Hypothyroidism is a fairly common disorder, and many people are unaware that they even have it. The thyroid is an extremely important gland that controls metabolism, growth, blood calcium levels, energy, oxygen, body fat and weight loss. A raw food diet is often advocated to combat hypothyroidism because it seeks to provide your body with all the essential vitamins and minerals through natural, raw foods that contain less fat, preservatives and other harmful agents.
What Is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a condition characterized by a deficient or inefficient production or use of hormones from the thyroid. There are many types of hypothyroidism, ranging from conditions where the body's immune system attacks the thyroid (Hashimoto's thyroiditis), to an overactive gland or even a viral or bacterial infection. People with hypothyroidism are commonly lethargic, have a slow pulse and an intolerance to cold. They may uncontrollably gain weight without being able to lose it, be constipated and numb in the extremities. In some cases, confusion, dementia and depression can occur. When hypothyroidism occurs in children, it can cause a growth retardation or mental deficiencies.
What Raw Foods are Good for Me?
Any food diet (raw or otherwise) that you choose to follow should have a balanced plethora of vitamins and minerals. Iodine is especially important, as a deficiency with it can cause hypothyroidism with goiter, or an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. Iodine is added to many of our foods today, such as table salt, so you likely won't need to worry about this one. In fact, you may need to be careful that you don't overdo it on the iodine, as too much can be just as dangerous. If you aren't in the habit of salting your food, find different sources than iodized table salt. Most saltwater fish, seaweed and seafood contain ample amounts of iodine. Try sushi or sashimi, for example.
Another important substance to consider is tyrosine. It's an important amino acid that works with iodine in the thyroid gland to create thyroxine, a hormone that controls metabolic rate and promotes growth. For hypothyroidic children, this is particularly important. The amino acid itself can help depression and alleviate lethargy, two common symptoms people with hypothyroidism face.
Tyrosine can be found in whole grains, wheats and oats. It's also available in abundance in dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese. Many fruits and vegetables have tyrosine, particularly bananas and avocados. Also try almonds, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds. Tyrosine is, of course, also present in many meat sources, such as lean chicken and pork.
What Raw Foods Should I Avoid?
The foods you want to avoid depend largely on a few factors. First, are you on any medications? Recently, many foods have been termed "goitrogenic," or known to make hypothyroidism worse. Whether or not this is true is still being tested; however, these foods are known to have compounds and substances that may actually counteract any medication you're taking. The identified foods include: babassu, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, kale, millet, peaches, pears, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, strawberries and turnips. Talk to your doctor about this and what specific foods you need to avoid to prevent a possible interaction with your medication.
The good news is that if you like these foods, cooking them is believed to destroy the enzymes that contribute to the goitrogenic properties of the food.
The Evidence
According to Dr. Todd Nippolt, M.D., an endocrinologist with the Mayo Clinic, there is no supporting scientific evidence that any certain hypothyroidism diet exists that will improve your thyroid function. A 1957 experiment at the University of Madras, India, however, did find that certain foods can contain goitrogenic substances which induce an enlargement of the thyroid, thus substantiating the claims that certain foods may indeed be dangerous to your health.
Tags: that certain, about this, amino acid, certain foods, , food diet