There is actually not too much to consider concerning the diet for hypothyroidism. The most important thing is the intake of a certain trace element. We have summarized everything worth knowing for you.
If you have hypothyroidism, your diet should be rich in iodine
The trace element iodine is a component of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. Basically, the thyroid gland needs iodine to produce the important thyroid hormones. By the way, this is true not only in cases of hypothyroidism, but also in general for a healthy thyroid gland.
- The body of an adult needs 200 micrograms of iodine per day. The trace element must be supplied to the body through food.
- Therefore, if you have hypothyroidism, you should reach for iodine-rich foods. These include, for example, seafood and sea fish, i.e. fish such as cod or pollock.
- The intake of iodine is very easy if you use iodized table salt for seasoning.
- Milk and dairy products should also be consumed regularly if you suffer from hypothyroidism.
- Note: Thyroid hormones should not be taken with milk or dairy products because the calcium they contain prevents absorption of the hormone. Several hours should elapse between taking medication and consuming dairy products. The same applies to fruit juices.
Special case: During pregnancy and and while breastfeeding
There is an increased need for iodine during both pregnancy and lactation. So in both cases, you need to take in a little more iodine through your diet. The daily requirement for pregnant women is 230 micrograms, and during lactation it should be 260 micrograms per day.
- Therefore, the iodine-rich foods described in the first paragraph should also be on the menu more frequently during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- In some cases, the iodine intake from food during pregnancy or while breastfeeding is not sufficient in the case of hypothyroidism.
- Talk to your gynecologist about your hypothyroidism. He may prescribe additional iodine tablets for you.
