Strengthen your thyroid with diet

Dr. Małgorzata Słoma - Krześlak, a clinical dietitian from the Medical University of Silesia, has just published a book entitled "Hashimoto's. "Hashimoto's. Diet. 100 recipes." As the author says in the case of Hashimoto's, the diet is designed to strengthen this one of the largest endocrine glands in man.

Unfortunately, the symptoms associated with abnormal thyroid function are not very specific and are easily trivialized, considering the fast pace of life as their cause. Among them can be mentioned, among others:

- excessive hair loss and brittleness of nails

- weakness and chronic fatigue

- deterioration of mood, lethargy

- constant feeling of cold, dry skin

- concentration disorders

- menstrual disorders,

- heavy bleeding and infertility

- constipation

- increase in body weight.

- Patients with autoimmune thyroiditis belong to risk groups for other diseases and disorders. On average, one in 20 people (2-7%) with Hashimoto's disease has celiac disease at the same time. Therefore, it is recommended that patients who are required to take doses of thyroid hormones above 125 mg per day should be diagnosed for celiac disease. In addition, women affected by thyroid disease are more likely to have: lipid disorders, such as an increase in: total cholesterol, LDL (so-called bad cholesterol) and triglycerides, and a decrease in HDL (so-called good cholesterol) anemia (iron, vitamin B12 deficiency) insulin resistance.

Patients with Hashimoto's disease do not need to implement drug treatment if their thyroid gland is small in size and TSH and FT4 values are normal. It is only necessary to regularly monitor the condition and maintain a hygienic and health-promoting lifestyle, as the disease can remain stable for many years. Otherwise, it is necessary to control its course with pharmacological treatment.

- Among the dietary factors that could potentially exacerbate the course or progression of the disease are an excess supply of iodine, a significant energy surplus, but also too deep an energy deficit, high sodium intake (osmotic stress), excess saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids and refined carbohydrates. Iron, selenium and iodine deficiencies will also be detrimental," the nutritionist lists, adding: - The most important elements of Hashimoto's disease management include avoiding restrictive diets (including low-fat diets) following an anti-inflammatory diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, eliminating highly processed foods, composing meals with a low glycemic load and increasing protein intake accordingly.

For Ewa Kida, a 40-year-old resident of Czeladz, the diagnosis of the disease was preceded by a period of typical symptoms. - I was tired, had trouble concentrating, constantly wanted to sleep. A visit to the doctor and the performance of appropriate tests put the dot over the "i".

- I currently have the disease under control, but I am very eager to use some of the recipes in the book. Since I was diagnosed with the disease, our cuisine has been healthy, based on a balanced diet. My advice, however, is not to look for answers to your questions on the Internet, but to specialists," the patient explains.

Interestingly, the author of the book tried each recipe, and photographed the result of her culinary skills.

Source: SUM