What are the dietary considerations for patients with Hashimoto’s disease?

  Hashimoto’s disease, also known as autoimmune thyroiditis and Hashimotodisease, was first reported by Dr. Hashimoto in Japan and is the most common type of thyroiditis with a long course. 90% of patients are women, mostly 30–50 years old, but it can also occur in children and adolescents.  Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is a form of autoimmune thyroiditis in which the body’s immune system becomes dysfunctional, leading to the destruction of its own tissues and organs, and progresses slowly, alternating between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, leading to goiter and thyroid nodules, but eventually leading to hypothyroidism requiring lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy.  During the development of Hashimoto’s disease, symptoms of hyperthyroidism may appear, called Hashimoto’s hyperthyroidism, which occurs in about 20-25% of cases of Hashimoto’s disease. Most of these symptoms are caused by inflammatory damage to the thyroid gland and increased release of thyroid hormones into the bloodstream.  In a minority of cases, Hashimoto’s hyperthyroidism is due to Hashimoto’s disease combined with toxic diffuse goiter; if affected by iodine intake and thyroid inflammation and repair, hyperthyroidism may occur repeatedly or alternately with hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism). Patients can start with either of the two diseases, or the clinical manifestations of either disease can predominate, and still eventually develop hypothyroidism.  1, if the manifestation of hyperthyroidism appears, the diet should be based on the principle of high calorie, high protein, high vitamin, moderate fat and sodium intake. Eat more high calorie, high protein, vitamin-rich foods, especially foods rich in potassium and calcium, such as lean meat, chicken, duck, turtle, freshwater fish, shiitake mushroom, silver fungus, lily, mulberry and other foods.  2, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits with high vitamin content, which can supplement vitamins and inorganic salts. Forbid to eat kelp, seaweed, nori, kombu, sea fish, sea shrimp, sea jelly skin and other foods with high iodine content, you can eat river fish, river shrimp, etc. Control high-fiber foods in case of diarrhea.  3.If the performance of hypothyroidism appears, it is advisable to eat fresh vegetables and fruits with high vitamin content, and also shrimp, sea cucumber, pecan meat, wolfberry, yam, gorgonzola and other foods.  4, supply a sufficient amount of protein, eggs, dairy, a variety of meat, fish; plant protein can be complementary, such as a variety of soybean products, soybeans, etc.. Avoid foods rich in cholesterol, such as cream, animal brains, etc. Limit the use of high-fat foods, such as cooking oil, peanut rice, walnuts, almonds, sesame paste, ham, pancetta, sweet cheese, etc.  5, diet easy to light, eat less and more meals, pay attention to a reasonable mix of nutrients, not overeating. Replenish sufficient water, drink about 2500ml of water every day, avoid spicy and stimulating foods, such as chili, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, strong tea, onions, etc.