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Health
When it comes to managing your hypothyroidism, the most important thing that you put into your mouth each day is probably your hormone re- placement medication. But cer- tain foods, supplements and medications can interfere with your thyroid medication or oth- erwise affect your health, so it's helpful to be aware of what to avoid and what to approach with caution.
1. Avoid dietary supple- ments containing kelp.
If you live in the United States, you're very unlikely to experience iodine deficiency be- cause iodine is often already
added to certain foods, includ- ing salt. The American Thyroid Association cautions that too much iodine can actually make your hypothyroidism worse. That means it's best to avoid taking iodine-rich dietary sup- plements that contain the sea- weed known as kelp.
2. Eat cruciferous veg- etables, but use caution.
Experts used to caution pa- tients with hypothyroidism to pass up the broccoli, cauli- flower, kale and other crucifer- ous vegetables because they contain a compound called glu- cosinolate that could interfere with thyroid function. However,
now it's more common to sug- gest that people just limit the amount that they consume on a daily basis, instead of avoiding them altogether, since crucifer- ous vegetables offer numerous other health benefits. Another suggestion: lightly cook these veggies before you eat them.
3. Avoid fatty meats.
Forego the fatty meats and other sources heavy on the sat- urated fat. According to the Mayo Clinic, people with hy- pothyroidism may be at in- creased risk for heart disease because of an association be- tween hypothyroidism and higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. As a general rule, look for leaner cuts
of beef, or go for poultry or fish.
4. Be cautious about taking antacids.
Antacids often contain cal- cium, which can interfere with the absorption of hypothyroid medication. Timing matters when it comes to taking them. You don't have to completely avoid antacids, but you may want to alter your typical con- sumption pattern. For example, if you tend to pop a couple of calcium-rich antacid tablets each day, try to take them at a different time of day than you take your medication.
5. Take caution with iron tablets.
Just as you may want to stagger the times at which you take your thyroid medication and your antacids, the same goes for iron tablets and antacids that contain alu- minum. Also, if you tend to have constipation, you may want to consult your healthcare provider about whether you need to be taking the iron sup-
plements, which can worsen constipation.
6. Limit your soy con- sumption.
You might want to limit your consumption of foods con- taining soy. There's some dis- agreement among researchers about whether it's a good idea for people with hypothyroidism to just avoid eating products containing soy. However, the general consensus seems to be that you should wait a few hours after taking your hormone re- placement medication before consuming any soy so the soy won't interfere with your body's absorption of the hormone. It might also be a good idea to avoid eating soy products on a daily basis.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 5-B