10 Unconventional Ways to Tame the Beast of Graves' Disease

9. Watch Iodine In Diet

Patients with Graves' disease often need to watch their dietary iodine intake. Consumption of foods with high levels of iodine could worsen symptoms, and patients are generally advised to follow a low-iodine diet. It is particularly important to avoid seafood, seaweed, nori, algae, carrageen, and iodized salt. Patients should also try to avoid egg yolks, dairy products, and certain food colorings. Using low-iodine or iodine-free alternatives like non-iodized salt, egg whites, and non-dairy milk is recommended. Since nitrates increase iodine absorption, patients should monitor their nitrate intake and take steps to reduce it. Nitrates occur naturally in processed meats, spinach, cabbage, beets, parsley, lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, and pumpkin, and patients may need to eliminate these foods from their diets. Patients may want to ask their doctor about whether it is safe for them to consume soy products, as animal studies suggest these could interfere with some treatments for Graves' disease. If soy products are unsafe, other non-dairy options such as rice or oat milk may be useful. A nutritionist can help patients with planning healthy meals free from or low in iodine.

10. Cool Compresses On The Eyes

Cool compresses on the eyes could feel soothing for patients with eye irritation and eye pain from Graves' ophthalmopathy. The compresses can provide additional moisture for dry eyes. To make a compress, patients should wet a towel or washcloth with cool water, and squeeze out any excess water so the towel is damp. Then, they should place the damp towel in the refrigerator until it is cold. After taking it out of the refrigerator, they must hold it over their eyes while sitting or lying down. Generally, compresses can be used as often as needed, and many patients like to use them three to four times a day. A clean cloth or towel should be used for each compress. To reduce the risk of infection, it is best to avoid reusing the same cloth compress for longer than twenty-four hours. If a cool gel pack is used in place of cloth, this should be thoroughly cleaned between uses. Patients should always ask their doctor if they experience any changes in their eye symptoms after using a compress.