Short Answer: Black olives are good for hypothyroidism. Because they have healthy fats, antioxidants, and trace minerals, and they can lower cholesterol, inflammation, and T4 to T3 conversion.
Hypothyroidism is a condition that affects your thyroid gland, which is located in the front of your neck.
In hypothyroidism, your body doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones, which regulate your metabolism and many other functions.
This can lead to various health problems, such as fatigue, weight gain, high cholesterol, cold intolerance, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, and depression.
One of the key factors in managing hypothyroidism is diet.
What you consume can affect your thyroid function, which can impact your hypothyroidism symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage hypothyroidism, you should consume iodine, selenium, and zinc rich foods like cheese, eggs, Brazil nuts, and oysters, and avoid goitrogenic, gluten, and soy rich foods like cabbage, broccoli, bread, and tofu.
Now, black olives are the fruits of the olive tree, which are usually cured and preserved in brine, oil, or vinegar.
People usually eat them as snacks, appetizers, or ingredients in salads, pizzas, and sandwiches.
Black olives are good for hypothyroidism because they contain healthy fats, antioxidants, and trace minerals.
They also have a low iodine content, which is beneficial for people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a type of hypothyroidism caused by an autoimmune reaction to excess iodine.
A 100-gram serving of black olives can give you about 15% of your daily needs of vitamin E, 4% of iron, 3% of calcium, and 2% of magnesium.
Vitamin E can protect your thyroid cells from oxidative stress and inflammation.
Iron can support the production of thyroid hormones and prevent anemia, which is common in hypothyroidism.
Calcium and magnesium can help regulate your muscle and nerve function and prevent cramps and spasms.
Furthermore, black olives are a source of healthy fats, mainly monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyphenols.
MUFAs are good for hypothyroidism because they can lower your cholesterol levels, improve your insulin sensitivity, and reduce inflammation.
Polyphenols are good for hypothyroidism because they can modulate your immune system, scavenge free radicals, and inhibit the enzymes that convert T4 to T3, the active form of thyroid hormone.
You can eat about 10 to 15 black olives per day safely.
More than that can cause excessive sodium intake, which can raise your blood pressure and fluid retention.
Also, you shouldn’t eat black olives if you have a history of kidney stones, gout, or high uric acid levels, to prevent worsening these conditions.
Because black olives contain oxalates and purines, which can increase the risk of kidney stones and gout.
You can buy fresh black olives in your local market or can order them from online.
Always choose organic, natural, or Greek-style black olives, which are less processed and have fewer additives.
Because processed and canned black olives may contain artificial colors, preservatives, and chemicals that can harm your health.
You can store them in a cool, dry place for up to a year, or in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
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Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing hypothyroidism effectively.
I always recommend my hypothyroidism patients to follow a hypothyroidism-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.
