A Thyroid Diet: Adding Colour to Your Fruit Plate and ‘Going Nuts’

A food chart to battle hypothyroidism can actually look quite colourful and delicious!

The right foods can help fight hypothyroidism. 

(Photo: iStockphoto)

‘My thyroid is making me put on weight!,’ that’s the common refrain I hear at my clinic.

Now, thyroid glands are a part of our endocrine system. Located at the base of our neck, their prime function is to pick up Iodine from our diet and produce hormones, Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones control the conversion of food to energy – so when the glands produce insufficient hormones (Hypothyroidism) it commonly leads to low energy levels and slow metabolic processes.

In India, the most common cause of hypothyroidism is Iodine deficiency – something that affects women more than men.

Other than weight gain, patients are also at an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

So the advice (apart from medication) is always about good food, exercise and adequate rest. A ‘thyroid diet’ of sorts, therefore, might be in order here:

The Cereal Way

(Photo: iStockphoto/ Altered by FIT)

Pick Your Protein Right

(Photo: iStockphoto/ Altered by FIT)

Colour Me Red, Orange, Green and Yellow

(Photo: iStockphoto/ Altered by FIT)

Nuts for an Evening Snack

(Photo: iStockphoto/ Altered by FIT)

The Right Kind of Oil

(Photo: iStockphoto/ Altered by FIT)

Your Salty Treats

(Photo: iStockphoto/ Altered by FIT)

The Cauliflower Family

(Photo: iStockphoto/ Altered by FIT)

So eat healthy and stay positive – and you WILL overcome this hurdle with a little discipline and dedication.

(Rupali Datta is a clinical nutritionist who has led teams in corporate hospitals. She has an in-depth knowledge of health care, food and nutrition – both in wellness and diseases. She has appeared as a food and health expert on various TV shows on BBC, NDTV, CNN IBN , AAJ TAK, DD, etc. She has also been associated with e-commerce food websites for which she has created health and nutrition content.)

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