Skip to content
Dr. Suhail M. Marfani — Health Matters
Conditions we treat

Thyroid Disorders

Hypo- and hyperthyroidism, testing, treatment and a thyroid-friendly diet plan.

Thyroid Disorders Food Guide — search rice, roti, dal and 200 more foods, rated Green / Amber / Red for iodine, soy and medicine timing.

Open the Food Guide

Snacks & Desserts · Thyroid Disorders

Smart snacks and how to enjoy sweets occasionally.

Educational guidance only — not a personal diet prescription. Content is medically reviewed and based on recognised clinical guidelines — see references. If you have feedback or a suggestion to improve this website, .

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Air-popped popcorn

popcorn

Fits a balanced diet for thyroid health — use iodised salt in moderation.

Portion: 3 cups (about 24 g)

Almonds — food photograph
Green · Choose more often

Almonds

badam, lawz

Fits a balanced diet for thyroid health — use iodised salt in moderation.

Portion: 10–12 almonds (about 15 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Dark chocolate (70%+)

dark chocolate

Fits a balanced diet for thyroid health — use iodised salt in moderation.

Portion: 2 squares (about 20 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Honey

asal, pulot, shahad

Fits a balanced diet for thyroid health — use iodised salt in moderation.

Portion: 1 tablespoon (about 21 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Peanuts

ful sudani, mani, moongphali

Fits a balanced diet for thyroid health — use iodised salt in moderation.

Portion: small handful (about 30 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Pistachios

fustuq, pista

Fits a balanced diet for thyroid health — use iodised salt in moderation.

Portion: about 30 nuts (about 30 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Roasted chana

bhuna chana, chickpea snack

Fits a balanced diet for thyroid health — use iodised salt in moderation.

Portion: small handful (about 30 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Roasted makhana

fox nuts, lotus seeds

Fits a balanced diet for thyroid health — use iodised salt in moderation.

Portion: 1 cup (about 25 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Table sugar

asukal, cheeni, sukkar

Fits a balanced diet for thyroid health — use iodised salt in moderation.

Portion: 1 teaspoon (about 4 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Walnuts

akhrot, jawz

Fits a balanced diet for thyroid health — use iodised salt in moderation.

Portion: 6–7 halves (about 15 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Pizza

pizza

Rich food — keep the portion small to help weight and cholesterol.

Portion: 2 slices (about 200 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Taho

silken tofu with syrup

Soy can reduce levothyroxine absorption — eat it at least 4 hours apart from your tablet.

Portion: 1 cup (about 250 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Baklava

baklawa

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 2 small pieces (about 50 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Banana chips

kaya varuthathu

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: small handful (about 30 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Besan ladoo

laddu

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 1 piece (about 40 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Bibingka

rice cake

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 1 piece (about 100 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Digestive biscuits

biskut, cookies

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 2 biscuits (about 30 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

French fries

chips, fries

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 1 medium portion (about 117 g)

Gulab Jamun — food photograph
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Gulab jamun

gulab jaman

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 1 small piece (about 40 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Halo-halo

halu-halo

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 1 glass (about 300 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Ice cream

kulfi (similar), sorbetes

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: ½ cup (about 66 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Jalebi

jilapi, zulbia

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 2 small pieces (about 50 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Kheer (rice pudding)

firni, payesh

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: ½ cup (about 120 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Kunafa

knafeh

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 1 piece (about 100 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Leche flan

flan

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 1 thin slice (about 80 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Lumpiang shanghai

fried spring rolls

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 4 pieces (about 100 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Luqaimat

awamat, lokma

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 5 pieces (about 60 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Medu vada

uddina vade, ulundu vadai

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 2 pieces (about 80 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Milk chocolate

chocolate bar

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 1 small bar (about 40 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Namkeen mixture

bombay mix, chevda

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: small handful (about 30 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Pakora

bhajia, pakoda

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 5–6 pieces (about 100 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Payasam

kheer (South Indian), paysam

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: ½ cup (about 120 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Rasmalai

ras malai

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 1 piece (about 80 g)

Samosa — food photograph
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Samosa

sambusa, samsa

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 1 medium (about 100 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Suji halwa

sheera, sooji halwa

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: ½ cup (about 100 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Turon

banana lumpia

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 1 piece (about 80 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Umm Ali

om ali

High in sugar or fat — makes weight control harder with an underactive thyroid.

Portion: 1 small bowl (about 150 g)

Medical disclaimer: All content on this website is for general educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and reading it does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Always consult a qualified clinician about your own health. Content is medically reviewed and based on recognised clinical guidelines — see references. If you have feedback or a suggestion to improve this website, .

Please read

Medical disclaimer

The information on this website is for general educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and using this website does not create a doctor–patient relationship with Dr. Suhail M. Marfani.

Always consult a qualified doctor about your own health. Do not stop or change any medicine based on this website. In an emergency, call 998 or 999 (UAE) or go to the nearest emergency department.

Cookies & privacy: this website uses no advertising or tracking cookies. Your browser only remembers that you accepted this notice. No registration is needed — the whole website is free to read.

Read the full Medical Disclaimer, Legal & Privacy and Cookie Policy.

Feedback & suggestions

We welcome your honest feedback. If any information has changed or something new should be added, please let us know — we will review it and update the website accordingly. Every suggestion will be considered.

Please keep messages respectful. Abusive, offensive, promotional or unethical messages are filtered out automatically. Do not share medical details or reports — this form is not for consultations or emergencies. No sign-up is needed and you can stay anonymous.