Is there a hypothyroidism diet that helps correct low thyroid? Yes! The most effective is one that is formulated based on your biochemical individuality, your specific nutrient supplement needs, and your lifestyle factors.
In general, most people suffering from hypothyroidism would benefit from the following hypothyroid diet guidelines:
- Eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner, with two healthy snacks between meals. This essentially makes you eat small healthy meals or snack about every 3 hours. By “healthy” I mean: Your daily food should contain at least 50% dark green and brightly-colored vegetables, 20% concentrated protein containing high omega-3 fatty acids, 15% lentils, beans, peas and/or raw nuts, 10% brightly colored fruits and 5% gluten-free grains.
- Avoid significant amounts of cabbage and avoid soy.
- Do not eat fried, charbroiled, pickled, or breaded foods.
- Do not store food in plastics; use stoneware, glass, pyrex or porcelain.
- Eliminate white flour, white rice, white sugar, white potatoes, corn syrup, honey and all candy.
- Have some concentrated protein with your breakfast, such as a couple of eggs or a little bit of salmon.
- Try to have some unsweetened gluten-free oatmeal or quinoa with the breakfast. (Quinoa is a gluten-free grain that’s higher in protein than oats.)
- Drink about 8-10 glasses of water per day.
- Have green tea or white tea for beverages, even though it has caffeine. Avoid coffee except occasionally.
- Eat grass-fed, free-range beef and lamb, cage-free chicken and eggs, and wild salmon for concentrated protein sources. These forms of protein foods have about 7 times the healthy omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally raised meat and fish. Cook them by sautéing, baking or broiling, not frying.
- As much as possible have gluten-free grains.
- Juice green vegetables: Blend kale, bok choy, collard greens, mustard greens, broccoli, Swiss chard, carrots, lemons, celery and cilantro and some frozen blueberries (all organic, if possible).
- Eat brazil nuts 2-3 per day (for selenium).
- Use iodized sea salt.
- Add seaweed to your diet.
The above diet for hypothyroid is based on Functional Medicine and Clinical Nutrition principles. For a hypothyroidism diet that is therapeutic and focused on your own thyroid and health condition, read the Natural Hypothyroidism Treatment.