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What to Eat for Swollen Thyroid

A swollen thyroid, also known as a goiter, is one of the many symptoms of an underactive thyroid, caused by a lack of hormone production. An iodine deficiency could be the cause of your swollen gland, and you easily can remedy it through consuming food or supplements that provide iodine. According to Paul Ruggieri, M.D., author of "A Simple Guide to Thyroid Disorders," you need only a small amount of iodine to prevent health problems related to iodine deficiencies, as excess iodine can result in hyperthyroidism, a condition that occurs when your thyroid gland produces too many hormones.

  1. Foods to Avoid

    • The brassica family includes vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, mustard, kale, radishes and turnips. Consuming large amounts of these uncooked vegetables can cause hypothyroidism. If your thyroid gland is swollen, reduce the portion of these vegetables and prepare them by cooking them thoroughly. Also avoid pine nuts, peanuts and food products that contain soy, as they can interfere with thyroid function.

    Safe Foods

    • You can find small traces of iodine in eggs, milk, bread, meat and spinach. Vegetables are very low in iodine, but can still be consumed if cooked and mashed for easy swallowing and digestion. The different types of shellfish include shrimp, crawfish, lobster, mussel, crab, calamari, cockle, oyster, scallops and abalone. Saltwater fish include: anchovies, eel, cod, flounder, halibut, herring, mackerel, mahi mahi, perch, salmon, red snapper and tuna. Prepare fish by baking, broiling or grilling it. Avoid fatty and fried foods, as they can disrupt hormone production.

    Balanced Meals

    • According to "The Complete Thyroid Book," a high-fiber diet that includes plant foods, animal-based foods and dairy can improve your thyroid production. Your diet also should be in low in saturated fat, with more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. You can find polyunsaturated fats in soybean oil, fish and walnuts; and monounsaturated fats in peanut butter, avocados, olive oil and sesame oil.

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