Before I discuss some Graves’ disease diet tips that can help you get your health back to normal, let me first tell you that not only am I a licensed healthcare professional, but I am personally diagnosed with Graves’ disease. The diagnosis was made. And nutrition definitely played a big part in getting my health back to normal. I will warn you that being a holistic practitioner I am biased towards natural treatment methods, so most endocrinologists label Graves’ disease as “incurable”, based on my own personal experience I believe that Graves’ Disease is curable, and one’s diet is important in restoring their health.
So if you are looking for Graves’ disease diet tips that will help you get your health back to normal, then you are going to enjoy reading the following information. As I just mentioned, diet can play a big role in treating Graves’ disease naturally. Although, I will tell you that incorporating healthy food and nutritional supplements can be beneficial, there are other factors that will play a role in your recovery as well, which I will briefly mention in this article.
I will also warn you that different doctors will have different opinions about what is considered “healthy” in relation to one’s diet. And let’s be honest for a moment… no one eats the “perfect” diet, because in my opinion it’s okay to be “bad” sometimes. For example, I once consulted with a patient who liked milkshakes, which as you might guess is not very healthy. And while it would be ideal for this person to completely eliminate milkshakes from their diet, having one every once in a while isn’t a big deal. And the same goes with other foods.
Of course, there are exceptions. For example, someone with celiac disease will not be able to “occasionally” eat a gluten-based food without having a bad reaction. Another example includes someone who can’t “settle” for a milkshake now and again, or an occasional slice of pizza, etc. Consuming too much of it
Testing for food allergies is a good idea
Anyway, one of the first things I would recommend anyone do before making any changes to their eating habits is to get tested for food allergies. Going to a regular allergist may not be the best option, as they will usually only test for IgE antibodies. You might want to go to a holistic practitioner and get an ELISA/EIA panel, which also measures IgG antibodies, and is usually more accurate (although it depends on the lab doing the test).
Another option is to consider a GI health panel. The company Diagnos-Tech offers this type of test, which measures the health of the gastrointestinal tract and includes more than a dozen tests that use saliva and stool samples. They also offer a FIP-Food Intolerance Panel, which will determine if you are allergic to four of the most common foods (gluten, soy, milk and egg proteins).
A less expensive approach is to conduct an elimination diet, where you eliminate all common food allergens (wheat, soy, dairy, etc.), and then gradually introduce a potential allergen. There are various ways to do this, but here is an example. You could go on a cleanse program (described shortly), and then after the cleanse program is complete, introduce wheat for 3 days, and see how your body responds. Just make sure you don’t add more than one potential allergen, as if you add both wheat and dairy for example, and have a bad reaction, you won’t know which allergen was responsible.
A Cleansing Program Can Be Beneficial
As I just mentioned, many people can benefit from the purification program. There are different types of these programs, and it is wise to be under the guidance of a competent health care professional when undertaking one. When I place one of my patients on a cleanse program, I like to keep them away from gluten, dairy, soy, and other common allergens for at least twenty-one days. Once again, this is because they are common allergens.
On the other hand, I encourage them to eat lots of vegetables, some fruit, as well as chicken, turkey, and some types of fish. I recommend that they buy organic food, at least with respect to meats. While it would be great if they could buy everything organic, I realize that some people just can’t afford it, and so if you have to pick and choose, I would recommend eating organic meat, and not non-organic. Will try to stay away from vegetables. and fruits that are high in pesticides. These aren’t necessarily the only foods I recommend, as most people can eat small amounts of raw nuts (sunflower seeds, almonds, etc.) as well as a few other foods.
An actual example of a Graves’ disease diet:
Here is an example of a daily protocol I followed when I first went on my Graves’ Disease diet. Keep in mind that this is just one example, and it’s not a diet I stuck to permanently (though it trained me to eat better, and I still eat healthy today):
Breakfast:
• Protein drink consisting of 2 cups purified water, 1 cup mixed berries (raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries), a healthy form of protein powder, and 1 teaspoon flaxseed oil (after a month I added a raw organic egg to this).
