Foods to avoid with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

In Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the biggest questions are about iodine and gluten. Excess iodine from supplements, kelp or iodized salt can aggravate thyroid autoimmunity, and gluten is often limited because of its overlap with celiac disease. Heavily processed fats and additives are cautioned as general inflammatory load.

Commonly asked about

All Hashimoto's ingredients (24)

Limit or use with caution (24)

How diet fits with Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Iodine is the main nutrient question

The thyroid uses iodine to make hormones, and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases notes that people with Hashimoto's disease and other autoimmune thyroid disorders may be sensitive to harmful side effects from iodine. That is why this guide pays attention to iodized salt, kelp and seaweed, and iodine-containing supplements, and why any change in iodine intake is a conversation to have with your clinician.

Selenium and gluten

The American Thyroid Association has written that Hashimoto's thyroiditis has been associated with low selenium, and some studies have suggested that selenium supplementation might slow the progression of the condition, although the findings are suggestive and not a settled recommendation. Celiac disease is more common in people with autoimmune thyroid disease, so testing for it is a reasonable question for your doctor. For people without celiac disease, studies of a gluten-free diet in Hashimoto's have been inconsistent, which is why gluten is rated a caution here and not an absolute avoid.

Flare versus remission

Hashimoto's does not flare in the way inflammatory bowel disease does, so the two ratings in this guide describe when symptoms are more active and when they are quiet. Heavily processed fats and additives are generally cautioned as an overall inflammatory load, and the entries explain which ones and why.

How to use this guide

Use each entry as background for a conversation with the clinician who manages your thyroid, particularly before starting or stopping a supplement. The ratings are general information, they describe typical guidance and they do not replace the advice of your care team or an individual dietitian.

Questions to ask your care team

Useful questions include whether you should be tested for celiac disease, whether your iodine intake from salt, dairy, seafood and supplements needs tracking, whether selenium is appropriate for you, and how your thyroid medication should be taken in relation to food and supplements. Bring a list of everything you take, including multivitamins and kelp products, because many contain iodine and are easy to forget.

General guidance, not medical advice. Individual tolerance varies — talk to your clinician before changing your diet.

Check whole products for Hashimoto's

Scan a barcode with FoodSage and every ingredient on the label is checked against Hashimoto's Thyroiditis — flare or remission. Learn about FoodSage.

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