Various pathologies of the thyroid gland have an individual clinical picture. Accordingly, nutrition and diet in each case will be slightly different. If the pathology was triggered by iodine deficiency, products rich in this microelement or biologically active additives containing it should be included in the diet. Some thyroid diseases, on the contrary, are provoked by an excess of iodine, then the diet will be different. From this article you will find out which diet is optimal for thyroid disease: how much and how to eat, and how food affects metabolism.
Thyroid disease
Therapy of problems with the functioning of the thyroid gland is the science of endocrinology. To undergo the necessary examinations, you must make an appointment with the endocrinologist. Statistics confirm that women on average are twice as likely to suffer from the consequences provoked by pathological processes in this body.
The most common thyroid diseases:
- Euthyroidism is a condition in which the changes in the body affect only the thyroid gland. The production and excretion of thyroid hormones is not disturbed. Bodies and systems fully perform their functions. With euthyroidism, morphological changes of the organ itself occur (the formation of goiter, nodes, hyperplasia).
- Hypothyroidism is diagnosed in case of hormone deficiency, which is accompanied by energy deficiency. The course of metabolic processes slows down. Obesity, chronic fatigue, weakness appear.
- Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed when excessive activity of the gland leads to excessive production of hormones and throwing them into the bloodstream. The acceleration of metabolic processes throughout the body is characteristic. Characteristic deviations in the behavior and well-being of a person appear.
Overweight and Obesity: A Relationship with Hypothyroidism
Hormonal imbalance caused by hypothyroidism often causes obesity and overweight in women. The fair sex can exhaust themselves with diets and hunger strikes, but the weight will not move off the ground. After diagnosing hypothyroidism, a thyroid diet for weight loss will be effective. Of course, the parallel administration of drugs is necessary to fill the deficiency of thyroid stimulating hormone. Most often it is Eutiroks or Levothyroxine.
As for the diet for thyroid gland (with hypothyroidism, which is accompanied by excess weight), you should adhere to the fractional menu and recipes for lean dishes. It is necessary to monitor a sufficient amount of protein and amino acids in the diet - this is very important for gaining and maintaining muscle tone.
The basic principles of therapeutic nutrition for problems with the functioning of the thyroid gland
A diet for thyroid hypothyroidism in women implies that a person will lose weight. In parallel with medical nutrition, it is necessary to take the drugs prescribed by the endocrinologist.
If the patient is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, that is, an excessive amount of thyroid stimulating hormone, his goal is to recover and gain weight on the diet. In people with hyperthyroidism, underweight is most often observed.
The basic principles of a thyroid diet (regardless, there is an excess or lack of hormones):
- water regime: drink at least a liter of clean water daily;
- adhere to fractional frequent meals;
- calculate and adhere to individual indicators BZHU;
- the average daily calorie intake is at least 1,500 kcal, otherwise the metabolism slows down, and the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone in the blood fall inexorably.
Therapeutic nutrition for hyperthyroidism: features and prohibitions
Hyperthyroidism is characterized by an excess of thyroid-stimulating hormone in the blood. Most often, indicators T3 and T4 are increased. The metabolic processes in a person with such a disease proceed quickly: no matter how much he eats, he remains thin, the heart rate quickens and a constant process of thermogenesis occurs. He develops symptoms of a basic disease: the thyroid gland enlarges, his eyes go out of their orbits a bit, giving the face an unpleasant expression. Such symptoms are characteristic of all men and women suffering from hyperthyroidism.
With hyperthyroidism, the main goal of therapy is to reduce hyperthyroidism. For this, special pharmacological preparations are used - thyreostatics. You should follow a diet in which there are no foods with a high or even average iodine content.
Therapeutic nutrition for hypothyroidism: differences and features
Hypothyroidism, in contrast, occurs with a deficiency of thyroid stimulating hormone, a decrease in T3 and T4. If this diagnosis has been made, therapy will be carried out throughout the rest of life. If once the thyroid gland for some reason stopped the production of hormones, it is likely that it will never begin to function in the previous mode. It is in this condition that patients are threatened with obesity due to a slowdown in metabolic processes.
Diet with thyroid hypothyroidism in women does not have a decisive effect, it plays a more supportive role. The fact is that even the most proper nutrition is not able to replace thyroid-stimulating hormones, which are lacking in the body of a sick person. So without lifelong administration of “Eutiroks” and drugs similar to it in action, most often you can not do.
What foods and drinks are prohibited during clinical nutrition
Regardless of which thyroid pathology has been diagnosed, the following foods and drinks should be discarded:
- carbonated drinks;
- alcoholic beverages in any form and quantity;
- white yeast dough products;
- products from puff pastry;
- fried foods, such as pork steak, fried in oil;
- fast food;
- any dishes and pastries with trans fats.
