Goitre treatment with Diet - Multinodular Goitre Treatment

The real treatment for goitre should be directed towards cleansing of the system and adoption of a rational dietary thereafter, combined with adequate rest and relaxation. To begin with, juices of fruits such as orange, apple, pineapple and grapes may be taken every two or three hours from 3 a.m. To 3 p.m. For five days. The bowels should be cleansed daily with lukewarm water.

After the juice fast, the patient may spend further three days on fruits and milk, taking three meals a day of juicy fruits such as apple, pineapple, grapes, papaya with a glass "I milk, at five-hourly intervals. Thereafter, the patient may adopt a well-balanced diet consisting of seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits. The emphasis should be on fresh fruits and raw or lightly cooked vegetables.

Diet For Goitre : Prevention for Goitre

Certain foods and fluids are extremely injurious for goitre patients and should be avoided by them. These include white flour products, white sugar, flesh foods, fried or greasy foods, preserves, condiments, tea, coffee and alcohol. Iodine is undoubtedly most helpful in many cases, but II should be introduced in organic form. All foods containing Iodine should be taken liberally.

These are asparagus, cabbage, carrots, garlic, onion, oats, pineapple, whole rice, tomatoes, watercress and strawberries.

Watercress (Watercress) has been discovered to be one "I the best sources of the element iodine. It is valuable in correcting the functioning of the thyroid gland. Its regular rise, therefore, is highly beneficial in the prevention and treatment of goitre. A paste made of this vegetable can also be applied beneficially over the affected parts. It will help reduce swelling.

Dandelion (dandelion) has also been found valuable in goitre. The leaves of this salad vegetable should be smeared with clarified butter, warmed and bandaged over the swollen parts for about two weeks. It will provide relief.
Half the daily intake of food should consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the starch element should be confined to whole-wheat products and potatoes. The protein foods should be confined to cheese, peas, beans, lentils and nuts. All flesh proteins must be avoided.

Other Measures for Goitre:

Ice bag should be applied to the throat for 20 to 30 minutes. It should then be applied over the heart for the same duration. He bag should be reapplied on the throat and the alternate application should be continued for one or two hours, and repeated two or three times a day.

The patient should take plenty of rest and spend a day in bed every week for the first two months of the treatment. Exercise should be resumed and gradually increase after the symptoms subside. Great care must be taken never to allow the body to become exhausted.

All efforts should be made to prevent emotional stress. There may be slight recurrence of this extremely nervous complaint for some times, but the attacks will become less severe and of shorter duration as the treatment progresses.

TREATMENT CHART FOR GOITRE

A - DIET

I. Fresh fruit juice for five days. During this period take a glass of juice of orange or other juicy fruit diluted with water every two hours from 8 a.m. To 8 p.m. And cleanse the bowels daily with warm water enema.

II. A diet of fresh juicy fruit for further five days, with three meals a (jay at 'five-hourly intervals.

III. Thereafter, adopt a well-balanced diet on the following lines:-

1. Upon arising:

A glass of lukewarm water with a half a freshly squeezed lime and a teaspoon of honey.

2. Breakfast:

Fresh fruits, a glass of milk, sweetened with honey and some seeds or nuts.

3. Lunch:

A bowl of freshly prepared steamed vegetables, two or three whole wheat wheat tortilla and a glass of buttermilk.

4. Mid-afternoon:

A glass of fruit or vegetable juice.

5. Dinner:

A large bowl of fresh green vegetable salad, with lime juice dressing and sprouted green gram beans. Follow It with a hot course. If desired.

AVOID:

Tea, coffee, sugar, white flour and products made with them, all refined foods, fried foods and flesh foods, condiments pickles, alcoholic beverages and smoking.

Especially Beneficial:

Asparagus, cabbage, carrots, garlic, onion, oats, pineapple, whole rice, tomatoes, watercress and strawberries.

B - OTHER MEASURES

1. Plenty of rest and adequate sleep.

2. Fresh air, breathing and other light exercises.

3. Ice bag over throat and heart region.

Foods for Goitre

Goiter is a medical condition where the thyroid gland experiences dramatic enlargement. The thyroid gland is situated at the base of your neck just below your voice box or larynx. It is responsible for regulating the hormones and the response of your body to these hormonal changes. While goiter refers to an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, one must understand that it does not mean that the thyroid gland is afflicted with a tumor or malignant growth. Goiter only refers to an external condition that is causing the thyroid gland to grow in size.

