Subclinical hypothyroidism is an early, mild form of hypothyroidism, a condition in which

the body doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones. It's called subclinical because only the

serum level of thyroid-stimulating hormone from the front of the pituitary gland is a little bit
above normal.

 Thyroid

What are the best foods to help your

thyroid?
Medically reviewed by Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD  on April 13, 2020. Written by Jordana
White . To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the
Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and
bioscience fields.

In addition to medications and other interventions, the foods you eat

can affect thyroid conditions like hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism .
So if you’re experiencing thyroid issues or a thyroid imbalance, it’s
crucial to identify foods to help thyroid function. Plus, it’s a good idea to
know what foods may harm your thyroid so you don’t unintentionally
worsen existing thyroid conditions. (It’s always recommended to talk
with your healthcare provider first before making significant dietary
changes.)
Read on to learn more about thyroid-boosting foods—and what foods
you may want to avoid if you have a thyroid condition.

What are the best foods for thyroid function?

What are some foods that are good for the thyroid? First off, certain
nutrients are key for boosting thyroid health, especially if you’re at risk
of iodine deficiency (which can disrupt normal thyroid function). Without
sufficient iodine (about 150 mcg each day) your thyroid won’t be able to
produce enough hormones—which can lead to hypothyroidism
(underactive thyroid).

So if you’re looking for iodine-rich foods to help thyroid function, here

are several nutritious options:

 Roasted seaweed

 Fish and seafood—especially shrimp, cod, and tuna

 Dairy products, including yogurt, milk, and cheese

 Eggs

 Nuts

 Iodized salt (also known as table salt)

Adding these thyroid-boosting foods to your diet may help improve
functioning and health. If you aren’t able to get enough iodine from your
diet, you may want to discuss iodine supplements with your healthcare
provider—but it’s important to note that you shouldn’t take these
supplements without first speaking with your healthcare provider. That’s
because it’s also possible to take in too much iodine (potentially
resulting in a thyroid disorder).

In general, an adult shouldn’t consume more than 1100 mcg of iodine

per day. If you do approach that maximum daily intake, and your iodine
levels rise too high, you may develop serious side effects,
including stomach pain and bloating , fever, and diarrhea. Additionally,
your thyroid gland may become enlarged (this is called a goiter), or you
may develop thyroid inflammation.
Beyond iodine, there are other dietary aspects to consider when it
comes to thyroid function because people with hypothyroidism will need
to choose different foods to improve thyroid function compared to
people with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). In short, the best food
for thyroid conditions will depend on the individual—which is why it’s
key to understand your specific thyroid issue and consult with a
healthcare provider before making major changes to your diet.

What foods help with hypothyroidism?

If you are experiencing symptoms of an underactive thyroid , it may be a
sign that you have hypothyroidism. If you have hypothyroidism (your
thyroid gland doesn’t produce sufficient hormones), you may have
heard that foods like coconut oil can help boost your thyroid hormone
production. But, in reality, there’s little medical evidence to suggest that
foods like these will help an underactive thyroid.
Instead, the best course of action is sticking to the medical treatment
(like thyroid hormone replacement) recommended by your healthcare
provider. If you’re taking synthetic thyroid hormones to treat an
underactive thyroid, avoid taking your medication with any of the
following foods:

 Walnuts

 Soybean flour

 Cottonseed meal

 Iron supplements or multivitamins containing iron

 Calcium supplements
Certain other prescription medications may also interact with your
thyroid medication, so be sure to discuss all your prescriptions with
your healthcare provider.
What foods help with hyperthyroidism?
No specific diet will directly improve your symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
If, however, Graves’ disease is behind your hyperthyroidism (this
autoimmune disease is the most common cause of an overactive
thyroid), then choosing certain foods can help support your immune
system health and thus overall thyroid function. These foods include:

 Dairy products, orange juice, eggs, salmon, or other items

fortified with calcium and/or vitamin D, since Grave’s disease
can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis, and these foods can help
prevent these issues.

 Protein-rich foods like chicken, turkey, beans, and nuts , since

weight loss is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism, and these
foods can help preserve your existing muscle mass.

 Cruciferous vegetables, such as kale, Brussels sprouts,

radishes, and cauliflower. Also known as goitrogenic foods (foods
that can help lower thyroid hormone production), they may inhibit
your thyroid gland’s ability to process iodine and produce thyroid
hormones—potentially easing symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
However, you should exercise caution with these vegetables if you
have an autoimmune condition like Graves’ disease, so talk with
your healthcare provider first before making these foods a larger
part of your diet.

What foods are bad for thyroid function?

Now that we’ve highlighted foods to boost thyroid function, let’s focus
on foods to avoid if you have a thyroid condition.

If you have hypothyroidism

In general, stay away from foods that are high in soy protein, since they
may interfere with your body’s ability to absorb replacement thyroid
hormones.

You may have also heard that you should avoid cruciferous vegetables
such as spinach, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, turnips, and
Brussels sprouts.

It’s important to know that these foods, by themselves, probably won’t

harm your thyroid function. However, they are considered goitrogenic
foods because they affect your thyroid’s ability to absorb iodine, which
can lower thyroid hormone production and increase your risk for
goiters.

What does that mean for you? If you’re not getting enough iodine in
your diet, or if you know you have low iodine levels, you may want to
talk to your healthcare provider about avoiding these vegetables.

But if you have hypothyroidism, or are at increased risk for goiters (an
enlarged thyroid gland) due to family history, you don’t have to avoid
these vegetables entirely. Instead, try to mix up the vegetable servings
you eat each day, so you aren’t getting a whopping intake of goitrogens
in any one meal. Also note that if you juice these vegetables, you’ll
vastly increase their concentration of thiocyanates, which is the
chemical in goitrogenic vegetables that interferes with your thyroid
gland function.

However, if you’re already taking synthetic thyroid hormones for thyroid

dysfunction, you probably don’t have to worry about eating cruciferous
vegetables (though it’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider
about it). Instead, focus on maintaining a balanced diet, rich in your
required vitamin and nutrient intake. This will help you keep your entire
body, not just your thyroid, working well.

If you have hyperthyroidism

Lowering your intake of certain foods can help if you have
hyperthyroidism. These foods include:

 Caffeine, since it may worsen hyperthyroidism symptoms such as

nervousness, anxiety, and weight loss.
 Common food allergens, including corn and gluten, since these
may trigger worsening symptoms. So consider talking with your
healthcare provider about a gluten-free diet—or other specialized
diets—if you have hyperthyroidism.

How can I treat my thyroid problem naturally?

If a thyroid test  and a physician’s evaluation indicates you’ve got a
thyroid condition, it’s important to follow the medical advice of your
healthcare provider. It isn’t possible to heal your thyroid solely by
making dietary changes.
But this doesn’t mean you can’t make lifestyle changes that will
naturally boost your thyroid health and help manage a thyroid
dysfunction. First and foremost, focus on eating a nutritious diet, since
this will keep delivering benefits once your thyroid hormone levels are
under control.

Also, since both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism change the way

your body metabolizes food, look to increase your fiber intake, as
this can improve your digestion. Fiber-rich foods include whole
grains, fruits, and veggies. Make sure to get plenty of nutrients,
and look to proteins from lean sources such as fish, or plant-based
options like beans or nuts. You should also eat healthy fat
sources, such as olive oil or omega-3 fatty acids.

Of course, managing your thyroid health naturally also means

avoiding unhealthy foods. Specifically, try staying away from “bad
fats” like trans fats, which are typically found in products like
margarine, processed foods, and hydrogenated oils.