Avoid These Herbs, Nutrients, and Foods if You Have a Thyroid Condition

• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism

Herbalists and medical experts caution against the use of certain herbs and nutritional supplements if you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. That's because they may actually make the conditions worse, which in turn may cause more thinning hair.

Recommendations are listed below, and are condition-specific.

Avoid These Herbs, Nutrients, and Foods if You Have Hypothyroidism

Herbs:

• Aloe or Aloe Juice⁽⁹⁸⁾
• American and Siberian ginseng ⁽⁹⁸⁾
• Astragalus ⁽⁹⁸⁾
• Bamboo ⁽⁹⁸⁾
• Burdock ⁽⁹⁸⁾
• Jumbie Bean ⁽¹⁴⁷⁾
• Lemon Balm ⁽¹⁴⁷⁾
• Motherwort ⁽⁹⁸⁾

Nutrients:

• Calcium (if taking thyroid hormone medication)⁽³⁷⁾
• Fluoride⁽³⁷⁾

Foods and Spices:

• Cyanoglucoside vegetables (such as bamboo shoots, cassava, lima beans, maize, and sweet potatoes)⁽⁶⁹⁾
• Ginger⁽⁹⁸⁾
• Raw cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, mustard greens, rutabagas, and turnips)⁽⁶⁹⁾
• Soy (especially if unfermented or if you have iodine or zinc deficiency)⁽⁶⁹⁾

Foods that Suppress the Thyroid

Cruciferous vegetables contain compounds that can suppress thyroid function. Most of the compounds that cause these effects are inactivated when they are cooked, so two or three servings a week are usually tolerable.⁽⁶⁹⁾

Cyanoglucoside vegetables contain cyanide. Although the amount of cyanide in normal serving sizes are not poisonous, the compound is highly goitrogenic and blocks thyroid function. These vegetables should be avoided altogether if you have hypothyroidism.⁽⁶⁹⁾

Avoid These Herbs and Spices if You Have Hyperthyroidism

• Aloe ⁽⁹⁸⁾
• American and Siberian Ginseng ⁽⁹⁸⁾
• Astragalus ⁽⁹⁸⁾
• Bamboo ⁽⁹⁸⁾
• Burdock ⁽⁹⁸⁾
• Chrysanthemum ⁽⁹⁸⁾
• Echinacea ⁽⁹⁸⁾
• Ephedra ⁽¹⁷⁸⁾
• Ginger ⁽⁹⁸⁾
• Guarana ⁽¹⁴⁷⁾
• Lemon Balm ⁽⁹⁸⁾