Your thyroid gland produces hormones that help your body in metabolism. Metabolism, in turn, controls many bodily processes as it is literally the powerhouse of energy for your body. Thyroid hormones can also help in regulating blood pressure (BP), heart rate and body temperature. Here we are discussing about 10 Dietary Tips For Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy.
An under-active thyroid (which leads to the condition called hypothyroidism) cannot produce enough hormones for the healthy functioning of the body. While it is a problem in itself, it is more severe when you are pregnant because your child is completely dependent on you for his/her thyroid hormones for the initial 10-12 weeks after conception (1)
10 Dietary Tips For Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy
If you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, then your doctor must have prescribed you medications and suggested treatments. While you should follow these to treat your hypothyroidism during pregnancy, you can follow the below dietary suggestions to boost your thyroid health which will complement your hypothyroidism treatment. The idea here is simple – you eat more of thyroid boosters and less or none of thyroid suppressors!
1. Eat Healthy And On Time
Eat natural, home-cooked food. Avoid eating out. Stay away from pre packaged and processed foods. Try to eat as much organic food as possible. Wash your fruits and vegetables in vinegar bath before consumption. You need to eat on time, whether you have hypothyroidism or not and whether you are pregnant or not.
But you absolutely need to eat on time to regulate your metabolism if you are both hypothyroid and pregnant. On the whole, eat fresh, clean and healthy food every day. Also, hypothyroidism increases your weight which can become a complication during pregnancy, So, try to consume healthy and stay away from processed foods to gain extra unnecessary weight. (2),(3)
2. Pump Up Iodine
Iodine is vital for regulating the functioning of your thyroid gland. We normally get enough iodine through iodised table salt and iodine rich foods. So ensure that the salt you use in the kitchen is iodised. Remember that the salts in processed and packaged food (like chips) are not iodised, so do not rely on them for your daily intake. Always consult with your doctor before including extra iodised fortified foods in your diet with your treatment. (4),(5)
[Read: Hypothyroidism And Pregnancy- Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment]
3. Get Stocked Up On Whole Grains
A common symptom of hypothyroidism is constipation, which multiplies during pregnancy. Having a diet that contains whole grains adds on fibre and can ease the process of bowel movement (3).
4. Eat Your Greens
Thyroid requires Magnesium to do its job well. Greens such as spinach (पालक ), fenugreek (मेथी) leaves and lettuce are good sources of this super mineral. Make greens a regular part of your diet (2).
5. Include Berries In The Diet
Berries like strawberries and blueberries are power packed with antioxidants and can strengthen your immune system. You can choose your picks from a variety of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.
6. Get Enough Vitamin D And Omega 3
Bone loss is a common symptom if you have hypothyroidism. Include foods that are rich in vitamin D, which together with calcium, will prevent bone loss. Omega-3 is also great to keep you healthy and regulate your hormones. Include foods such as salmon, eggs, walnuts, flax seeds and mushrooms in your diet. Fish such as wild salmon, trout, tuna, or sardines will also supply you with Omega 3 fatty acids, and also contains selenium which helps a hypothyroid patient (6)
7. Get more dairy:
This is related to the previous point. Dairy products are rich in Calcium, which works with Vitamin D, to strengthen your muscles. Include whole milk, yoghurt, paneer (पनीर) and cheese in your diet (7)
8. Include more protein in your diet:
Muscle loss is another problem during hypothyroidism and pregnancy. Include protein-rich food such as chicken, egg-whites, beans, lentils (dals) and pulses (राजमा, चना) in your diet which are all excellent sources of protein. Getting enough protein during pregnancy is not an issue even for vegetarians. Apart from building and strengthening your muscles, these foods will also boost your energy levels (2)
9. Snack on nuts
Include nuts ansd seeds in your diet. Cashews (काजू ), almonds (बादाम), walnuts (अखरोट) and various seeds like pumpkin seeds and flax seeds, are great sources of magnesium and protein, the importance of both which have been established above. Nuts also contain selenium, another mineral that boosts the functionality of thyroid. Remember that nuts are also high on fats, so limit their consumption to a handful everyday (7)
10. Avoid foods that can hurt your thyroid:
Yes, there are quite a few of these. If you have hypothyroidism, you need to stay away from goitrogens (food substances that further suppress thyroid functions). Major goitrogens are cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Soy or soymilk is also known to interfere with your thyroid function, especially if you have an iodine deficiency. Organ meats, such as liver and kidney, are full of lipid acids, which, if you intake in excess can disrupt both thyroid functions and thyroid medications you take (6, 8)
Hope these 10 Dietary Tips For Hypothyroidism are helpful. During Pregnancy, Hypothyroidism should never be treated lightly as it can lead to severe complications, both for you and your baby. Especially, if you leave it untreated and unmonitored. But there is no need to despair. It is a simple condition to manage during pregnancy, as long as you know you have it and you know how to deal with it. So ensure you go for regular screening, take your medications, and incorporate the diet tips we mentioned above in your daily life
[Read Also: 5 exercises for hypothyroidism during pregnancy]
Happy pregnancy!!
FAQ’s
1. How Does Hypothyroidism Affect The Baby In Pregnancy?
During the first few weeks of pregnancy, a baby is completely dependent upon the mother for thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones are necessary for the normal growth and development of the brain of the baby. Hence , hypothyroidism can affect the normal growth and development of the baby.
2. How To Treat Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy?
Your doctor suggests a medicine which works the same as your thyroid hormone. These medicines are safe for the baby. These are important for babies until babies start making their own thyroid hormone. You can add some foods which can assist with the treatment.
3. How To Reduce Thyroid Level In Pregnancy?
If a mother is severely affected with hypothyroidism, she is treated with doctors prescribed medicine to maintain her normal levels of thyroid hormones until babies start making their own hormones. As the baby develops, the dosage of the medicine increases accordingly.
4. Is Hypothyroidism High Risk In Pregnancy?
Untreated hypothyroidism may lead to the risk of miscarriages, maternal anemia, weakness, muscle pain, heart failure and abnormalities of the placenta. If the mother is severely suffering from hypothyroidism, then the baby may lead to impaired brain development. As soon as possible babies are treated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy to protect them.
References
- Johns Hopkins Medicine, Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy – https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/
- British Thyroid Foundation- https://www.btf-thyroid.org/diets-and-supplements-for-thyroid-disorders
- Harvard Health Publishing, Healthy eating for a healthy thyroid – https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/healthy-eating-for-a-healthy-thyroid
- Alexander EK, Pearce EN, Brent GA, et al. 2017 guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the diagnosis and management of thyroid disease during pregnancy and the postpartum. Thyroid. – https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/
- Health Direct- Iodine Deficiency- https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/iodine-deficiency
- London Clinic of Nutrition, What to eat for underactive thyroid gland – https://londonclinicofnutrition.co.uk/nutrition-articles/best-diet-hypothyroidism/
- St Luke’s Health, 5 Foods That Improve Thyroid Function – https://www.stlukeshealth.org/resources/
- Synthroid (prescribing information). AbbVie Inc.; 2019. – https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/
