Diet for autoimmune thyroiditis: regimen and principles of nutrition, allowed and prohibited foods

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-02 16:12

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

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

About the disease in brief

Before talking about the basics of a diet for autoimmune thyroiditis, we need to discuss the specifics of this disease.

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

This is a violation and leads to inflammation. This, in turn, causesdestruction of gland cells. The result is hypothyroidism.

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

Strictly Prohibited Foods

Never eat foods high in refined carbohydrates, or foods that contain Omega-6s, polyunsaturated fatty acids.

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

Here is a list of foods that are forbidden to eat:

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

All of the above are dominated by Omega-6s.

Prohibition on vegetables, cereals and more

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

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

Don't eat trans fats either. Namely:

• Spread.
• Margarine.
• Deodorized and hydrogenated oils.

Also avoid starchy vegetables, which include:

• Corn.
• Potatoes.
• Carrot.
• Pasternak.
• Celery.
• Radishes.
• Rotabaga.
• Beans and peas.
• Beets.
• Patissons.
• Radish.
• Pumpkin.
• Parsley.
• Fuck.
• Jerusalem artichoke.
• Zucchini.

Some experts claim that eating with autoimmune thyroiditis also implies the rejection of cereals, grains and legumes. Doctors believe that gluten should be excluded in the first place from your diet. In other words, a gluten-free diet is recommended for patients.

Also, patients are advised to give up nuts, seeds and nightshade vegetables. But opinions about the need to comply with such a diet in 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 allowed foods for autoimmune thyroiditis, you need to highlight a separate list of those dishes that are strictly prohibited. This is:

• Sugar, cream puffs, cakes and other pastries.
• AllGMO products.
• Rich broths.
• Fried food.
• Sausages and smoked meats.
• Goose, duck.
• Fatty pork.
• Coffee, strong tea, cocoa, chocolate.
• Semolina and white rice

What to include in your diet

It is highly recommended to build your menu based on products containing Omega-3 (fatty acids). Their consumption helps correct dysbacteriosis and reduce inflammation.

Their sources are products of plant and animal origin:

• Flax seeds and oil.
• Seafood.
• Canola oil.
• Chia seeds.
• Fish.
• Eggs.
• Arugula.
• Avocado.
• Spinach.
• Dill.
• Asparagus and regular beans.
• Cilantro.

The meat of animals and birds is also allowed, but only those that have been grass-fed. It is difficult to find such a product. But cows, in any case, during the entire spring-summer period, eat plant foods. So it is better to make a choice in favor of beef.

Fish must also meet certain requirements. It is necessary to buy the one that lived in natural conditions - in the ocean or in the sea. There are too many omega-6s in artificially fed fish.

Permitted fruits and vegetables

Continuing to talk about how to eat with autoimmune thyroiditis, we need to mention the fruits and vegetables that are allowed. The list is:

• Eggplant.
• Broccoli.
• Brussels sprouts.
• Green peas.
• Kolrabi.
• Cabbage and Chinese cabbage.
• Beet and turnip leaves.
• Changd.
• Salads.
• A bow of any kind.
• Cucumbers.
• Sweet pepper.
• Garlic.
• Chicory.
• Sorrel and spinach.

In general, those vegetables that do not contain starch are allowed. You should also include fiber and fruits (except bananas) in your diet, as eating them will help reduce inflammation and improve peristalsis.

Vitamins

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

• 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. Found in fermented milk products, raw yolks and oils, but since these 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 peanuts and legumes.}
• Vitamin B₁₂. It is found in pork, beef and calf liver, in fish(salmon, sardine, herring, mackerel), in mussels and other seafood, in green salad, onion and spinach. Also, vitamin B_{12 is included in sour cream, kefir, feta cheese, cheese and breakfast cereals, but the consumption of these products is also limited.}

Macro and micronutrients

While adhering to the right lifestyle and diet for autoimmune thyroiditis, one should not forget about the need to include in your diet foods containing macro- and microelements necessary for the body. Especially the following:

• Iodine. It is found in seaweed, shrimp, mussels, trepangs and fish.
• Selenium. The most important element with an antioxidant focus. It is sufficient in oat and wheat bran, whole grain bread, pink salmon, chickpeas, lentils and beans. Selenium helps to reduce the autoimmune process, as well as the functioning of the thyroid gland.
• Magnesium. It is found in 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 the microflora. Namely, the quality of digestion, digestibility and synthesis of vitamins depend on it.

For those who have abandoned the gluten-free diet

Above it was told about what can and cannot be eaten with autoimmune thyroiditis. It must be said thatthe menu will be especially varied for people who decide not to follow a strict gluten-free diet. Their diet is more varied:

• 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 lightly s alted fish, because due to heat treatment it loses a considerable amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Seafood salads are recommended to be supplemented with 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.
• Sauerkraut and cabbage.
• Bran, fenugreek, flax and sesame seeds.
• Raw fruits and berries, decoctions from 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). Preferably dietary, without adding roasts.
• Veal, chicken, beef. The meat should be baked or boiled.
• Offal. But only if they are not contraindicated due to high cholesterol.
• Bran bread, soy flour products and rice cakes. Allowed seeds and bran should be added to baking.
• Sour-milk products and low-fat milk.
• Eggs, but only 2-3 times a week.
• Brown rice, oatmeal and buckwheat. It is necessary to cook crumbly cereals, slightly undercookingcereals.

From the listed products you can make a very diverse, balanced and non-repetitive menu. With autoimmune thyroiditis, you can eat tasty and full.

Supplements & Drinks

Many people are interested in what you can fill the dishes with if you have to follow a diet. Well, it is allowed to use unrefined vegetable oils in a small amount. Avocado, flaxseed, sesame and olive can be the most beneficial.

Walnut oil is also useful. By the way, it is allowed to use. Walnuts have an ideal ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids.

You can drink green tea with ginger or lemon, rosehip broth, still water, and natural juices.

Special benefit of cherries

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

Ellagic acid contained in cherries also benefits (destroys cancer cells while keeping he althy ones). It only takes 200 grams of berries a day to lower blood levels of uric acid.

But you should eat only those berries that grew on trees not fed with pesticides.

Eating mode

It is recommended to switch to 6 meals a day. So it will be possible to prevent the appearance of hunger during the day. Approximatethe menu might look like this:

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

Pros and cons

Of course, restrictions are always bad. But since there are he alth problems, you need to adhere to a certain lifestyle. diet.

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

However, there are undoubted pluses. Namely:

• The diet is varied.
• All food is complete and easy to digest.
• Foods used contribute to the normalization of metabolism.
• A balanced diet can help you lose weight.

Lifestyle

A last word about this. 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 activity.
• Stay in the sun.
• Bathing in the sea. Water contains iodine in large quantities. And since they usually bathe for a long time, its prolonged exposure to the skin and penetration through the pores inside is harmful if the patient has an elevated level of the TSH hormone.
• There may be restrictions in the intimate sphere.

In any case, before giving up something or limiting yourself in something, you need to consult your doctor.