Does Soya Trigger Thyroid Levels During Menopause?

If you have hypothyroidism, you might have heard that it is not safe for you to consume soy and soy products. There has been a controversy regarding soy and thyroid conditions because soy is considered as a ‘goitrogen’- a food that can affect the functioning of the thyroid gland and cause hypothyroidism. 

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However, there is no research to prove that people with hypothyroidism should not consume soy at all. As soy may affect the absorption of the thyroid medications, you simply need to maintain 4-5 hours of a gap between consumption of the thyroid medication and the soy products. 

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Apart from soy, certain other foods may also with the absorption of thyroid hormone medication, including foods high in calcium, such as dairy products, and calcium-rich greens like spinach and broccoli, fiber-rich foods, such as whole grains, beans, and nuts and iron supplements and iron-rich foods, such as red meat, and leafy greens.

But remember, that your body does need the nutrients from all these foods. So while it's best to avoid consuming these foods at the same time as your thyroid hormone medication, you need not eliminate them from your diet entirely.

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