can you speak about food goitrogens,
there are a lot in legumes and veggies, apparently cooking helps reduce them.
Correct on all counts!
Goitrogens contain naturally-occurring substances known as isothiocyanates that interfere with the function of the thyroid gland. They're found most prominently in the bodybuilder-favored cruciferous vegetables from the Brassica family (cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, some greens like kale).
You're right that these items are usually only considered a problem when eaten raw. In fact, there is no evidence that these foods cause health problems for
most people, though. In fact, these foods have many benefits - like a great natural source of the estrogen-channeling indoles, etc...
Foods that may cause grief outside of this are many (but probably to a much lesser degree):
peaches, peanuts, pine nuts, spinach, and strawberries and this is when consumed in large, large amounts.
A caveat is that we had patients use peanuts and pine nuts to the nth degree with no change in thyroidal function...so I am going to say it probably is something more of a concern if you are thyroid autoantibody positive (anti-thyroperoxidase/anti-TPO Ab - or - anti-thyroglobulin/anti-TgAb)...otherwise its not much of an issue. Who's positive...hard to tell in people not exhibiting symptoms unfortunately.
It is still my assumption that soy be avoided at all costs and a complete soy thread is probably in order (and this is thyroid related, not even the volumes on estrogen); but the lobbying power of that industry and funding of fictitious studies will continue to allow it to flourish.
can you give insight on what to avoid in terms of goitrogenic compounds to make our bodies healthy and more stable?
If you have a huge concern about this, you could have your thyroid autoantibodies looked at through blood work. If you harbor no family history of thyroid disease, etc... you'd probably have to consume barrels a day in order to see impact and continue to cook Brassica veggies.
and if there are certain foods we like the best way to prepare to reduce the exposure to goitrogens?
Avoid Soy, Cook Brassica veggies, and don't consume barrels of the rest mentioned in this thread.
That's about as easy as I could suggest it. Possibly limiting excessive iodine intake might also be of use to SOME, but even iodine, even at supplemental dose takes a boatload.
D_
) and thats about it.
