# How can you decrease weight with Hypothyroidism?

Now as we know, thyroid decreases metabolism so, our aim is to increase our metabolism by adding metabolism boosting food complemented with some lifestyle changes and exercises. This way, our body can burn more calories and lose weight.

With this, we will also decrease calorie intake as negative energy balance helps in burning the stored fat resulting in weight loss.

# What is Negative Energy Balance?

When your calorie intake is lower than your body’s requirements, then the body tends to burn stored fat and convert it into energy to compensate its requirement.

Here low calorie means a nutrition calorie diet plan with approx. 1200-1500 calories per day but do not go below 1200 calories diet.

With this, for fixing thyroid problems, one has to take medicine daily and avoid taking goitrogenic foods.

Goitrogenic food has goitrogens which disrupts the production of thyroid hormone making the condition worse for thyroid patients.

# Foods to Avoid in Thyroid

Good news is, there aren’t many food items that you need to strike off from your list of must-haves if you have hypothyroidism. Needless to say, a well-planned diet plays a prominent role in regulating your body function without interfering with the medication.

1. Reduce gluten Intake– You might have come across the term ‘going gluten-free’, ever thought what it is. Well, gluten is nothing, but protein found in grains like barley, rye and wheat.

For me, giving up wheat-based food such as bread, rice etc. was quite a challenge, but that was only till I realized how negative it could be in hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Celiac diseases are some of the worst-case scenarios if you follow a gluten-rich diet.

2. Limit Goitrogenic foods: Another element is the goitrogen as it decreases thyroid hormone production and inhibits the normal functioning of the thyroid gland.

Foods such as soy foods, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, starchy plants and fruits such as peaches, strawberries, pears, sweet potatoes etc. contain goitrogen. Nuts like peanuts also need to be restricted from your munching list.

However, this can be a real issue for people with iodine deficiency or those who are used to eating a large amount of goitrogens.

3. As discussed earlier, soy foods like tofu, soy milk is not recommended. But if your iodine intake is in check, then there is no need to worry.

4. Sugar Products: One of the main reasons for your metabolism to slow down is the high intake of sugary foods. Over a period, I have refrained from getting sneaky and trying my favorite desserts. Not completely, but occasional bingeing is absolutely fine.

5. Also, a strict no-no to Mustard (Sarso), Radishes (Muli), Rutabagas (Shaljam)

So, the trick here is moderation! Avoid over-eating these foods and maintain at least 6-8 hours gap after taking thyroid medication.