Shrink A Goiter With Nutrition

The thyroid gland is present in front of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple. When it enlarges, it leads to the formation of a swelling called the goiter. Lack of iodine in the diet can cause a goiter. This is true for the areas like South America, Africa and Asia.

Among other causes of goiter, we have hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, which is an underactive and an overactive thyroid, respectively. Sometimes, this problem can occur without any obvious reason. Although, you have to take prescribed medication for the most thyroid disorders but in certain cases, you can use couple of complementary treatments, which could be added to the daily routine.

Step 1

Whenever you experience some problems with your thyroid, always see your doctor first. He will conduct a series of tests, for example blood tests, scans, ultrasounds and biopsies etc. to check the status of your thyroid gland. If needed, he might prescribe you certain thyroid drugs. If you want to try any complementary cure, such as minerals, vitamins, herbal remedies etc., then consult with him before adding it to your routine.

Step 2

If your doctor recommends it, you can add iodized table salt to your diet. Other food items which are a rich source of iodine include seaweed, shrimp, sushi, kelp and shell fish etc. On the contrary, if your physician points out that the iodine levels in your body are very high, then you must reduce its intake in your daily diet. Because, in certain cases, excessive iodine can overstimulate your pituitary and thyroid gland, thus leading to the goiter.

Step 3

Improve your diet and make sure it is a balanced diet and you are receiving all of the nutrients properly. If you are living near the ocean, add locally produced, fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products to your diet. This is because soil in the coastal areas is rich in iodine, and can be absorbed by the vegetation grown in it.

Step 4

The deficiency of selenium can also decrease the thyroid functions. It can occur in certain cases, such as Crohn’s disease, in which a portion of your small intestine or stomach is resected or in phenylketonuria, in which you have to take a special diet which might be deficient in selenium. You can replenish selenium levels naturally, by adding cod, beef, turkey breast and canned tuna in your diet.

Tips and Tricks

• A huge goiter, which is occluding your windpipe or throat, might require a surgery.
• You can lessen inflammation in the case of an inflammatory thyroid disease, with the help of hot packs of the castor oil. These packs are used traditionally for reducing inflammation in disorders like joint pain, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, joint pain and pain in the lower back.

Warnings

• The deficiency of iodine is a grave issue which might lead to miscarriage, birth defects, weight gain, mental retardation and learning disorders. Therefore, you must follow your physician’s treatment plan cautiously.
• Castor oil can be used externally only. Do not ingest it. Make sure to keep it out of the reach of pets and children.