If during an examination you are told that your TSH level is low, this already indicates thyroid problems, and it is clear which combination of foods is the cause. It is difficult to hide irregularities from doctors that you repeat daily in your diet.
Data, so there is no doubt
A recent study involving 4,585 people and examining 58 foods in detail revealed significant findings. The results clearly indicated statistically significant correlations between diet and hormones. In the study, high glycemic index was statistically associated with higher fT3 + fT4 and lower TSH (p < 0.05).
Proteins and saturated fats, mainly from meat products, behave oppositely: they lower fT3 and fT4.
What does this mean?
Who is particularly sensitive?
Women had on average lower fT3 and fT4 and higher TSH than men. Smokers have lower TSH than non-smokers or former smokers. Scientists suggest that this is caused by nicotine, which affects the thyroid axis.
Digestive fullness, speed of glucose absorption, and involvement of hormones: high GI food enters the bloodstream faster, causing more powerful insulin and metabolic reactions, directly impacting thyroid function. The study also proves that whole foods with low GI maintain thyroid stability.
Therefore, we advise you:
- Drink unsweetened teas daily - without strawberry sugary drinks.
- Choose freshly squeezed juices or chamomile instead of strawberry (fruit) juices (especially instant!) - this supports the thyroid as it has no sugar, it also doesn't cause weight gain.
- Low GI foods - this can be the key to great flavor and stable metabolism.
- Use legume proteins instead of intuitively salty processed meat in your morning sandwich - less saturated fats, cleaner energy.
- Monitor your TSH, fT3, fT4 - if you have issues, you can achieve results with dietary adjustments in a few weeks.
Research Bubbles
- Additional research shows that a low intake of proteins (HPF, high protein feeding) can decrease fT3/fT4 by 6%, while low-protein (LPF) can decrease TSH by 16%.
- A diet low in sugar and saturated fats can restore hormones back to optimal levels.
- The noted link between insulin sensitivity and the ratio of fT3/fT4 ≤ 0.28 is associated with improved glycodiabetic control.
The question arises: what about lemonade? It hasn't killed anyone... Indeed, it hasn't. But frequent consumption of sweetened drinks indicates that this choice irritates the thyroid and harms it in the long run. Therefore, we recommend fresh teas (green organic tea, warm cinnamon tea, chamomile tea) without sugar are only halfway to success. The other half is more vegetables, whole grains, less instant products. Your body will be grateful, and your thyroid will return clarity and energy to you.
Conclusion
Science clearly shows the negative impact of sweetened drinks and high GI foods on the balance of thyroid hormones (TSH, fT3, fT4). A diet rich in proteins and saturated fats gives a contradictory feeling but acts differently.
Be attentive to what you (regularly) drink and eat. Even small changes can bring stable thyroid function in 4 to 6 weeks.
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Short Explanation of Unknown Terms:
- Glycemic Index (GI): a number indicating how quickly food raises blood sugar (100 is sugar).
- fT3 and fT4: generators of thyroid signals - fT4 is the main reservoir, fT3 is the active form.
- TSH: a hormone from the brain that signals the thyroid to work more...
- Glycodiabetic control: how stable blood sugar is throughout the day, without alarming fluctuations.
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