Short Answer: Dark chocolate is good for hyperthyroidism, except for Graves’ disease. Because it has flavanols, polyphenols, magnesium, and iron, and they can protect your thyroid function and heart health.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition that affects your thyroid gland, which is located at the base of your neck.
In hyperthyroidism, your body produces too much thyroid hormone, which regulates your metabolism and other bodily functions.
This can lead to various health problems, such as rapid heartbeat, weight loss, tremor, insomnia, and eye problems.
One of the key factors in managing hyperthyroidism is diet.
What you consume can affect your thyroid function, which can impact your hyperthyroidism symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage hyperthyroidism, you should consume antioxidant-rich foods like berries, cruciferous vegetables, and fish, and avoid iodine-rich foods like seaweed, dairy products, and iodized salt.
Now, dark chocolate is a type of chocolate that contains a high percentage of cocoa solids and less sugar than milk chocolate.
People usually eat dark chocolate as a snack or dessert.
Dark chocolate is good for hyperthyroidism because it contains flavanols and polyphenols, which are antioxidants that can protect your thyroid cells from oxidative stress and inflammation.
Dark chocolate also contains magnesium, which can help regulate your thyroid hormone levels.
However, dark chocolate is not good for all types of hyperthyroidism.
If you have Graves’ disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism, you should avoid dark chocolate because it may stimulate your immune system and worsen your condition.
A 100-gram bar of dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa can give you 11 grams of fiber (44% of your daily needs), 230 milligrams of magnesium (58% of your daily needs), and 12 milligrams of iron (67% of your daily needs).
Flavanols can improve your blood flow and lower your blood pressure, which can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Polyphenols can lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase your HDL (good) cholesterol, which can also protect your heart health.
Magnesium can help balance your thyroid hormone production and prevent overactivity or underactivity of your thyroid gland.
Iron can prevent anemia, which is a common complication of hyperthyroidism.
Furthermore, dark chocolate is a low-glycemic food and low-glycemic foods are good for hyperthyroidism.
Because, they can help control your blood sugar levels and prevent insulin resistance, which can worsen your hyperthyroidism symptoms and increase your risk of diabetes.
You can eat 1-2 ounces of dark chocolate per day safely.
More than that can cause weight gain, headaches, and digestive problems.
Also, you shouldn’t eat dark chocolate if you have kidney stones, migraines, or allergies to chocolate or its ingredients, to prevent worsening your condition.
Because, dark chocolate contains oxalates, caffeine, and theobromine, which can trigger these problems.
You can buy fresh dark chocolate in your local market or can order it online.
Always choose dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa and organic ingredients.
Because, this will ensure that you get the most benefits and avoid harmful additives.
You can store dark chocolate in a cool, dry, and dark place for up to a year.
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing hyperthyroidism effectively.
I always recommend my hyperthyroidism patients to follow a hyperthyroidism-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.