Improve Your Thyroid Gland Function by Eating These Foods

When choosing the best products that support the function of the thyroid (thyroid) gland, you need to limit the intake of foods rich in goitrogens in favor of the foods that stimulate the thyroid gland.

This group of foods includes food products rich in vitamin B and iron, fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, kelps, lean meat, fish, beans, olive oil and vegetable oil.

Foods rich in B vitamins are beneficial for the thyroid gland, and these include liver, turkey, beef, Brazilian nuts, potatoes, lentils, black beans and kefir. Fresh vegetables rich in iron, such as beets and parsley, also support the function of the thyroid gland.

Whole grains have positive effect on the thyroid gland, so try to include lentils, brown rice, barley, millet, popcorn, wild rice, oats and wholegrain wheat flour in your diet. Doctor Edward Bauman, from the University of Natural Medicine in Santa Fe, New Mexico, recommends regular consumption of sea vegetables, such as kelps. Thyroid problems are often caused by free radicals.

On the other hand, foods rich in antioxidants can protect you -- or the production of thyroid hormones essential for many vital functions in your body.

If you want to keep your thyroid gland healthy, try to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, tomatoes, cherries, zucchini and peppers. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, rapeseed, kale, turnips, kohlrabi and Brussels sprouts may have goitrogenic effect.

Although these plants are considered as healthy foods in many other respects, they contain certain ingredients that could potentially impede the function of the thyroid gland. If you eat these foods in large quantities, they can even reduce the absorption of the thyroid hormones.

However, if you eat them cooked, preferably steam-cooked and not raw, the goitrogenic effect will decrease or disappear. Lean meat, cold-water fish, flaxseeds and beans are rich in useful proteins, and maintain the health of the thyroid gland. Organic foods are especially good, because they do not contain certain steroids and hormones which can reduce the natural production of thyroid hormones.

Omega-3 fatty acids are important for the thyroid gland. Tuna and salmon are good sources of these fatty acids when it comes to fish caught in the sea rather than fish grown in ponds. In fact, the fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids only if it is fed with algae.

Flaxseeds are also beneficial for the thyroid gland (grind some in the coffee grinder and add these seeds to your yoghurt, salads and soups). When cooking, add flaxseeds after the food is fully cooked, but never while you cook it. According to the advice that comes from the University of Maryland, choosing healthy cooking oil is essential for the thyroid gland. Olive oil and canola oil are considered as good and healthy choices.

If you already have some problems with the thyroid gland, be sure to consult your doctor or specialist before you choose any of these foods.

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