If you suffer from hypothyroidism, there are some foods that you may want to limit. These are called goitrogenic foods since eating them in excess can cause goiter- an enlargement of the thyroid gland. This interferes with the production of the thyroid hormone, which can cause everything from tiredness to suicidal thoughts. Any hormonal imbalance will affect the other hormones in your body as well, so you may find that many health issues can be directly attributed to poor thyroid function.

The problem with avoiding goitrogenic foods is that many of them are among the healthiest foods available. Cooking breaks down much of the isothiocyanates (a type of isoflavone) in cruciferous vegetables that cause goiter, but cooking also destroys many of the beneficial enzymes. And soy contains genistein (another isoflavone) which blocks the enzyme responsible for adding iodine to the thyroid and that isn’t broken down by cooking. Cabbage is even available in the form of cabbage powder. It’s unknown if this qualifies as cooking, though fermentation does not (in other words, no sauerkraut for thyroid sufferers).

Foods To Avoid For Hypothyroidism:

Vegetables:

Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, Kohlrabi, Mustard, Rutabaga, Turnips, Spinach, Radishes

Fruits:

Strawberries, Peaches

Other:

Soybean and soy products including tofu, peanuts, and millet. But the worst offender is soy and should be avoided in all forms. Be particularly wary of processed foods- check all labels carefully as soy and soy oil are ingredients in nearly every store bought loaf of bread.

As you can see, being vegan or even vegetarian may be particularly difficult from those suffering from hypothyroidism.