Consuming cruciferous vegetables even by people with thyroid problems could potentially provide certain health benefits, such as antioxidant and ant inflammatory effects to the gland, without a negative impact to its functioning.

1. Website: www.courtneyholmbergnd.ca Phone No.: (647) 351-7282
ARE CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES
IMPACTING YOUR THYROID
GLAND?

2. Website: www.courtneyholmbergnd.ca Phone No.: (647) 351-7282
The thyroid is responsible for producing various hormones in the body that help
regulate metabolism and provide support for other bodily systems, like the immune
system and cardiovascular system.
Thyroid hormones help improve the absorption of nutrients from the foods we eat.
They assist with gut motility. They regulate our appetites. Additionally, these
hormones help boost our basal metabolic rate to burn calories. Other functions of
thyroid hormones include helping metabolize glucose and break down fats.
Cruciferous vegetables consist of a wide range of vegetables that contain
glucosinolates or goitrogeris – a sulfur compound found in kale, broccoli, arugula,
turnips, cabbage, cauliflower, and other vegetables. People with thyroid problems,
such as low functioning or autoimmune disorders are typically advised to avoid
cruciferous vegetables due to their ‘goitrogenic’ effect.
It was previously believed that consuming cruciferous vegetables could inhibit
thyroid hormone production in people with thyroid problems. Yet, the
consumption of these vegetables does have health benefits, like reducing the risks
of certain cancers.

3. Website: www.courtneyholmbergnd.ca Phone No.: (647) 351-7282
Various research studies have been conducted on animals where the subjects were
fed cruciferous vegetables and the impacts on thyroid functions are studied.
In one study, two test groups were given a diet of 7% freeze-dried rutabaga sprouts
– one group with iodine deficiencies, and the other group on a sulfa based
antibiotic.
Surprisingly, the spouts had a protective effect on the thyroid in test subjects that
were iodine deficient. However, in test subjects that were antibiotic-treated, the
initial study showed the sprouts enhanced hypothyroidism.1. However, a second
study later demonstrated the sprouts did not enhance hypothyroidism on
sulfadimethoxine-treated subjects.2
It was also noted that the consumption of the sprouts helped reduce oxidative stress
on the thyroid. In both sets of test subjects, the cruciferous sprouts showed a
reduction in proinflammatory cytokines.
Another study in 2018 examined a 7% free-dried broccoli diet. The introduction of
broccoli into the diet did not result in any changes to thyroid function. In iodine-
deficient subjects, the broccoli helped boost the antioxidant capacity of the thyroid.
In sulfadimethoxine-treated subjects, the broccoli also helped to protect the
thyroid.3
In 2019, a study of the effects of cruciferous vegetables on thyroids in humans was
conducted. Test subjects were given treated freeze-dried broccoli extract, untreated
broccoli extract, or no broccoli extract for 84 days.
At the conclusion of the study, subjects that received either type of broccoli extract
were compared to those that receive the placebo. Finding found that certain test
subjects exhibited a decrease in certain thyroid problems as the broccoli extract
provided support to the thyroid. The study reported there were no noticeable
changes in thyroid functioning compared to baseline findings.4
So, are cruciferous vegetables safe for my thyroid?
In conclusion, summary of the limited research in both human and animal studies
suggested that consuming cruciferous vegetables even by people with thyroid
problems could potentially provide certain health benefits, such as antioxidant and
ant inflammatory effects to the gland, without a negative impact to its functioning.

4. Website: www.courtneyholmbergnd.ca Phone No.: (647) 351-7282
So the next time you read you should be avoiding broccoli if you have a thyroid
condition – think again!
If you have thyroid problems, have questions or concerns about thyroid disorders,
and are looking for naturopathic treatment in Toronto, please feel free to contact
Toronto Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Courtney Homberg at 647-351-7282 to schedule
your appointment today.
Sources:
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29413100/
2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12011-019-01694-7
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29080462/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16965241/
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impacting-your-thyroid-gland