Short Answer: Beets are good for hyperthyroidism. Because they have nitrates, betalains, and fiber, which can lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and improve digestion.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition that affects your thyroid gland, which is located at the front of your neck.
In hyperthyroidism, your body produces too much thyroid hormone, which speeds up your metabolism and affects many organs and systems.
This can lead to various health problems, such as irregular heartbeat, weight loss, anxiety, tremor, and eye problems.
One of the key factors in managing hyperthyroidism is diet.
What you consume can affect your thyroid function, which can impact your hyperthyroidism symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage hyperthyroidism, you should consume foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, cruciferous vegetables, and vitamin D, and avoid foods high in iodine, such as seaweed, dairy products, and iodized salt.
Now, beets are a type of root vegetable that have a deep purple color and an earthy flavor.
People usually eat them raw, cooked, pickled, or juiced.
Beets are good for hyperthyroidism because they contain nitrates, betalains, and fiber.
These ingredients can have beneficial effects on your blood pressure, inflammation, and digestion.
A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of boiled beets can give you 20% of your daily folate needs, 14% of your manganese needs, 8% of your copper needs, and 7% of your potassium needs.
Nitrates can help lower your blood pressure, which is often elevated in hyperthyroidism.
Betalains are pigments that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can protect your cells from oxidative stress and inflammation, which are common in hyperthyroidism.
Fiber can help improve your digestive health and prevent constipation, which can be caused by hyperthyroidism.
Furthermore, beets are a low-iodine food and iodine is a factor that can worsen hyperthyroidism.
Because, excess iodine can stimulate the thyroid gland to produce more hormone, especially in people with Graves’ disease, which is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
You can eat up to one cup (136 grams) of beets per day safely.
More than that can cause side effects such as beeturia, which is the reddening of urine due to the excretion of betalains, or kidney stones, which can be caused by the high oxalate content of beets.
Also, you shouldn’t eat beets if you have kidney disease or gout to prevent kidney stones and gout attacks.
Because, beets are high in oxalates, which can bind to calcium and form crystals in the urine, and purines, which can increase the uric acid levels in the blood.
You can buy fresh beets in your local market or can order them online.
Always choose beets that are firm, smooth, and deep in color.
Because, these indicate that they are fresh, ripe, and nutritious.
You can store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing hyperthyroidism effectively.
I always recommend my hyperthyroidism patients to follow a hyperthyroidism-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.