Written by Catherine Saxelby
on Tuesday, 04 June 2013.
Tagged: balanced diet, dairy, health, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, salt, vegetables, vitamins
A: It is not necessary to eliminate cruciferous vegetables from your diet but rather, to limit intake so that it falls into a reasonable range. In fact, these veges are incredibly nutritious for all sorts of reasons and offer a powerful insurance against a wide range of cancers, incidentally also protecting against thyroid cancer.
A number of studies have been done researching the link between cruciferous vegetables (in particular their goitre-causing phytochemicals) and hypothyroidism (insufficient thyroid hormone) raising many questions as to the health safety of eating cruciferous vegetables such as kale, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, turnip and Brussels sprouts.
In 1983, a study showed that very high intakes of cruciferous vegetables caused hypothyroidism in animals. However, the effects of cruciferous vegetable consumption did not appear to increase the risk of hypothyroidism UNLESS accompanied by iodine deficiency.
In other words, at moderate consumption levels of cruciferous vegetables, the effect of their goitrogenic properties can be overcome by increasing your intake of iodine.
Cruciferous or Brassica vegetables are, in fact, incredibly nutritious (some of them are 'super foods' packed with Vitamin C and fibre!) and offer a powerful insurance against a wide range of cancers, incidentally also protecting against thyroid cancer.
Vary the cruciferous vegetables you eat as they may have one or more, and varying quantities, of the known goitrogenic phytochemicals. And remember, the most effective way to ensure safe consumption of cruciferous vegetables is to check your thyroid and iodine levels and if necessary boost your iodine intake.
In the absence of thyroid problems, there is no research evidence to suggest that cruciferous vegetables will negatively impact your health.
Iodine is a mineral required by the body in small amounts. It is not stored in the body to any great extent so regular consumption of foods containing iodine is essential for good health.
Iodine is found in:
Today almost all bread in Australia is now required to be made using iodised salt to prevent mild iodine deficiency. Read more about iodine in my post.
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