Iodine Food Choices

FOODS AND OTHER CHOICES TO AVOID AND MAINTAIN GOOD THYROID HEALTH 

Food Choices that do not contain Iodine, which the thyroid gland uses to produce thyroid hormones:

• Milk substitutes such as soy, almond, oat etc.
• Non-Dairy products
• Vegan choices usually do not contain iodine. 

Patients who do have a thyroid disorder & take Levothyroxine need to be aware of Food Choices, substances and Supplements which can affect the thyroid hormone absorption.

• Tobacco smoking, too much alcohol and other substances can all have an affect on a supposedly healthy person’s thyroid health.  Especially if they have a family history of thyroid disorders and it is possible, they could develop a thyroid autoimmune disease.
• Large amounts of Brassica vegetables, also called Cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, kale, collard greens)
• Vitamins, supplements, and herbal medicines containing soy, iodine and kelp.
• Soy products can be found in many foods; margarine, cereals, used as emulsifiers, lecithin, salad dressings, sauces etc.
• Breads can also contain soy.  Soy flour is used in many breads as a preservative.
• Dried fruits, which contain sulphur
• Large amounts of seeds and nuts
• Many vitamins, such as calcium, iron, zinc, and many others can affect thyroid hormone absorption.  Pathology tests are recommended to determine if a patient is deficient in a particular vitamin before taking a supplement.  Increasing a food source for the vitamin is recommended before a supplement is considered. 

Food Choices that patients need to be aware of:

• Coeliac patients need to consider that Coeliac Disease and Thyroid Disorders are very closely connected autoimmune diseases.  Patients with one disease need to be aware of the possibility of also having the other and should be tested to determined.
• If a patient is Lactose Intolerant, dairy can still be consumed having Lactose Free Dairy to ensure their diet contains iodine and calcium from dairy products. 

Healthy Food Options That Contain Iodine to Maintain Good Thyroid Health

• Dairy Milk and Dairy Products
• Seafood Choices
• Iodised Salt for cooking and for the table
• Commercially made breads which contain iodised salt
• Other food choices which are made using iodised salt 

If you have a family history of thyroid disorders, including thyroid autoimmune diseases, please ensure you speak to your doctor and ask for thyroid function and thyroid antibody tests to either determine or eliminate a thyroid disorder.