Can I Eat Shellfish With Thyroid Disease?

The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the lower neck that controls the body's metabolism by producing hormones T4 and T3. These hormones tell the cells how much energy they need to use. Thyroid disease occurs when the thyroid gland starts to produce too little or too much of these hormones. In any form of thyroid disease it is important to make sure that the intake of iodine is kept within normal range. Since shellfish contains a lot of iodine, it is not recommended for someone with thyroid disease.

Foods to Avoid

• In the presence of thyroid disease, especially hyperthyroidism, any excess of iodine is not recommended. Hence any iodine-rich foods and other iodine sources, such as medications, and even the contrast agents that are used in X-ray procedures, can exacerbate the dysfunction of the thyroid.

  Among all the common foods that are often included in a regular diet, seafood contains the greatest level of iodine. Among the seafood the highest ranking are crabs, lobster, oysters and other forms of shellfish. Seaweed is also known to have a very high iodine content. The dairy and plant products contain high levels of iodine only if they are obtained from areas where there is a high iodine content in the soil. For instance, the soil in the ocean coastal areas has greater iodine content as compared to inland areas. Some other common foods that naturally contain a high iodine content are eggs and breads.

  Today the most common iodine source for the majority of Americans is iodized salt, which has 70 micrograms of iodine per gram. All foods high in iodine need to be avoided by people suffering from an over-functioning thyroid gland, known as hyperthyroidism. People with hypothyroidism, under-functioning of the thyroid gland, may be advised by a doctor to eat iodine-rich foods until the condition is brought under control. However, even if a person is not suffering from any thyroid disease at the moment, but is genetically predisposed to autoimmune thyroid disease, it is advisable that excess iodine be avoided, including the use of iodized salt.