Graves' Disease Diet

In 1909, Emil Theodor Kocher was honored with the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work on the thyroid gland. Kocher was the first Swiss citizen and the first surgeon ever to receive a Nobel Prize. By 1901, he had performed 2,000 thyroid operations.

A common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease. A Graves' disease diet is no different from any ordinary, balanced and healthy diet. The diet solely focuses on choosing healthy foods that may help reduce or manage the symptoms of this condition.

You might come across people claiming that certain combination of foods, nutrients or supplements may show significant improvements. But all such claims are not backed up by clinical evidence. Given below are some food choices which may help manage the symptoms and reduce the risk of complications of Graves' disease.

Patients of Graves' disease have a high predisposition to develop brittle and weak bones. When hyperthyroidism sets in, the body's ability to incorporate calcium into the bones is affected, and without treatment the problem worsens. So doctors suggest that patients should include calcium rich foods in their diet during and after treatment.

Some notable sources of calcium include:

• Dairy products (low fat)
• Sardines
• Green vegetables
• Fortified foods

Graves' disease may also put an affected person at risk of heart complications which may begin from heart palpitations to problems as severe as congestive heart failure. Given such risks, heart-healthy foods must be included in the diet without fail. Best choices are:
• Acorn squash
• Almonds
• Asparagus
• Blueberries

• Broccoli
• Brown rice
• Cantaloupe
• Carrots
• Dark chocolate
• Flaxseed
• High-fiber cereal
• Kidney Beans
• Oatmeal
• Oranges
• Papaya

• Red bell peppers
• Red wine
• Salmon
• Soy milk
• Spinach
• Sweet potato
• Tea
• Tofu
• Tomatoes
• Tuna
• Walnuts
• Whole-wheat flour
• Whole-grain pasta

For the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones, it needs to utilize iodine. Goitrogens are a class of food that work to inhibit the metabolism of iodine thus interfering with the production of thyroid hormones. While such foods may not be suitable for someone with hypothyroidism, they can help mitigate the impact of hyperthyroidism to some extent.

Good examples of goitrogens are cruciferous vegetables. But be informed that, although these foods may help treat Graves' disease, they should not be completely relied upon.

When the thyroid gland goes into an overdrive, it spikes the body's metabolism which causes rapid weight loss despite normal eating habits. So to counter this problem, Graves' disease patients must increase their protein intake as well. Good choices include:

• Lean meats
• Lean fish
• Beans
• Eggs
• Nuts
• Low fat dairy products

Other Beneficial Foods:

• Berries (rich in antioxidants, strengthens the immune system)
• Foods rich in vitamin D (most Graves' disease patients are found to have lower levels of vitamin D in their body)
• Foods rich in zinc

We know for a fact that Graves' disease is associated with hyperthyroidism. But there are also cases where most people develop hypothyroidism after they undergo treatment procedures such as radioactive iodine therapy (shrinks the thyroid gland), and thyroidectomy (surgical removal of the thyroid gland).

So for such people the Graves' disease diet may still apply but in this case, its focus would be on managing hypothyroidism.

Mostly it is the weight gain which is the most concerning after-effect of Graves' disease treatment. This can be easily avoided by following a heart-healthy diet alone. But more important than dwelling on what food to be included in the diet, is being concerned about what to avoid.

Following are some food types that are bad for hypothyroidism:

• Goitrogenic foods (cruciferous vegetables in particular)
• Spinach
• Soy-based products
• Alcohol and caffeine (they are bad for hyperthyroidism too)
• Red meat

To summarize, the Graves' disease diet is not solely about coping with the unpleasant effects of hyperthyroidism, but also preparing for hypothyroidism which may be on the cards for some people after they get treated. So a healthy diet followed during the active and treated phase of Graves' disease is a proper Graves' disease diet. Take care!