Recently I’ve been reading and enjoying a book called The Thyroid Reset Diet by my friend Dr. Alan Christianson. I love some of the thyroid-supporting recipes!
One element of balancing your thyroid is carefully managing iodine intake. So today, I’m sharing a fun recipe that uses lettuce as a wrap instead of bread, which is too high in iodine, even when gluten-free!
Tip to avoid messes: Lettuce wraps are yummy, but they can be messy. This recipe uses parchment paper around the lettuce—then you just roll it back as you eat!
Tip about types of lettuce: Generally, butter lettuce has the perfect combination of flavor, and stability. Another option is romaine. Just make sure you wash and dry the lettuce thoroughly. Too much moisture can make the lettuce stick to the parchment paper—oops!
Thyroid-Friendly Lettuce Wraps
Serves 2 (makes 4 wraps) prep time: 5 minutes total time: 5 minutes
1/2 head butter lettuce, leaves removed and stacked (16 leaves)
1 (8- to 10-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast, cooked and sliced
1 handful of arugula, trimmed
2 ripe Roma (plum) tomatoes, cored and thinly sliced
¼ medium red onion, thinly sliced
½ cup canned cannellini beans
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
Balsamic vinegar or glaze
Extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 pieces of non-toxic parchment paper, 10 inches in diameter
1. For each wrap, place 4 large lettuce leaves overlapping on a sheet of parchment paper that measures roughly 10 inches square.
2. Add one-fourth of the chicken, arugula, tomatoes, red onion, and beans to the wrap.
3. Add the balsamic, olive oil, and salt and pepper.
4. Fold over one end of the paper, then roll up, encasing the contents. Repeat with the remaining leaves and ingredients.
GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: No modification needed
VEGAN OPTION: Omit the chicken or replace with sliced seasoned dried tofu
AIP OPTION: Omit the cannellini beans
Learn More About Eating for Your Thyroid!
As I mentioned above, having excess iodine can be detrimental for your thyroid.
Learn more sources of iodine, and how to avoid them, in my recent interview with Dr. Alan Christianson:
Learn My Favorite Morning Detox Routine
Do you wake up groggy and tired, turning to coffee or pastries to get you going? Add in a simple 5-minute, thyroid-supporting routine to have more energy for the day! Add in a simple 5-minute routine to have more energy for the day!
Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP, is trained in functional health coaching and has worked with thousands of women over her career since 2004. She is the founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative llc and HormoneDetoxShop.com.
The liver is responsible for hundreds of tasks in your body, including elimination of waste products, regulating energy, supporting metabolism, balancing hormones, and so much more. Read on to learn the symptoms of a toxic liver, and my top low-cost ways to detox your liver!