Low-Iodine Diet: Cans and Cannots

As a refresher, here's what I can and cannot have:

Avoid
• Iodized salt and sea salt and any foods containing iodized salt or sea salt.
• Seafood and sea products (fish, shellfish, seaweed, seaweed tablets, kelp).
• Foods or products that contain these sea-based additives: carrageenan, agar-agar, algin, alginate, nori (these food additives are seaweed by-products).
• Dairy products
• Egg yolks or whole eggs or foods containing whole eggs. Egg whites are acceptable, because they contain little or no iodine.
• Commercial bakery products.
• Red Dye #3. However, Red Dye #40 is OK.
• Most Chocolate (for its milk content).
• Some Molasses.
• Soybeans and most soy products (soy sauce, soy milk, tofu). However, soy oil and soy lecithin are both okay.
• Some beans: red kidney beans, lima beans, navy beans, pinto beans, and cowpeas.
• Avoid rhubarb and potato skins. The inside of the potato is fine.
• Iodine-Containing Vitamins, Food Supplements and Medications (check with your physician).

Limit
• Fresh meats. Up to 5 ounces per day of fresh meats such as chicken, beef, pork, lamb, and veal. • Grains, cereals. Up to 4 servings per day of grains, cereals, pasta, and breads without iodine-containing ingredients.
• Rices

Safe List
• Fresh fruits and fruit juices, except rhubarb, maraschino cherries (if they contain Red Dye #3), and fruit cocktail with maraschino cherries.
• Vegetables, preferably raw and fresh-cooked or frozen without salt.
• Unsalted nuts and unsalted nut butters.
• Grain/cereal products in moderate amounts (see above).
• Fresh chicken, beef, and other meats in moderate amounts (see above).
• Sugar, jelly, honey, maple syrup, and unsulfured molasses.
• Black pepper and fresh or dried herbs.
• All vegetable oils.
• Homemade foods (see the free Low-Iodine Cookbook from the ThyCa web site.
• Cola, diet cola, lemonade, sodas (except those with Red Dye #3), non-instant coffee and tea, beer, wine, other alcohol.