How to Follow a Low Iodine Diet Successfully
Need to go on a low-iodine diet for thyroid surgery? We’ve got everything you need to know, from the basics to a sample meal plan and recipes!
Many thyroid conditions require a low-iodine diet during treatment. If you are starting a low-iodine diet, or are curious about what the diet entails, read on! In this blog post, we will discuss the basics of a low-iodine diet, share a sample low-iodine daily meal plan and provide some tips for successfully following it.
Individuals with thyroid cancer typically follow a low-iodine diet prior to radioactive iodine treatment, as iodine can interfere with the treatment. Generally, you should follow a low-iodine diet for 1–2 weeks before radioactive iodine treatment or scans. People diagnosed with Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or other thyroid conditions may also follow a low-iodine diet.
Foods Rich in Iodine You Should Avoid
Knowing what iodine-rich foods to avoid is a great first step to make the transition to following a low-iodine diet easier. It might surprise you to realize that many foods contain iodine. For this reason, a low-iodine diet generally means avoiding these foods or eating them only in small quantities. Most grocery stores will sell non-iodized salt, which you should purchase instead of regular salt.
- Iodized Salt
- Seafood
- Shellfish
- Grains & Cereals
- Certain Breads
- Dairy Products, Milk Products & Milk
- Beef
- Poultry
- Pudding Mixes
- Egg Yolk
- Tofu & Soy Products
- Seaweed (Kelp, Nori, Kombu, Wakame)
Ingredients You Should Avoid
Packaged food products can make sticking to a low-iodine diet tricky. Remember to read the nutrition labels. Avoiding certain ingredients can ensure that the products you buy have low iodine content.
- Iodates
- Iodides
- Algin
- Alginates
- Carrageenan
- Agar-Agar
- Calcium Iodate
- Potassium Iodate
- Fd&C Red Dye #3
Sample Full Day Meal Plan
Making a meal plan ahead of time may help simplify the low-iodine diet. We have some recipes that fit within the guidelines of a low-iodine diet. Choose one of the options/ideas provided for each mealtime.
Breakfast Options
1 serving of fresh fruit of your choice.
Egg white omelet with fresh vegetables.
Freshly cooked oatmeal with toppings, like cinnamon, honey, maple syrup, walnuts or fruit. Use plain oats, no milk and ensure it is made with low-iodine ingredients.
Black coffee or tea with sugar.
Snack #1
Unsalted natural peanut butter (or other unsalted nut butter) with apple slices, carrots, or unsalted rice crackers.
Snack #2
- Unsalted nuts.
- Applesauce.
Lunch Options
3 ounces of unsalted skinless chicken breast. Do not exceed a total of 6 ounces of meat per day.
Homemade bread baked without iodized salt. Take a look at our recipe for French Bread or Focaccia Bread from THANC Guide Cookbook. Download your copy for free when you use the coupon code COOK20.
Roasted vegetables. Check out the Roasted Winter Vegetables recipe from THANC Guide Cookbook.
Skinless sweet potato.
Soda or carbonated water (without Red Dye #3).
Dinner Ideas
You can still enjoy Classic Chili! Try our LID version of this all-time favorite (limit to 3 ounces of meat).
Looking for something a little lighter? Try this easy Pasta Salad recipe.
Dessert
½ cup sorbet (no Red Dye #3) or fruit of choice.
Looking for some easy low iodine recipes?
We compiled our 10 best low-iodine diet recipes. Try these easy dishes for thyroid cancer survivors.
Download our cookbook for free! Just fill out the form below.
Conclusion
Check out another of our posts that outlines the specifics of a low-iodine diet, such as foods safe to eat, and the reasoning behind following a low-iodine diet. In addition, the THANC Guide Cookbook has many recipes and an entire section dedicated to thyroid healthy, low-iodine recipes for every meal. You can have a copy for free by using the code COOK20!
Sources
Low Iodine Diet | American Thyroid Association
Low-Iodine Diet | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Handy One-Page Low Iodine Diet | ThyCa
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