A thyroid diet in a woman implies a significant decrease in the proportion of simple carbohydrates in the diet. About 40% of the diet should be proteins. Do not forget about healthy fats: vegetable oils must be present in the daily diet.
The role of proteins and amino acids in clinical nutrition: how to prevent deficiency
Diet for thyroid disease involves constant monitoring of the consumption of foods rich in iodine. It is also very important to prevent a lack of protein. Every day in the diet should be foods rich in essential amino acids:
- lean meat of turkey and chicken;
- chicken and quail eggs;
- cottage cheese;
- milk, fermented baked milk, ayran, kefir, yogurt;
- cheese;
- fish (salmon species are especially valuable in nutritional terms).
The role of iodine in the functioning of metabolism and foods rich in it
Diet for thyroid hypothyroidism involves the use of foods rich in iodine. This trace element stimulates the functionality of the body, forcing it to produce as many hormones as possible.
Patients who have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, on the contrary, should completely exclude from the diet dishes and foods rich in iodine. Thus, it will be possible to achieve a decrease in the concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormones in the blood.
List of iodine-rich foods:
- Cod.
- Himalayan salt.
- Bananas
- Strawberry.
- Sea beans.
- Fish fingers.
- Dried seaweed.
- Baked turkey breast.
- Iodized salt.
- Lobster
- Shrimp
- Canned Tuna.
- Milk.
- Boiled eggs.
- Natural yogurt.
- Cheddar Cheese.
- Canned corn.
- Green beans.
- White bread.
Thyroid Diet: Weekly Menu
The diet may differ significantly from the proposed. The diet for the thyroid gland does not have strict restrictions; it is worth enriching it with iodine or, on the contrary, depriving the body of this microelement, depending on whether the patient has hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
- Monday: buckwheat porridge with skim milk, as a dessert - a spoonful of honey, dried fruit compote, for lunch - lean borscht, stewed turkey, snack - a handful of nuts, dinner - chum or pink salmon, baked on the grill.
- Tuesday: kefir, scrambled eggs, bananas and berries, fruit smoothie, pilaf with seafood, for dinner - fish baked on the grill.
- Wednesday: oatmeal with raisins and sesame seeds, snack - diet bread, lunch - vegetable soup, lean veal stewed with chickpeas, for dinner - assorted nuts.
- Thursday: protein omelet, vegetable stew, for lunch - mashed soup with whole grain bread, a snack - briquette of low-fat cottage cheese, for dinner - fruit and berry smoothie, diet bread.
- Friday: fasting day on kefir and apples.
- Saturday: cheese with diet bread, okroshka, snack - apples or other fruits, dinner - boiled turkey fillet with vegetable salad.
- Sunday: cottage cheese casserole, for lunch - egg omelette with slices of bacon, a snack - a briquette of low-fat cottage cheese, dinner - veal steak.
A puree soup recipe that's perfect for people with hyperthyroidism
This recipe does not contain iodine-rich foods. Therefore, it is ideal as a first course for patients with hyperthyroidism. What thyroid diet involves the rejection of iodine? It is with hyperthyroidism that it is necessary to reduce the share of the intake of this trace element with food.
For the soup you will need the following ingredients:
- chicken fillet - 200 grams;
- garlic - one clove;
- cauliflower - 400 grams;
- dill and parsley, finely chopped - 50 grams;
- one medium-sized carrot.
Boil fillet, peeled carrots, a clove of garlic, cauliflower in one pan in one liter of water. Add salt and spices to taste. Then, with a submersible blender or food processor, grind all the ingredients to a homogeneous state.
Puree soup is delicious only in a warm state, while fresh. When reheated, its taste properties significantly deteriorate.
Seaweed salad recipe for people with hypothyroidism
Sea kale, like all other seafood, is an excellent source of iodine. A diet for the thyroid gland, when diagnosing a patient with hypothyroidism, implies an increased content of this microelement in the diet.
The following ingredients will be needed:
- a can of canned seaweed - 200 grams;
- two pre-boiled, peeled chicken eggs,
- 30 grams of dill and parsley, finely chopped;
- small shrimps pre-cooked in salted water and peeled - 10 grams.
Finely chopped boiled eggs. Mix with shrimp, seaweed, chopped herbs. Salting is not required, as seaweed is quite salty on its own. Refueling the salad is not necessary, but you can add a spoonful of mayonnaise if desired.
Seafood pilaf recipe for people with thyroid disease
Very tasty and unusual pilaf is obtained if instead of the usual meat, large king prawns are used.
- Heat a non-stick pan, moisten the bottom with olive oil.
- Put chopped green onions, dill, cilantro, and chicken on the bottom of the pan.
- Put a layer of rice (brown or special for pilaf - at the discretion of the cook) - 300-350 grams.
- Put peeled shrimp on top - about 300 grams
- Pour in water so that it covers the shrimp only slightly. Add salt and pepper, bay leaf.
- Simmer for 30-40 minutes until rice is cooked.