I’ve been doing a lot of research lately on thyroid health and I’ve come across some eye opening information that I have to share.
Let me back up a bit – I started getting a really bad neck ache about a month and a half ago and thought it was muscular. After meeting with a medical intuitive she informed me that my thyroid was swollen, something I had never considered. She asked me if I had been feeling sluggish, she asked about the quality of my sleep, my motivation and my mood. Well, turns out that once I started looking at all these signs I realized that indeed something is going on with my thyroid. Yes I am getting a blood test next week, however I’m not one to wait for the blood test to confirm anything, I like to dive right in and start making immediate changes. So I started juicing and eating as healthy as I know possible and still, my neck ache persists.
Then, I came across some research online referring to raw cruciferous vegetables and their negative effect on people with thyroid conditions. Apparently when eaten raw they contain chemicals that block the production of thyroid hormone in the body. All this time I thought I was doing something great for my body and boy was I wrong! It just goes to show you that even when you think you are eating all the right things, one bit of research can change everything. That’s why I believe it’s so important to educate yourself about whatever condition you have.
Cruciferous vegetables: Arugla, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, turnip, collard greens, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, radish, rutabaga, watercress.
This doesn’t mean that I won’t continue my juicing habit – it just means I’m planning to leave out the kale and spinach (spinach isn’t cruciferous but it also negatively effects the thyroid when eaten raw – see the note below about oxalic acid.)
Here’s a delicious juice that I made this morning:
1 organic beet
4 organic celery stalks
1 organic apple
½ organic cucumber
½ organic lemon
½ inch fresh organic ginger
This amount of juice made enough for both Chad and I to enjoy.
Some greens contain a chemical called oxalic acid – it’s irritating to the mouth and intestinal tract as well as blocks calcium and iron absorption. It may also contribute to the formation of kidney stones. Greens with this chemical are listed below. For those who have a thyroid condition please make sure to lightly steam or cook these foods to minimize the oxalic acid.
Spinach, chard, parsley, chives, purslane and beet greens.
There are other foods to avoid when dealing with a thyroid condition. All it takes is a Google search. Educate yourself and you will ultimately help yourself heal.
Please pass along this very valuable information. Many people suffer from thyroid conditions but don’t know about the benefits of changing specific foods in their diet.
Please help spread the word so that more people can become aware of the very specific ways to heal. Healing also takes place when stress is reduced and a spiritual practice is added.
Stay healthy,
Shira