First things first, you must consider food to be your medicine and get off all processed junk food, sugar (which sends you on a hormonal rollercoaster ride) and gluten. The Daily Living Eating Plan is a great place to start. In addition, l-glutamine is a key amino acid that reduces cravings for high-glycemic carbohydrates and helps kick the sugar habit. If you have already done that and are looking to go deeper, here are some tips to heal the thyroid:
- Eat Sea Vegetables Twice a Week
Sea vegetables are a good natural source of iodine to support the thyroid. Incorporating some sea veggies into your diet can be as simple as:
Adding a piece of Kombu to a pot of beans or soup during cooking
Sprinkle kelp granules over your salads or hot dishes just like you would use salt
Making a nori wrap (this is what’s used to wrap sushi)
For recipes, check out Andrea’s website here or the Integrative Nutrition recipes featuring sea veggies.
- Don’t Be Afraid of Butter
“The endocrine system loves butter,” Andrea said. Even if you’re cutting out other forms of dairy like milk and cheese, consider keeping grass-fed butter (like KerryGold butter) in your diet.
- Cook Your Kale
If you have thyroid issues, then raw cruciferous vegetables may not be the best choice. You might want to skip the kale smoothies and salads, and eat your greens cooked instead. The reason is that the cruciferous vegetables contain goitrogens that may disrupt the thyroid if consumed in large quantities. Other cruciferous veggies include cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower.
