Cruciferous Vegetables Can Help Thyroid Function, Not Kill It! - Dr. Berg

I explain why your thyroid will be helped, not harmed, when you consume cruciferous vegetables

Timestamps:
0:00 Your thyroid will be helped when you consume cruciferous vegetables
0:44 There is only one reason your thyroid could be harmed by a chemical in some cruciferous veggies
2:10 These are the nutrient benefits of cruciferous vegetables
3:44 You’re helping your thyroid with cruciferous as long as you don’t have an iodine deficiency

In this video, I explain why your thyroid will be helped, not harmed, when you consume cruciferous vegetables. There’s a lot of misinformation out there stating that cruciferous veggies are harmful to your thyroid or even your entire endocrine system.

It’s true there’s a chemical called thiocyanate in some cruciferous vegetables, and it has the capacity to compete for iodine, which your thyroid needs. The last thing you want is for thiocyanate to compete for iodine and leave you hypothyroid (too low thyroid).

But here’s the thing: the only way cruciferous vegetables become a problem is if you’re already iodine deficient. If you’re doing healthy keto and taking trace minerals or sea kelp, you won’t have a problem even if you consume a good amount of cruciferous veggies.

In one study, the participants consumed 15 grams of cooked brussel sprouts a day for 4 weeks, with no effect on their thyroid. When I talk about consuming 7 to 10 cups of vegetables a day, I don’t mean all of it should be cruciferous. I mean leafy greens, and not necessarily all spinach. Perhaps romaine or a lettuce mixture. A couple of cups of cruciferous vegetables would be more in line with what I recommend. And you can steam or saute them.

Their benefits are huge. Cruciferous vegetables are antitumor, anticancer, and have the capacity to shut down growth of blood vessels to a tumor. They contain folate, high vitamin C, vitamin K1, potassium, selenium, and calcium, along with phytonutrients and chlorophyll.

But I think the biggest benefit is the potential to create phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification, to remove toxins from your body and improve your liver and kidney function. You need this for conversion of the thyroid hormone T3 to T4. And the fiber in these vegetables helps build your gut flora, and supports bile function. They also are antiestrogenic, which boosts thyroid production.

Last but not least, if you have a thyroid problem, I recommend taking sea kelp.

Dr Eric Berg DC Bio:
Dr. Berg, age 56, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan, and is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.

Disclaimer: Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients so he can focus on educating people as a full-time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, and prescription or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The Health & Wellness, Dr. Berg Nutritionals and Dr. Eric Berg, D.C. are not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis or any other information, services or product you obtain through this video or site.

Thanks for watching!

Cruciferous vegetables are beneficial for your thyroid , unless you already have an iodine deficiency.

[anmarams]

I'm very lucky to be alive around this time to actually witness the amazing education Dr. Berg is giving out.

[kayerin]

Glad you finally cleared that up! (re: 7-10 cups of veg a day) There have been pointed comments all over YouTube about the perception that you meant all or mostly cruciferous veg. Mind you, I never heard you say that, but I think I'm not alone in fighting the "all or nothing" thinking about everything, never mind a way of eating that is fairly new for most folks. I know at first I went away thinking that lettuces and other salad type vegetables were less worthy than the broccoli, Brussels sprouts and kale. As me mother used to say to me (constantly:) moderation in all things, Kay Erin! I can comfortably eat 3 cups of salad and 2 cups of kale adn broccoli for instance, in my omad woe. Mind you, I am female, almost 74 y/o, 5'2" with a small frame. I've never been a normal weight; this month I hit the 100 lb weight loss marker, and I can hardly wait for next year when I will hit goal and 150 lb weight loss and see what I actually look like at a normal weight!

[VipshanSakya]

Please do more videos on Hyperthyroidism. Thank you! 🙂

[ItsLoriK]

Eggs have iodine, too. 2 hard boiled eggs get me to about 80% of the RDA. Also use Redmond's Real Salt.

[shannonratcliff-qvin]

trouble is usually converting T4to T3 Not converting T3to T4

[paolac.]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! this info came right on time. My mom does not want to eat any more broccoli bc she heard it is bad for her already not so good thyroid, so I will send her this video. Thanks Dr. COOL!!

[asherkelly]

Debunk more thyroid nutrition myths please doc!

[raduvernescu]

brussels and other cruciferous plants have statistically significant amounts of arsenic, according to the New Hampshire study. Researchers found that those who ate brussels sprouts at least once a week had toenail arsenic levels that were 10% higher than their non-brussels-eating counterparts. The high concentrations of sulfur in cruciferous vegetables may be to blame, according to researchers, as arsenic more easily binds to sulfur-containing compounds.

[LetsProblemSolve]

Thank you! I'm going to keep a food journal and write down my journey.

[hamaniel]

Hi Doctor,
Could you please do a video about vegetables and fruits in their season and how we should respect the mother nature.
Thank you!

[kb]

Aren’t cruciferous veggies taboo for Hoshimotos? Now I’m totally confused.

[juliesanchez]

Dr Berg, so it's ok to eat Spinch, Kale, cabbage, broccoli, Romain lettuce & cauliflower are ok to eat when you have a thyroid problem? I also eat seaweed and Brazilian nuts. I eat all of these almost every day.

[radhu]

Dr Berg, Is it possible to improve hair growth in hashimotos thyroiditis.Thanks

[JohnSmith-mfpe]

I always use the cruciferous vegetables along with salt which is iodized. no problem here.

[Idk_what_to_put_here_lol]

Titles doesn’t make sense anymore, truth is truth❤

[TheJimmyswe]

Please do a video about liquid chlorophyll

[glengraham]

Like many people who start keto:
This seems to be a common transitioning process ---EAT STEAK NOT CAKE! !!!

I am starting to transition to ZERO CARB or carnivore and about 90% carnivore but I still eat LOTS of pasture raised eggs cooked in coconut oil and onions and avocados - every day. Eggs are good for the liver and brain, testosterone, and reproduction, and libido.
I still eat some easy to digest lettuce sometimes but 90% carnivore and very little vegetable carb and no sugar.
I do eat grass fed beef liver and grass fed beef and some healthy pork chops but no processed meat.
Sadly, restaurants ONLY use margarine and bad cooking oils so I rarely eat out. Also, good quality meat is cheaper and better controlled when you shop and cook at home and then you can add high quality grass fed butter.
Thomas DeLauer removes the fat from meat and adds high quality grass fed butter!!!

[Veggiedumplingz]

So you mentioned people with HYPERthyroidism would be fine eating them.... Im still learning about HYPOTHYRIODISM, which i have, does that mean my iodine is deficient and that i shouldn't eat much of them? I love fresh broccoli with ranch. But i dont want to irritate my thyriod even more!.

[drsmitaddutta]

Under lying cause of slow thyroid should be addressed first

[PrettiBelle]

I take Dim for estrogen dominance, and I have signs of hypothyroidism. Should I continue use?