Low Iodine Diet
A low iodine diet may be ordered before radioiodine treatment or radioiodine scan for thyroid cancer. The purpose of the low iodine diet is to deplete the body of its stored iodine. This may increase the effectiveness of the radioiodine treatment 
Processed food, pills or capsules that are red, orange or brown – those that contain Red Dye FD&C # 3. Check with your pharmacist if you have any questions about Red Dye FD&C # 3 content in medicines
or scan. A low iodine diet is very restrictive. It should only to be used as directed by your doctor for a certain length of time—usually for about 3 weeks.
Iodine content is not listed on most food items. You will need to closely follow the diet guidelines in this handout. Which foods contain iodine?

“Iodized” salt, which has added iodine,
is the major source of iodine in the diet in the United States.

Animal and dairy products, which is due to the high amounts of iodine used in animal feed.

Processed foods may contain iodine from the iodine in cleaners and sanitizers used in food processing. Try to eat more fresh or frozen foods instead of canned foods

Planning Ahead
It is very important to plan ahead for this diet. You can adapt your favorite recipes by eliminating ingredients that are high in iodine and substituting allowable low iodine ingredients. There is more diet information and a free cookbook at http://www.thyca.org. The key to coping with this diet is to shop and prepare foods ahead of time. Before you need this diet, prepare some basic foods and freeze for the future. You may not have the energy to prepare a lot of food from scratch once you are on the diet. Eating restaurant food is not an option.
There is no way to know that high iodine ingredients have not been used in food preparation.
Commercial breads may contain dough conditioners that contain iodine –
so you will need to bake your own bread. 1
Allowed
Food Group
Not Allowed
Fish and Seafood
None
All
Dairy Products
None
Ice cream, cheese, pudding, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, evaporated milk, eggnog, sour cream, butter, whey, casein, powdered dairy creamer, non-dairy creamer
Eggs
Egg whites
Egg yolks, whole eggs
Meats and
Substitutes
Fresh beef, veal, pork, chicken, Fish, shellfish, smoked and cured turkey, and lamb; salt free peanut meat (i.e. ham, bacon, lunch butter (you can stir in non-iodized meats, hot dogs, pepperoni, salt), unsalted nuts (Avoid any poultry or pork products that have been injected salami), all salted nuts, soy products (tofu, vegetarian meat replacements)
with broth. The broth may contain iodized salt.)
Breads and Cereals
Homemade breads, biscuits, Commercially prepared breads, muffins and baked goods, unsalted biscuits, muffins, baked goods matzos, cream of wheat, oatmeal, that contain iodate conditioners, pasta, barley, millet, buckwheat, instant hot cereals, crackers, rice shredded wheat, popcorn (made fresh—not microwave), and unsalted rice cakes
Vegetables
All fresh or frozen or “no added Instant mashed potatoes, frozen salt” canned vegetables onion rings, frozen French fries, Potatoes, sweet potatoes— do not eat the skin
pickles, sauerkraut Dark green leafy vegetables including: spinach, chard, kale, Beans, peas and lentils—dried and mustard greens, collard greens
canned –except soybeans
Lettuce: Romaine, iceberg, bib and leaf lettuces
Soybeans
Nori (black wrapping on sushi)
Sea vegetables (kelp, algae, etc.)
Fruits and Fruit Juices
All fresh, frozen and dried fruits
Maraschino cherries
Canned fruits except those with Rhubarb
maraschino cherries
2
Allowed
Food Group
Fats
Not Allowed
Vegetable oils, Spectrum
All butter, margarine, salad shortening
dressings, and other brands of shortening
Desserts and Sweets
Those made with allowed Commercially prepared desserts ingredients: sugar, jelly, corn or sweets, most chocolate (due to syrups, honey, maple syrup, milk content), molasses
artificial sweeteners, cocoa powder, dark chocolate (if no milk in ingredients)
Sorbet (as long as it does not
contain salt, dairy or Red Dye #3)
Brewed coffee or brewed tea, Beverages
Any milk products, instant drink carbonated beverages (make sure mixes, instant coffee and instant they do not contain Red Dye #3), tea, punch, Kool-Aid®, lemonade lemonade, beer, wine, other mix, Carnation Instant alcohol, water
Breakfast®, Tang®, Hi-C®, cocoa mix, non-dairy creamers
Miscellaneous
Onion powder, garlic powder, Commercially prepared snack vinegar, fresh or dried herbs, foods, pretzels, salted potato black pepper, non-iodized salt, chips, garlic salt, onion salt, sugar
seasoning salt, canned soups, meat No-salt ketchup, no-salt mustard, homemade “mayonnaise”—see recipe in cookbook at http://www.thyca.org
tenderizers, bouillon cubes, soy sauce, any foods that contain these additives: carrageenan, agar-agar, algin, alginate, nori (seaweed by-
products)
Calcium supplements made from Vitamins and Supplements
oyster shells
Fish oil
Selenium supplements
Multivitamins that contain Iodine
Salt
Non-iodized salt
Regular salt, flavored salts (such as garlic salt, onion salt, lemon pepper seasoning)
References: Thyroid Cancer Survivor’s Association, Inc –http://www.thyca.org
National Institutes of Health
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Sample Low Iodine Meal Plan
Breakfast
1 piece of fresh fruit or 1 cup of fruit juice 1/2-cup oatmeal (not instant, made with non-iodized salt)
1 slice of homemade bread*
1 tablespoon natural honey
Brewed coffee Lunch
2 slices homemade bread*
Chicken salad made with homemade “mayonnaise”* and 2 ounces cooked chicken
Sliced tomato and lettuce for sandwich
½ cup raw carrot sticks
1 piece of fresh fruit
1 cup homemade lemonade
Snack
1 Apple
2 Tablespoons salt-free peanut butter (with non-iodized salt if desired)
Dinner
3 oz. of sliced, fresh roast beef
Tossed salad with oil and vinegar (or see recipes for homemade dressings*)
Fried potatoes (peeled and pan-fried in oil)
1 cup melon or berries
12 oz. carbonated lemon-lime beverage such as Slice, 7-up, Sprite
Snack
1 cup sorbet
*For delicious recipes and snack ideas visit http://www.thyca.org to download a free Low Iodine Cookbook.
Rev. 9/07, 11/10, 11/13
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© Mount Carmel 2013
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