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Foods to Avoid With Hypothyroidism
People with hypothyroidism don't need to necessarily avoid certain foods. Research has shown that no foods can make the condition worse -- however, no foods can improve hypothyroidism either.
The best thing a person with an underactive thyroid can do is eat a well-balanced diet. This will also help keep a person's weight within a normal range, which can reduce the chance of conditions that occur more frequently in people with low thyroid levels, such as sleep apnea, celiac disease, and anemia.
While there are no foods to avoid with hypothyroidism, you should know that some foods can affect the way thyroid medications are absorbed from the digestive tract. Thus, you should either consume these foods sparingly or make sure you eat them four hours before or after taking your thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
(Click Hypothyroidism Diet for the list of foods that can interact with thyroid medications. This article also offers helpful tips for taking these drugs that can help ensure a safe, effective treatment process.)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD