Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon Goitrogenic FoodsGoitrogensSoyMinimizing Effects
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common Goitrogenic Foods
Goitrogens
Soy
Minimizing Effects
Goitrogens are naturally-occurring chemicals found in many plant-based foods. Consuming high amounts of these substances on a regular basis may have an impact on your thyroid health, so it’s worth understanding how they affect thyroid function and whether or not it makes sense to limit your intake of goitrogenic foods such asbroccoli, cauliflower,kale, and others.
1:13Watch Now: What Are Goitrogens?
1:13
Watch Now: What Are Goitrogens?
The key goitrogen-rich foods are vegetables in the cruciferous category; some fruits, nuts, and grains also contain these substances.
There are three types of goitrogens:goitrins,thiocyanates, andflavonoids.
Verywell / Emilie Dunphy
Some Foods Containing Goitrins and/or Thiocyanates
Some Foods Containing Flavonoids
How Goitrogens Can Affect the Thyroid
In very large quantities, goitrogens can causea goiteror an enlarged thyroid. They can also act like antithyroid drugs, slowing down your underactive thyroid and potentially causinghypothyroidism.
Iodine’s Role in Thyroid Health
A Word About Soy
While soy foods do not affect the thyroid gland in people with normal thyroid function and adequate iodine levels, they can interfere with the absorption of thyroid hormone replacement medication.This is why experts recommend that patients with hypothyroidism take thyroid medication on an empty stomach. It’s not necessary to completely avoid soy foods.
There is also some concern that consuming isoflavones, the active ingredients in soy, may trigger the transformation from subclinical to overt hypothyroidism in people with marginal iodine intake.Research regarding this phenomenon is controversial, however.
Can You Eat Soy if You Have a Thyroid Condition?
Minimizing the Effects of Goitrogenic Foods
Goitrogenic foods are rich in vitamins and minerals, and most experts do not recommend that anyone—including patients with thyroid disease—avoid eating them. However, there are a few sensible guidelines to consider if you have an underactive thyroid or are worried about goitrogens in your diet.
Here’s what you can do to minimize the risk of negative effects:
If you mostly eat cooked goitrogens and have a difficult time balancing your thyroid treatment, you may want to consider cutting back on the overall amount of goitrogenic foods in your diet.
If you are hypothyroid and still have a partially functional thyroid—such as withHashimoto’s thyroiditis—be especially careful not to overconsume large quantities of raw goitrogenic foods.
Not everyone with a thyroid condition needs to be aware of goitrogens.
You don’t need to be particular about goitrogens if you are hypothyroid due to:
Should I Take a Dietary Supplement if I Have a Thyroid Disorder?
A Word From Verywell
Like most things in life, when it comes to diet and your thyroid, moderation is your best strategy. Most foods that contain goitrogens are very nutritious, and the benefits of eating them largely outweigh the risks. If you are concerned, or want to make sure your diet is well-rounded, consider consulting with a nutritionist.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bajaj JK, Salwan P, Salwan S.Various possible toxicants involved in thyroid dysfunction: a review.J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Jan;10(1):FE01-FE03. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/15195.7092Kozłowska A, Szostak-wegierek D.Flavonoids–food sources and health benefits.Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2014;65(2):79-85.Chandra, Amar K.Iodine, thiocyanate and the thyroid.Biochem Pharmacol(Los Angel) 4:171. 2015. doi:10.4172/2167-0501.1000171Tonstad S, Jaceldo-siegl K, Messina M, Haddad E, Fraser GE.The association between soya consumption and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations in the Adventist Health Study-2.Public Health Nutr.2016;19(8):1464-70. doi:10.1017/S1368980015002943Additional ReadingBajaj JK, Salwan P, Salwan S.Various Possible Toxicants Involved in Thyroid Dysfunction: A Review.J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Jan;10(1):FE01-FE03. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2016/15195.7092de Souza Dos Santos MC, Gonçalves CF, Vaisman M, Ferreira AC, de Carvalho DP.Impact of flavonoids on thyroid function.Food Chem Toxicol. 2011;49(10):2495-502. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2011.06.074
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bajaj JK, Salwan P, Salwan S.Various possible toxicants involved in thyroid dysfunction: a review.J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Jan;10(1):FE01-FE03. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/15195.7092Kozłowska A, Szostak-wegierek D.Flavonoids–food sources and health benefits.Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2014;65(2):79-85.Chandra, Amar K.Iodine, thiocyanate and the thyroid.Biochem Pharmacol(Los Angel) 4:171. 2015. doi:10.4172/2167-0501.1000171Tonstad S, Jaceldo-siegl K, Messina M, Haddad E, Fraser GE.The association between soya consumption and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations in the Adventist Health Study-2.Public Health Nutr.2016;19(8):1464-70. doi:10.1017/S1368980015002943Additional ReadingBajaj JK, Salwan P, Salwan S.Various Possible Toxicants Involved in Thyroid Dysfunction: A Review.J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Jan;10(1):FE01-FE03. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2016/15195.7092de Souza Dos Santos MC, Gonçalves CF, Vaisman M, Ferreira AC, de Carvalho DP.Impact of flavonoids on thyroid function.Food Chem Toxicol. 2011;49(10):2495-502. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2011.06.074
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bajaj JK, Salwan P, Salwan S.Various possible toxicants involved in thyroid dysfunction: a review.J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Jan;10(1):FE01-FE03. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/15195.7092Kozłowska A, Szostak-wegierek D.Flavonoids–food sources and health benefits.Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2014;65(2):79-85.Chandra, Amar K.Iodine, thiocyanate and the thyroid.Biochem Pharmacol(Los Angel) 4:171. 2015. doi:10.4172/2167-0501.1000171Tonstad S, Jaceldo-siegl K, Messina M, Haddad E, Fraser GE.The association between soya consumption and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations in the Adventist Health Study-2.Public Health Nutr.2016;19(8):1464-70. doi:10.1017/S1368980015002943
Bajaj JK, Salwan P, Salwan S.Various possible toxicants involved in thyroid dysfunction: a review.J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Jan;10(1):FE01-FE03. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/15195.7092
Kozłowska A, Szostak-wegierek D.Flavonoids–food sources and health benefits.Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2014;65(2):79-85.
Chandra, Amar K.Iodine, thiocyanate and the thyroid.Biochem Pharmacol(Los Angel) 4:171. 2015. doi:10.4172/2167-0501.1000171
Tonstad S, Jaceldo-siegl K, Messina M, Haddad E, Fraser GE.The association between soya consumption and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations in the Adventist Health Study-2.Public Health Nutr.2016;19(8):1464-70. doi:10.1017/S1368980015002943
Bajaj JK, Salwan P, Salwan S.Various Possible Toxicants Involved in Thyroid Dysfunction: A Review.J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Jan;10(1):FE01-FE03. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2016/15195.7092de Souza Dos Santos MC, Gonçalves CF, Vaisman M, Ferreira AC, de Carvalho DP.Impact of flavonoids on thyroid function.Food Chem Toxicol. 2011;49(10):2495-502. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2011.06.074
Bajaj JK, Salwan P, Salwan S.Various Possible Toxicants Involved in Thyroid Dysfunction: A Review.J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Jan;10(1):FE01-FE03. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2016/15195.7092
de Souza Dos Santos MC, Gonçalves CF, Vaisman M, Ferreira AC, de Carvalho DP.Impact of flavonoids on thyroid function.Food Chem Toxicol. 2011;49(10):2495-502. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2011.06.074
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