Someone told me that she felt guilty about giving her hypothyroid child broccoli every day because this isn’t a superfood anymore and apparently can worsen the thyroid function.
This is not true! Cruciferous or brassica vegetables are still superfoods even if you have hypothyroidism. There is a myth circulating on the internet that they shouldn’t be eaten but has anyone actually checked the facts?
So-called goitrogens in brassica plants (cabbage family) can potentially decrease iodine uptake into the thyroid hence affect the synthesis of thyroid hormones.
But actually you will need to eat over 1 kg per day (over 2 pounds) of raw Russian or Siberian kale, sprouts or collards (known to have the highest concentration of goitrogens) for several months to actually be affected (Felker et al. 2016).
Broccoli is considered to be a minimal risk. If you still worry, always consume it cooked as this prevents the formation of goitrogens. Also, think about huge anticarcinogenic benefits.
Sulforaphane, present in brassica vegetables has been described as “the most potent inducer of phase II enzymes identified to date” (excellent for detox in the liver) and has shown benefits in alleviating multiple chronic conditions. It has also been associated with decreased risk of various cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, prostate cancer, urinary cancer, and colon cancer.
📚 Felker et al. (2016) PMID: 26946249.