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After you've been treated for thyroid cancer, it is important to detect any possible
recurrence of cancer as early as possible. That's why follow-up testing is important.
Before undergoing a whole body scan, your doctor may ask you to watch your iodine intake a
few weeks in advance. It's important to speak to your doctor about his or her
recommendations for low iodine intake.
High iodine foods you may need to avoid
A lot of products contain iodine. You'll have to read ingredients labels, but in general,
note the following products are high in iodine:
- Iodized salt, sea salt and salty foods
- All dairy products such as milk, sour cream, cheese, cream, yogurt, butter and ice-cream
- Margarine (you may find non-dairy, no-salt margarine that is LID friendly e.g. Fleishmann's brand)
- Egg yolks
- Seafood such as fish, shellfish, seaweed and kelp
- Prepared or corned products such as ham, bacon, corned beef, sausage, and
sauerkraut
- Marinated chicken or turkey
- Salted dried fruit or nuts (unsalted are LID friendly)
- Most commercial bakery products such as cereals, pizzas and bread products (some may produce LID friendly breads e.g. ACE Bakery)
- Soy products such as soy sauce, soy milk and tofu
- Any vitamins or food supplements that contain iodine or have red colouring,
including syrups, antiseptics, and mouthwash
- Any products that contain E127 Erythrosine (Red dye #3). This includes whisky and instant coffee
Other products to avoid
Red colouring can be found in many non-food items, so you may need to avoid these when
preparing for your tests. Products to look out for are:
- Hair dye, all colours
- Self-tanning products
Safe foods
You can safely continue to eat foods such as:
- Egg whites
- Fresh non-prepared meat from the butcher
- Homemade bread with noniodized salt and oil
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Canned peaches, pears and pineapples
- Clear sodas and fruit juices
- Filtered coffee (don't use a dairy creamer)
- Sorbet - but no E127 Erythrosine (Red dye #3)
Healthy food tips
- When watching your iodine intake, avoid dining out. It will be difficult to determine the exact ingredients of what you're eating.
- Limiting your iodine intake may be difficult. Try to prepare foods in advance, so it will save you the bother later.
- Remember the concern is with products that contain iodine, so non-iodized* salt is fine to use.
- Health food stores or organic food stores are very aware of ingredients. Try shopping there for a better idea of what goes into products.
*NON-IODIZED salt is difficult to find in Canada. Windsor® Brand Coarse (not table) salt is non-iodized and available in Canada. You can purchase non-iodized salt in the United States.
For more information on Low Iodine Diets (provided by Canadian Thyroid Cancer Support Group (Thry'vors))
http://www.thryvors.org/pdf/LID_pamphlet_print_ready.pdf
Check out our recipes section to learn how to make great tasting, low-iodine meals.
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