Thyroid gland is one of the endocrine organs of the human body. It can use iodine to synthesize and secrete thyroxine for the body’s needs. When thyroxine synthesis and secretion are reduced due to various reasons, or thyroxine encounters [resistance] and cannot function, hypothyroidism, or hypothyroidism for short, will occur.
The treatment of hypothyroidism is mainly based on thyroxine supplement and lacks what and what supplement, which is well understood. However, patients must still have doubts-hypothyroidism, what should we pay attention to in diet?
Lack of [positive energy], body is not in state
Thyroid hormone has the functions of promoting growth and development, heat production and metabolism, and is a hormone with [positive energy]. Without [positive energy], the metabolism of other nutrients in the body will be [slow and half beat].
1. Protein deficiency
When hypothyroidism occurs, the gastrointestinal tract [efficiency] slows down and the speed of absorbing protein also slows down, which may lead to insufficient protein in the body. If there is a lack of protein, the body will become emaciated, edema, immune decline, affecting the normal operation of heart, liver, gastrointestinal and other organs, thus slowing down the development of minors.
2. Osteoporosis
In addition to the slow absorption of protein, calcium absorption is also reduced at this time, which is easy to cause osteoporosis, pathological fracture, etc.
3. Vitamin A deficiency
Subcutaneous carotene is also weakened by the lack of thyroxine, which reduces the ability to convert it into vitamin A. As a result, vitamin A is in short supply, resulting in night blindness or blurred vision in dark light, conjunctiva or cornea dryness, skin dryness and desquamation, affecting bone growth and development, and increasing the probability of digestive tract and respiratory tract infection.
4. Increased cholesterol levels in the body
When hypothyroidism occurs, although the synthesis of cholesterol slows down, its metabolism will become slower, that is, the cholesterol level is bound to rise. Therefore, hypothyroidism has also become one of the [culprits] of elevated blood lipid.
5. Anaemia
Anemia may be caused by a variety of factors:
- On the one hand, thyroxine deficiency inhibits hematopoietic function of bone marrow; On the other hand, patients suffer from decreased appetite, decreased gastric acid secretion, and reduced absorption of hematopoietic raw materials iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 due to the production of certain antibodies.
Eventually, it will lead to insufficient red blood cells and different degrees of anemia. About 70% of hypothyroidism patients will suffer from anemia.
Diet Conditioning, Seven Attention
According to the characteristics of nutrition metabolism in hypothyroidism patients, the following seven aspects should be paid attention to in diet:
1. Iodine intake should be moderate
Iodine is the raw material for producing thyroid hormone. Patients with hypothyroidism caused by iodine deficiency should strengthen iodine intake. However, for patients with sufficient iodine, excessive intake of iodine may lead to aggravation of hypothyroidism.
(1) So, how do you know if you are iodine deficient or sufficient?
It is necessary to draw lessons from the examination of [urine iodine]. Simply put, it is only necessary to take early morning fasting urine or 24-hour urine for examination. The urine iodine of children and adults (non-pregnant women) should be controlled at 100 ~ 199 g/L as far as possible, and the urine iodine of pregnant women should be maintained at 150 ~ 249 g/L.
(2) How to supplement iodine?
Iodine-deficient hypothyroidism patients are mainly supplemented by iodized salt and can eat more iodine-containing foods, such as sea cucumber, shrimp, kelp, laver and other seafood.
(3) Selecting iodized salt with potassium iodate
Potassium iodate is more stable than the original potassium iodide, and the iodine content is not easy to change during storage and transportation.
2. Eat less goiter-causing food
Cabbage, cabbage, rape and other vegetables and cassava, walnuts, these foods contain certain ingredients can cause goiter.
Goiter will further affect the synthesis of thyroxine, so hypothyroidism patients need to eat less of the above food.
3. Supplement adequate protein, calcium and vitamins
(1) Supplying enough protein can improve thyroid function. The daily protein intake per person should be 1-1.2 g per kilogram of body weight, for example, for a 60 kg adult, the daily protein intake should be between 60-72 g.
Protein supplements can be made of eggs, milk, various meats and fish, which also contain calcium and vitamin A supplements. Vegetable protein can also be used, such as various bean products, soybeans, etc.
(2) Generally, 400 mg of calcium can be added to the normal diet every day, but it is recommended that postmenopausal women and elderly patients supplement an additional 600 mg of calcium by taking calcium-containing preparations such as calcium carbonate. Note that the calcium mentioned here refers to the calcium content of the calcium agent, not the weight of a calcium agent/granule.
If osteoporosis has already occurred, relevant treatment is also needed for the existing osteoporosis.
(3) Daily intake of various vegetables and fresh fruits to supplement sufficient vitamins, especially vitamin A.
4. Limit fat and cholesterol-rich foods
Hypothyroidism is often accompanied by hyperlipidemia, so do not eat foods rich in cholesterol, such as cream, animal brains and viscera, etc. Limit the use of high-fat foods, such as edible oil should not exceed 20 g per day, peanuts, walnuts, almonds, sesame paste, ham, pork belly, cheese, etc. Eat less.
5. Prevention of anemia
People with anemia should supplement foods rich in iron and vitamin B12, such as animal liver.
At ordinary times, pay attention to eating more foods rich in iron, such as lean meat, pig blood, etc., and take drugs to correct anemia when necessary.
6. Low-salt diet
Hypothyroidism patients often suffer from swelling of hands and feet and obesity due to mucous edema. Excessive salt intake will cause water and sodium retention and aggravate edema.
Although hypothyroidism patients are not as strict as kidney disease patients in limiting salt intake, they should also eat less salty food.
7. Other
(1) Ensure sufficient dietary fiber
Thyroid hormone can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis. Hypothyroidism patients are prone to abdominal distension and constipation due to thyroxine deficiency. Therefore, it is recommended to take more foods rich in dietary fiber, such as whole wheat flour, brown rice, oats, beans, potatoes, fruits and vegetables, etc. Dietary fiber can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, and absorb water in large intestine, soften stool, thus preventing constipation.
(2) Cooking method
Due to the weakening of gastrointestinal function in hypothyroidism patients, dyspepsia, abdominal distension and other problems are easy to occur. Steaming, stewing and less frying are the cooking methods.