The thyroid gland is the most important organ responsible for the secretion of three hormones. Two of them are responsible for the growth and regeneration of connective tissue, and the third is involved in the cellular metabolism of calcium. It is natural that any interruptions in the thyroid gland lead to problems in all body systems. In order to maintain normal functioning, it’s important to include thyroid-friendly foods in your diet.
What foods are important for the thyroid gland?
The thyroid gland has a huge effect on the hormonal background of a person. The hormones it produces regulate vital processes:
- breath;
- palpitations
- traffic;
- reproductive functions and others.
For normal functioning, the thyroid gland should fully receive iodine, selenium and zinc. Lack of them in the human body can lead to a number of diseases associated with impaired hormone production. Such elements can be obtained by eating foods that are beneficial to the thyroid gland. First of all, this:
- seafood (especially fish of fatty varieties);
- chicken and quail eggs;
- white meat;
- sesame seeds, nuts and a number of others.
Sea kale as an iodine-containing product
Kelp brown algae have long been consumed by peoples living near the sea. The value of this product is that it has amino acids and iodine, which is easily absorbed by the human body. Laminaria is more than 30 species, but only sugary and palm-dissected are used for food. It is these two species that are customary to eat. This is due not only to taste, but also to the fact that algae is rich in useful trace elements, such as:
- magnesium;
- silicon;
- phosphorus;
- iron;
- iodine and many others.
The amount of iodine in this product is almost twice the daily rate. Moreover, according to this indicator, seaweed overtakes most drugs and dietary supplements. The unique composition puts this seaweed on a par with the most useful products in the world. But, unfortunately, this is far from the most delicious product. True, if the seaweed is correctly processed, add some seasonings and spices, you can get quite edible dishes. All cuisines of the world use seaweed in their recipes, only in Japan there are more than 150 of them. We can safely say that this is a unique product, although it has seaweed and has beneficial properties and contraindications.
What is useful seaweed
Laminaria can be considered not only a food product, but also a real medicine. Its use is great and extends to various systems of the human body:
- The high iodine content in algae allows them to regulate the thyroid gland. If you use seaweed regularly, you can prevent the development of endemic goiter. It is also advisable to eat kelp and radiation sickness.
- Undoubtedly its benefits for the cardiovascular system. Laminaria is used in the treatment of coronary disease. The product is indispensable for those who suffer from high blood pressure.
- As for the digestive system, seaweed contributes to good peristalsis, normalizing stools and facilitating the absorption of healthy food components. It improves the metabolism in the body, and this, in turn, affects the improvement of human well-being.
Given the unique qualities of seaweed, it is not surprising that on its basis there are many medications for various diseases that are designed to:
- eliminate inflammatory processes;
- relieve puffiness;
- rid the body of cholesterol.
Sea kale is low in calories, which is especially important for those who want to lose weight.
What harm can health bring seaweed
Useful products for the thyroid gland, such as seaweed in our case, unfortunately, can cause harm to health. So, there are several nuances:
- It is important to consider the location of the kelp. After all, algae tend to absorb not only beneficial substances, but also harmful ones from seawater. If kelp grew in waters with a problematic ecological situation, then it can contain various harmful substances, including radioactive elements.
- It is not recommended to use seaweed for people who may be allergic to one of its components. The reaction of the body can be unpredictable (from skin rashes to attacks of suffocation). Therefore, it is advisable to conduct tests for the presence of such reactions.
- Due to the high iodine content, kelp is undesirable to include in people with hyperthyroidism. You must first pass an appropriate examination to identify this fact.
Iodine-containing foods
For the thyroid gland, this is just a godsend! If the functioning of this body is impaired, such manifestations may occur:
- sleep disorder;
- unexpected decrease in body temperature;
- unexplained decrease in blood pressure;
- a sharp change in weight in any direction and a number of other pathological processes.
In such cases, there is a need for correction of iodine, but self-medication is not recommended, it is advisable to consult a doctor to help him make a list of healthy foods. If the doctor diagnoses hypothyroidism, then the patient will be offered the most valuable products in terms of iodine content. Here is just a small list of iodine-containing products:
- baked potatoes - it contains more than a third of the daily norm of iodine;
- cranberries - in it, in addition to the daily dose of iodine, vitamins K and C are present;
- sea kale - contains iodine in an amount of more than two daily allowances;
- fish red caviar - helps to strengthen the immune system;
- mussels in oil;
- iodized salt and many others.
It is also necessary to keep in mind that people with thyroid pathologies are forbidden any alcoholic drinks, marinades and spices.
Products for normal thyroid function
For the prevention of iodine deficiency, especially if such a problem has already arisen, you should often include seafood in your diet, especially the following:
- squid and shrimp;
- rapans;
- mussels in oil;
- cod liver oil;
- any fish;
- sea kale.
If you still do not like seaweed, you can take it a little dry separately from food. And you can add a little bit to an already prepared soup or salad, as well as to meat dishes. The thyroid gland also loves other iodine-rich foods:
- persimmon;
- Tomatoes
- leaf salad;
- Jerusalem artichoke;
- low-fat dairy products;
- various cereals.
What foods can not be eaten with thyroid diseases
For the normal functioning of the thyroid gland, a person needs to eat properly in order to receive the necessary vitamins and minerals. However, it should be borne in mind that there are products that are harmful to the thyroid gland. First of all, you need to avoid the use of:
- carbonated and other drinks that can be attributed to artificial foods;
- alcohol
- salts;
- products containing preservatives and dyes (sausage, chips, flavored crackers);
- margarine, artificial fats.
In order for the body to normally produce the right amount of hormones, you need to consult a doctor about a diet that will include healthy products for the thyroid gland.
Exemplary Thyroid Diet
For disorders in the thyroid gland, experts suggest including the following dishes in the diet:
- For breakfast, you can cook cereals in the form of crumbly or milk porridge, casserole or pudding. Still, as already recommended above, it is advisable to eat baked potatoes in the oven.
- For lunch, you can cook vegetarian borscht or soup, the second is suitable vegetable stew. It’s nice to cook fruit pilaf. As the basis for a light salad, seaweed can be used , the beneficial properties and contraindications for which have been described above.
- You can prepare fruit desserts in the form of jelly, compotes and dried fruit jelly.
- Bread can be replaced with yeast-free cakes.
The right diet will help improve your health.