For those of us that are diet conscious, having a hypoactive thyroid is a curse. Since weight gain is one of the many conditions that comes with hypothyroidism, a proper diet must be followed in order for us not to balloon up to a large size. Following a strict hypothyroid diet is not just for those who have are suffering hypothyroidism but also for the typical health conscious person. Patients who stick to a diet specifically geared to those with thyroid problems can help reduce the symptoms of the disease and in the process can even help trim down their bodies.

A good hypothyroid diet should include organic foods. Vegetables, fruits, fish, and free range livestock is high on the menu for a hypothyroid patient. But take note that a person diagnosed with hypothyroidism should cut back on meat that has high fat content. It is also advisable to add multivitamins to the mix.

When it comes to minerals for those who are suffering from hypothyroidism, selenium is your friend. Selenium is a micro mineral that is an integral part of the process of production and conversion of our thyroid hormones. Together with iodine, they help reduce the development of hypothyroidism. Foods rich in selenium include lamb, brazil nuts, tuna, calf’s liver, salmon, barley, cod, snapper, halibut, shrimp, shittake and button mushrooms. Selenium not just helps our thyroid produce thyroid hormones, but can also help protect our cells from free radical damage. Taken together with iodine, it will greatly help in the steady regulated production of you thyroid hormones.

Another effective method of trying to lose those unwanted hypothyroid pounds is the consumption of more fiber. The addition of fiber in our diet can help a patient lose weight, in addition to being helpful against one of the hypothyroid symptoms – constipation.

Although fiber can be taken in its pill form, it never satisfies a person as much as actually eating fiber rich food such as oatmeal, rice, whole wheat, and beans to name a few. Speaking of whole grains, it also regulates your blood sugar and makes you feel fuller for a longer amount of time.

Another proven method of helping those with a hypothyroid is actually eating more meals. Wait, I’m not implying you eat the whole contents of your refrigerator, what I meant were mini meals spread throughout the day. Having a four to five meals spread throught your day helps regulate slow metabolic rate. But remember, those meals must be small. Eating half a turkey for breakfast and the other half for brunch doesn’t count. Keep every meal within 300 calories. A little exercise won’t hurt you either when used along side of a hypothyroid diet!