goitrogenic foods (Sheryl)

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I'm forwarding this to you.... this was posted by lil2du@... about a

month ago.

Also, autoimmune thyroiditis is hashimoto's disease

----Original Message Follows----

From: " lil2du <lil2du@...> " <lil2du@...>

Reply-hypothyroidism

hypothyroidism

Subject: Re: goitrogenic foods

Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 16:34:23 -0000

> hello, does anyone know where I can find a complete list of

goitrogenic foods. I did a google search and some lists have some

foods that others don't have. Is asparagus a goitrogenic food?>>

I copied a list awhile back - I can't remember where I got it from

(probably at about.com). But someone put it together because it's

such a common question.

Unfortunately, asparagus is on this list!.

A good source for info on all things thyroid is thyroidmanager.org.

Following is a quote from that source:

" A number of compounds have the ability to inhibit thyroid hormone

synthesis. Irrespective of their mechanism of action, they are

collectively called goitrogens, because as a result of a decrease in

serum thyroid hormone level, TSH secretion is enhanced, causing

goiter formation. Some goitrogens occur naturally in food, and others

are in drugs with goitrogenic side effects. "

Some thoughts:

1. If you have a partially functioning thyroid and are taking

supplemental thyroid meds, most goitrogenic foods need to be eaten

cooked not raw (steamed is fine) and in moderation.

2. Millet has an increase in goitrogenic activity by cooking.

3. If your thyroid gland is still hanging around, there may be some

functioning going on, even if undetectable, so go with the above

statement.

4. If you have had a total thyroidectomy and don't have a thyroid,

most goitrogenic compounds won't have an effect on you.

5. Soy has other effects on thyroid hormone utilization besides the

actual thyroid hormone production and is best avoided by all

thyroiders.

6. Raw Brazil nuts and cashews are acceptable. Brazil nuts are a good

source of selenium (2 per day). Walnuts should be separated from

thyroid meds by at least 4 hours (Unthroid patient insert).

7. Goitrogens -- The List, A Work in Progress

This list has some items that are not agreed on by all sources.

Moderation is the key (except for soy) and this list is NOT a list

of " forbidden foods " .

The best rule is to " listen to your body " . If you eat a food and it

makes you feel fatigued, avoid it in the future.

Again, if you have a question about a particular item, do a

google.com search for " goitrogens " or " goitrogenic foods " to clarify.

So, here's the list of foods that it is SUGGESTED should be eaten

cooked and in moderation, unless otherwise noted to avoid it

entirely:

Almonds

Asparagus

Babassu (a palm-tree coconut fruit popular in Brazil and Africa)

Bamboo shoots

Bok choy

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Chick peas (garbanzos)

Flaxseed (this is up for debate, do a google.com search)

Garlic

Groundnuts

Herbs of the Barbarea and Residea families

Horseradish

Kale

Kohlrabi

Leafy greens (turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens)

Legumes (beans and peas)

Lima beans

Linseed

Maize

Millet (cooking seems to INCREASE goitrogenic effect)

Mustard greens

Nectarines

Onion

Peaches

Peanuts (roasted are probably okay)

Pears

Pine nuts (pignoli)

Processed meats

Radishes

Rapeseed (oil) - from which canola is derived

Rutabaga

Spinach

SOY in all it's various forms -- AVOID

Strawberries

Swede

Sweet potatoes

Swiss chard

Turnip greens

White turnip

Wasabi

Watercress

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