My Hypothyroidism Diet
On holidays, my daily routine disappears. It doesn't get thrown out the window on day 1, but over time it does start to change shape. Old habits creep back in and new "not so great" habits begin to form.
Please tell me I'm not alone?
What I mean by this - my morning cup of lemon tea slowly turns into caffeinated tea. My 10pm bedtime gets later and later, in turn pushing my wake up time out later and later. My daily hour long walks to work are replaced by much smaller 10 minute walks to the local cafes.
Yes, it is holiday time and yes our bodies need a break, but when these changes inevitably happen, my symptoms start to flare up, bringing about feelings of frustration and guilt.
My “diet” during the holidays, however doesn’t seem to change all that much (hallelujah!), apart from indulging in a few more cups of coffee and glasses of wine. However, it got me thinking about how my diet has evolved over the last few years since being diagnosed with Hashimoto's.
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge that this is a way of eating that I “choose” to do. I don’t have to do it. No one has forced me to do it, but when I do eat this way, I feel wonderful. At this stage, it hasn’t replaced any of my daily medications, but when you’ve felt like crap for so long, and something as simple as food can give you real relief, then you grab it with both hands. Seriously, why wouldn’t you?
It’s so natural for me to eat this way now, that it got me thinking about why I choose the foods I do. So I thought I’d share a little snap shot of my current “hypothyroidism diet” which is slowly but surely helping to heal my body.
(the below is a snapshot of my diet when I followed a Paleo based lifestyle. Now , I am 100% plant based whole food focussed).
Protein | Helps transport thyroid hormones to all of your tissues and eating it at each meal can help to "normalise" thyroid function. For me, this includes a little organic/grass-fed meats, eggs, fish, nuts or nut butter at each meal.
Good fats | Help support a healthy metabolism and fight fatigue. If you’re not getting enough good fats in your daily diet you could exacerbate hormonal imbalances, including thyroid hormones. My go-to good fats include coconut oil, olive oil and ghee. Avocado, coconut milk, fish, nuts and nut butters.
Vegetables | Super high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are necessary for lowering inflammation in your body – allowing those of us with hypothyroidism to start healing. Vegetables make up the biggest proportion of my 3 daily meals (yep, including breakfast!).
High Fibre foods | It’s a fact that many of us with hypothyroidism also have digestive issues, so for me, a meal with high fibre foods is non-negotiable. Not only do they help with digestive health, they also help balance blood sugar levels and make you feel fuller (great for weight management). For me, this includes lots of fresh vegetables (peas, broccoli, avocado), berries and seeds, especially chia seeds.
Bone Broth | Helps to repair our digestive track, which in turn, improves our bodies ability to absorb essential vitamins and minerals from the foods we eat, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and silicon. As part of a hypothyroidism diet, bone broth has been shown to also help overcome food sensitivities, improve energy and increase immunity.
Probiotic Foods | These come in many different forms from kefir, kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut. For me personally, I’m a sauerkraut fan and will often pop a small spoonful onto my plate. Again, as part of your hypothyroidism diet, probiotics help create a healthy gut as they balance your gut’s microflora bacteria, reducing leaky gut syndrome, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation and da da daaaaa…..autoimmune reactions.
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Please note: I am not a certified nutritionist and make no claims to the contrary. Each individual’s dietary needs and restrictions are unique and information is provided to the best of my ability. YOU are ultimately responsible for all decisions pertaining to your health. This website is written and produced for informational purposes only, based on my own personal research and experimentation. This website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.