Published July 10, 2010
Updated August 22, 2012
Recently I wrote about my personal thyroid diet, as I listed an example of an actual “thyroid diet” that I follow. While I received some positive feedback for this diet, I know some people who read this thought that it was way too strict, as this diet didn’t include any whole grains, brown rice, etc.
First of all, I did mention that this was just an example, and that I don’t eat the same exact foods every single day of the week. Second, I’m not opposed to people eating whole grains, although during the initial stages of following a natural thyroid treatment protocol I do recommend refraining from them for the first 21 to 30 days.
Anyway, what I’ve decided to do here is list a modified thyroid diet that is still much healthier than what most people eat, yet includes some grains and other foods that I normally would not recommend for someone to eat during the initial stages of a natural thyroid treatment protocol. Like the previous thyroid diet I created, this “modified” diet is also gluten free, although unlike some other natural healthcare professionals I don’t recommend for everyone with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition to avoid gluten-based foods on a permanent basis, unless of course if they have a condition such as Celiac Disease.
One issue is that some people are allergic to gluten, but they don’t have the extreme symptoms as someone who has a condition such as Celiac Disease. So while I do recommend for most people to go on a gluten-free trial for at least four to six weeks, not everyone has overt symptoms when consuming gluten. And if someone has a condition such as leaky gut syndrome that is caused by a gluten sensitivity problem, avoiding gluten for four to six weeks isn’t going to be sufficient.
In any case, the primary reason why I decided to list this modified thyroid diet is so I don’t turn anyone away who is interested in eating healthier, but found my “personal thyroid diet” I listed previously to be too extreme. But if you are thinking about changing your eating habits, what you might want to do is for the first 21 to 30 days follow my “extreme thyroid diet”, and then slowly incorporate the foods listed in this “modified thyroid diet”.
Here Is The “Modified” Thyroid Diet:
6am: Breakfast: One slice of toast on gluten-free bread with organic butter; 2 organic eggs cooked the way you like
8am: Mid-morning snack #1: one serving of organic apples or another fruit of your choice
10am: Mid-morning snack #2: ½ cup of raw sunflower seeds or walnuts
Noon: Lunch: Grilled chicken salad (with organic chicken, romaine lettuce or mixed greens)
2pm: Mid-afternoon snack #1: a healthy smoothie
4pm: Mid-afternoon snack # 2: one serving of fruit and one serving of vegetables
6pm: Dinner: Brown rice pasta with organic tomato sauce, along with some organic turkey meatballs, and two servings of vegetables
7:30pm: Snack: ½ cup of raw almonds
While this sample diet isn’t as strict as the thyroid diet I previously listed (although it’s still pretty strict overall), it still is relatively healthy. And as I’ve mentioned in the past, when I consult with a new patient who eats a lot of junk food, I don’t expect them to make extreme changes right away. Even this “modified” thyroid diet is a big change for most people, and so it might take a few weeks, or even a few months before someone is ready to make such a dramatic change in their diet. Obviously I hope it doesn’t take a few months, but it’s best to take it slow and to have someone gradually change their eating habits rather than to make it too difficult for them and therefore not have them change their diet at all. There are some supplements that can help with this. For example, those people with severe sweet and carbohydrate cravings can benefit from taking Gymnema, which in most people will control these cravings in a short period of time. Many people don’t need to take this herb, but for those who have difficulty avoiding refined foods and sugars, taking Gymnema can help greatly.
So if you have a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition and are looking to begin a thyroid diet in an attempt to restore your health to normal, the above diet I listed is a good place too start. And if it seems too strict, then make it a goal to gradually wean yourself off the junk food and begin eating healthier on a regular basis.
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