Goiter causes. In developing or impoverished countries, the most common cause of goiter is lack of iodine in the daily diet. In countries where iodized salt is freely available and consumed, this deficiency is resolved. The thyroid gland absorbs iodine from the blood to make the thyroid hormones. In the absence of sufficient amount of iodine in the blood stream, the pituitary gland situated in the brain signals a lack of the thyroid hormone called ‘thyroid-stimulating hormone’ forcing it to grow in size to absorb more iodine. Other causes of goiter are as follows:

•   Goiter could be caused due to hormonal imbalances or a situation where there is over or under production of thyroid hormones. Too much production of the thyroid hormone is called hyperthyroidism and too little is called hypothyroidism. In the case of individuals suffering from goiter, foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and so on may cause further problems since they act as hormone inhibiting foods.
•   Goiter may also be caused due to Graves’s disease. In this autoimmune condition, your body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland forcing it to produce too much hormone (hyperthyroidism).
•   Another autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s disease also attacks the thyroid gland causing wide spread damage to the gland. Unlike the Grave’s disease, in this case, the damage results in under production of the thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism). A lack of the thyroid hormone results in the pituitary gland sending out the thyroid-stimulating hormone, which results in goiter.
•   The growth of multiple nodules in the thyroid gland may also cause it to enlarge. These nodules or lumps may be solid or filled with fluid. Sometimes a single non-malignant nodule may also result in enlargement of the thyroid gland.
•   During pregnancy, the woman’s body may release hormones called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which adversely affects the thyroid gland causing goiter like enlargement.
•   In the case of thyroiditis, an individual may suffer from swelling and inflammation. Other symptoms of goiter include pain and sore throat when suffering from thyroiditis.

Most cases of goiter may not develop into cancerous growth or tumors. Even the growth of nodules is usually benign. While small goiters are painless, some large goiter cases may make swallowing difficult and cause the individual to cough or experience throat ache. Treatment for goiter depends on the size of the goiter, the severity of pain, and underlying causes. Most goiter cases may be painless. However, it is best to check with your doctor about the cause of enlargement and the kind of goiter treatment to follow.

Goiter symptoms. Some of the goiter symptoms include swelling at the base of the neck where the thyroid gland is located. Initial signs and symptoms may be too slight to notice. In some cases, however, the goiter swelling is abnormally large and disfiguring. Goiter patients may suffer from sore throat or a constricted feeling in the throat. Coughing, wheezing, and a hoarse voice are other indications of goiter. If you notice a difficulty in breathing or swallowing along with above symptoms, you may want to consult your doctor immediately for a goiter prognosis.

Goiter treatment. In the case of goiter, prevention of this medical condition is easy and feasible. Since the most common cause of goiter is the deficiency of iodine, prevention of goiter starts from ensuring that there is an adequate measure of iodine in your daily diet. The recommended measure for the intake of iodine based on a daily diet is 150 micro grams. Pregnant and breast feeding women must take special care to consume iodized salt and get their daily dose of iodine to ensure that the infant does not suffer from goiter later. Children must also consume sufficient amount of iodine to avoid the risk of goiter. While iodized salt is a good source of iodine, other foods for goiter prevention include seafood such as shrimp and other shellfish like lobsters, mussels, and crabs that are rich in iodine content. Seaweed used in sushi is also a good source of iodine. For individuals living close to the coastline, the dietary treatment of goiter would include the consumption of locally grown vegetables and fruits as well as dairy products such as milk and yogurt.

Although rare, sometimes the excess consumption of iodine may lead to over production of thyroid hormone causing goiter. In such cases, dietary treatment of goiter may include cutting back or avoiding iodine-fortified salt, iodine rich food like seafood and seaweed, and any iodine supplements. Goiter treatment may include both a change in diet as well as medications under the supervision of your doctor, depending on the severity of your problem. In the case of smaller, benign goiters, your doctor may recommend observation and also ask you to report any change in size and pain. You may need hormonal medications and even hormone replacement to regulate your thyroid hormone levels to avoid hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. In the case of large, uncomfortable goiter s, your doctor may recommend the surgical removal of the whole or part of the thyroid gland. In this case, talk to your doctor about the post surgery effects on your body and post surgery care. Surgery may also be considered in the case of nodules or malignant tumors in the thyroid gland.

Quick facts about goiter.

•   While deficiency of iodine is the most common cause of goiter, if you like in a developed country and are certain that you consume iodized salt as part of your daily diet, you may want to consult the doctor about other causes.
•   Since women deal with thyroid and hormonal problems more than men do, they are at a higher risk of developing goiters.
•   Pregnancy and menopause cause several hormonal changes in a woman’s body. Therefore, women are at a heightened risk of developing goiter during these periods.
•   Individuals over the age of fifty are at a higher risk of developing goiter.
•   Autoimmune diseases like the Grave’s disease or Hashimoto’s disease are other causes of goiter. Individuals who have a family medical history or these or other autoimmune diseases may be at a higher risk of developing goiter.
•   Certain medications and indiscriminate consumption of iodine supplements may result in goiter.
•   Under rare circumstances, exposure to radiation may result in the development of goiter.