The Kale Vegetable.
Is Kale Good For You?

Secondly, Why can Kale be bad for me . . ?

Kale is among the foods referred to as goitrogenic.

These types of vegetables are said to inhibit or slow down Thyroid Function and possibly cause hypothyroidism or low thyroid function.

Medically if your TSH is above 5 your Dr may suggest going onto thyroid medication like Thyroxin.

However Natural medicine does have answers, even if your TSH is 5 or above.

That’s great news because after 2 years on Thyroxin your TSH may be ok but symptoms usually return.

Also a large number of people have subclinical hypothyroidism.

This condition occurs in 3% to 8% of the general population.(1)

It is more common in women than men, and its prevalence increases with age.

It’s time to get your latest blood test results out.

If your TSH is between 2.3 and 5 you have subclinical Hypothyroidism.

Or if you have any of the following you may have subclinical hypothyroidism.

Do you suffer from . . .

Did you Answer YES to three or more?

If so you may have an underactive thyroid gland – even if you have had ʻnormalʼ blood test results from your Doctor.

Your Thyroid

The thyroid is a small gland located at the base of your neck and it's role is to produce hormones to regulate your metabolism.

Hypothyroidism impairs this process, and when the thyroid is functioning incorrectly it causes lots of issues throughout your body.

Symptoms of thyroid disease are discussed as above and the big 6 include . . .

How Does Kale Inhibit or Slow Down Your Thyroid?

Kale and other cruciferous vegetables contain a substance called thiocyanate, and a Sulphur containing compound called glucosinolates.

Both glucosinolates and thiocyanate in high concentration will interfere with iodine nutrition.

Iodine is critical to thyroid function and so large amounts of thiocyanate could lead to an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism.

Thyroid Foods to Avoid

The cruciferous vegetables list includes cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and mustard greens.

To be clear, these foods only affect your thyroid when they are consumed in raw form.

Cooking with Kale . . .

When they are cooked, lightly steamed . . . the risk to the thyroid is significantly reduced.

Eating Raw Kale

If you currently have a thyroid issue, it may be a good idea to leave that raw kale out of your daily smoothie.

Although kale does contain a lot of nutritional benefits, it’s not worth the risk to your thyroid function.

Those with a healthy thyroid, do not have to worry that kale will negatively impact their thyroid however it’s best to eat it in moderation.

When eating raw kale occasionally, it is recommended to eat the rainbow diet which means to balance it out with colorful foods such as Beetroot, blueberries, and squash.

So is Kale good for you?

Yes and no.

If possible, it’s best to avoid it in raw form and substitute it for other greens such as celery.

This goes double if you currently have thyroid issues.

There are many Kale recipes on how to cook with Kale and if you don’t wish to give kale up entirely, lightly steam it prior to eating it.

Taking this step will make it easier to consume and safer for your thyroid.

If you are a member of our clinic and interested in finding out if you may possibly have a thyroid challenge and you would like to know more about what the next steps are just let Wayne know at your next consultation.

Until next time, 

Dedicated to Improving Your Wellbeing and Committed To Helping You Achieve Abundant Health and Wealth, 

The team at Unique Health and Wellness.