The thyroid is a small gland at the base or foot of your neck. Hashimoto disease is a disease that affects the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland ,being part of the endocrine system produces hormones that  affect many of the body’s activities, not the least of which is controlling your metabolism, which controls weight gain or weight loss.

  If you are a recipient of Hashimoto’s disease, an adequate supply of Iodine would greatly assist the proper functioning of your thyroid glands.However, too much can worsen the disease.

If you suffer from Hashimoto’s Disease or any form of hypothyroidism, the chances are you’ll already have found that certain foods make you feel better – hands and feet feel much warmer, the head clears, and depression can turn into optimism. Iodine is the main reason for this positive change in these people. The particular foods that make people suffering from these thyroid disorders feel better contain Iodine,and Iodine increases the level of thyroid hormone.

Safe Iodine-rich Foods

some of the foods you would find here may surprise you as they don’t normally turn up on Iodine rich food lists. Most people with hypothyroid conditions are aware that seaweed such as kelp and bladderwrack are high in iodine, together with fish and fish products, egg yolks and dairy products.

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  There are, however, lots of fruit and vegetables, herbs, nuts and grain that have sufficient Iodine to not only warm up the body, but also assist the thyroid in numerous other ways. Many give positive anti-inflamatory assistance. Some have a high selenium content,some have a metabolic effect,and works in sinc with the thyroid.

These foods can be digested in small amounts very safely, until you are able to figure out the amount of iodine that is safe for you.

Seaweeds, such as kelp and bladderwrack, are too iodine-rich for Hashimoto sufferers and can worsen symptoms, causing inflammatory flare-ups, whereas the foods given in the list below will provide a more subtle iodine introduction, backed up with additional benefits. For those suffering fro hypothyroidism and those looking to increase metabolism kelp is fine.

Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Herbs and Nuts that Stimulate the Thyroid

• fruits – pineapple, coconut, strawberries, rhubarb, mango, dates, apricots, balsam apple
• vegetables – Jerusalem artichoke, spinach, potato
• grains – oats, buckwheat, lentils
• spices – cinnamon, black and white pepper
• herbs – fennel, hyssop
• nuts – hazelnut
• tree leaves – Moringa (Moringa oleifera)

IODINE-RICH FRUITS

Pineapple: Iodine and Powerful Anti-inflammatory

All of the fruits in this list have additional benefits for people with Hashimoto’s.  Pineapple contains the entire range of vitamins, 16 minerals, and is extremely rich in bromelain, an anti-inflammatory enzyme that is so powerful that it is commonly used alone as a treatment for autoimmune disorders; it also breaks down proteins (including parasites), acts as an anti-coagulant (lowering blood-pressure) and purifies the blood.

Coconut: Iodine and Instant, Non-sugar Energy

Coconut provides a unique form of saturated fat that contains medium-chain fatty acids that boost the metabolism quickly.This kind of fat doesn’t need to be linked up with carrier proteins (lipoprotins) and stored.  As it travels straight to the liver for immediate conversion to energy. Coconut also contains caprylic acid (also known as octanoic acid) which combats fungal infections such as candidiasis.

Strawberries: Iodine and Anti-histamine

Strawberries are the top berry source for quercetin, which is anti-inflammatory and has been found to protect brain cells from damage . It is also known as “nature’s antihistamine”, inhibiting the production of histamine, which is involved in inflammatory responses, as well as allergic ones.And just one cup of strawberries contains over 140 per cent of the RDA (recommended daily amount).

 

Rhubarb: Iodine and 12 Other Minerals

Rhubarb is part of the Polygonaceae family and has been used as a medicine since the third century BCE. It is rich in iodine and also contains vitamins A, C and many of the B vitamins. It is remarkable for its high mineral content which – in addition to iodine – includes calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, phosphorous, silicon, sodium, sulfur and zinc, chlorine, and potassium. The rhizomes and roots contain powerful anthraquinones, which are stimulant laxatives, useful for relieving the constipation that’s an unpleasant part of hypothryoid conditions.

Apricots: Iodine and Phytonutrients

Apricots are high in the phytonutrients lycopene, beta-carotene and quercetin, and have been shown to reduce the risk of liver steatosis (fatty degeneration of the liver) (2). They are also one of the foods identified by healthcare professionals as possibly key to the extreme longevity of the Hunzas people of Kashmir (3).

Balsam Apple: Iodine and Metabolism Regulator

  Balsam apple is also known as bitter lemon and has 4 bioactive compoundswhich AMPK,a protein. These compounds  go a long way to regulating metabolism and helping glucose uptake processes in the body.

Mangoes and Dates

A very rich source of selenium is to be found in dates. This is an essential for thyroid hormone production. Dates also contain 23 different types of amino acids within their proteins. Mangoes are the richest source of Vitam A. One mango gives one and a half times the daily amount

Other Iodine-Rich Fresh Foods to be Used with Caution

Soy beans are rich sources of iodine, but the isoflavones in soy beans and products can actually depress thyroid function (because they inhibit thyroid peroxidase-catalysed reactions that are essential for forming thyroid hormones), so soy is best avoided. Black walnut is also an extremely rich source of iodine, and offers extraordinary benefits for bacterial or parasitic problems , but its iodine content is so high that it should be used one drop at a time, until a safe level is established.

Ocean Wonder Kelp is 100% natural sea Kelp.It is a neutral tasting nutrition for the whole family. It has over 70 naturally occuringminerals, trace elements,amino acids,vitamins,and digestive enzymes, harvested from the pristine waters off Nova Scotia.

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