The internet is awash with all sorts of advice about how a person with hypothyroidism should eat. It’s worth exploring the claims made about diet and hypothyroidism to see what changes, if any, someone with this condition might want to consider.
Hypothyroidism explained
Our thyroid plays a key role in metabolism, growth and development. The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormone, which regulates a range of body processes including fat and carbohydrate metabolism, respiration, body temperature, brain development, cholesterol levels, the heart and nervous system, blood calcium levels, menstrual cycle, skin integrity and more. That means there is potential for many problems if things go wrong with thyroid hormone production.
Hypothyroidism is where the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone. There are many causes, and up to one in 10 Australians experience some form, from the presence of thyroid autoantibodies in the blood, to overt hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism causes and symptoms
The most common cause of hypothyroidism in the Western world is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – also known as Hashimoto’s disease. An autoimmune disorder that causes chronic inflammation in the thyroid gland, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was named after the Japanese surgeon who discovered it in 1912.