Mid-morning snack:
• Organic Apples and Raw Sunflower Seeds
lunch:
• Grilled Chicken Salad: Organic Mixed Greens and Spinach, Organic Grilled Chicken
afternoon snack:
• Another protein drink (very filling, and tastes really good)
dinner:
• Organic Roasted Turkey
• Certain types of vegetables (such as squash)
Snack after dinner:
• 1 cup raw nuts (almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts, cashews)
Although this diet is relatively healthy, you will notice that it is not perfect. I probably should have included more vegetables, but overall it was a healthy diet. Today I still eat healthy, but I occasionally include some whole grains (for example, I’ll have a turkey wrap or sandwich with whole wheat bread), and sometimes I go out and have some whole grains. take pizza, eat some chocolate, etc.
If you currently eat a lot of junk food and/or have strong sweet and carbohydrate cravings, I wouldn’t expect you to change overnight. It’s best to take it slow under such circumstances, and when I first consult with a patient who has sweet and carb cravings, I give them a diet plan to help them get rid of these cravings. protocol, and thus transition to a healthier one. Diet very simple. I personally grew up eating foods like Froot Loops, Burger King Whoppers and fries, and drinking a lot of Hawaiian Punch. And when I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease I was already eating much healthier than when I first started trying to eat healthier, it took a while.
drink plenty of pure water
You’ll also want to drink lots of pure water during this time, and avoid any soft drinks, and even most juices, which can be high in sugar. Different doctors have different opinions about what type of water you should be drinking, but I recommend either water that has gone through the reverse osmosis process or distillation, and then enhanced with minerals. Some will disagree with me, preferring water without minerals. Either way, stay away from tap water, and I’d also be cautious about drinking spring water, unless you know the source is good quality.
What are goitrogens?
There are also some goitrogens that you should try your best to avoid. Goitrogens interfere with the function of the thyroid gland, which is not as big a factor in someone with a hyperthyroid condition like Graves’ disease as it would be in someone with a hypothyroid condition. But even then, you’ll want to minimize at least a few of the following foods, and some of them you’ll want to avoid altogether. I personally eat some of the following goitrogens in moderation (i.e. spinach and broccoli), while avoiding others (i.e. soy) completely. Anyway, here are some goitrogens to be aware of:
• AM
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Cauliflower
• spinach
• Turnip
• peach
• Strawberries
Where should you shop?
As far as where you should shop, although you can shop at your local health food store, I personally like Trader Joe’s, which is a national chain that has lots of natural and organic food at affordable prices. . Some “regular” grocery stores, and even places like Wal-Mart, sell some natural and organic food. While my wife and I prefer to shop for most of our items at Trader Joe’s, we buy some of our foods at a local health food store, and some items at a “regular” supermarket.
Factors other than diet can affect your health
Apart from eating healthy, there are other factors that can affect your health. Since it is difficult to obtain all the vitamins and minerals you need through your diet, it may be beneficial to take some quality nutritional supplements (i.e. B vitamins, vitamin D, iodine, essential fatty acids, a multi-mineral supplement , Etcetera). As I’m sure you know, sticking to a regular exercise program is also beneficial. Another big factor for people with Graves’ disease is managing the stress in their lives, while almost everyone has to deal with stress, we all have different coping mechanisms. And people who don’t do a good job of managing the stress in their lives are more likely to stress the adrenal glands, which can lead to and exacerbate an autoimmune condition.
Should You Consult a Natural Endocrine Doctor?
While many endocrinologists label Graves’ disease as incurable, the truth is that many people, like me, are turning to natural treatment methods to help restore thyroid gland function, and have thus been able to avoid thyroid drugs and radioactive chemotherapy. Avoid iodine. A competent naturopath who focuses on endocrine disorders can help you with your diet, recommend quality supplements, and put you on a complete program that can potentially get your health back to normal. Can do. While not everyone is a candidate for natural healing methods, most people can benefit from following a natural healing protocol.
So for those looking for an ideal Graves’ disease diet, hopefully you have a better idea of what foods you should be eating when diagnosed with the condition. Truth be told, most people should eat a healthy diet consisting of whole foods, whether they have an autoimmune thyroid disorder or not. Doing so can actually help prevent the development of such conditions, as well as incorporating other lifestyle factors, such as exercising regularly, getting good sleep, and doing a good job of stress management. But for someone with Graves’ disease, eating healthy can certainly help improve their health, and thus is extremely important.
Source by Dr. Eric Osansky
