
• Snack: ripe grapefruit.
• Dinner: salad with the addition of seaweed, seafood and sesame oil, a glass of juice.
• Snack 2 hours before bedtime: yogurt with natural sourdough.

Advantages and disadvantages

Of course, limitations are always bad. But since there are health problems, you need to adhere to a certain lifestyle. diet.

A diet with autoimmune thyroiditis implies a rejection of simple carbohydrates, and this is a minus. Many patients find it difficult to tolerate. The second minus is that for many people this diet is expensive. It involves the use of seafood, and not all of them are cheap.

However, there are undoubted advantages. Namely:

• Diet is varied.
• All food is complete and easy to digest.
• Consumed foods contribute to the normalization of metabolism.
• A balanced diet helps to manage excess weight.

Lifestyle

This is the last thing. The lifestyle with this disease changes dramatically, and this is caused by the symptoms of the disease.

Doctors strongly recommend limiting yourself to the following:

• Physical exercise.
• Stay in the sun.
• Swimming in the sea. Water contains iodine in large quantities. And since they usually bathe for a long time, its long-term effect on the skin and penetration through the pores inside is harmful if the patient has a level of TSH hormone.
• There may be restrictions in the intimate sphere.

In any case, before you give up something or limit yourself to something, you need to consult your doctor.