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How To Shrink A Goiter Naturally

Apr 4, 2023 | Health & Wellness Blog Updates | Advanced Integrated Health, Thyroid Health

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How To Shrink A Goiter Naturally

Have you noticed a strange lump in your neck that goes up and down when you swallow? It’s possible that you have a goiter or an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. Though goiters are often benign, having one can be uncomfortable. Fortunately, you can speak to a medical professional and learn techniques to shrink it without causing significant symptoms. Here’s what to know about why you develop goiters, the symptoms of goiter, and how to shrink it naturally.

What Causes A Goiter?

Before we get to the part about shrinking a goiter naturally, let’s talk about what causes it. These are some of the main causes people develop an enlarged thyroid gland.

Iodine Deficiency

The leading cause of goiter formation is iodine deficiency. Iodine is an essential trace mineral that’s used to produce thyroid hormones. Since your body can’t make iodine on its own, you need to consume it through your diet. With a low intake of iodine, your thyroid needs to work extra hard to produce enough thyroid hormone. When you develop a goiter because of an iodine deficiency, it’s called a colloid goiter.

Excess Iodine

Sometimes, an iodine excess can bring down the production of thyroid hormone in your body, causing hypothyroidism. This causes the thyroid gland to enlarge, forming a goiter. Though it’s a less common cause of goiter, keep in mind that goiter can develop due to an underactive thyroid or an overactive thyroid gland.

Thyroid Nodule

You can also develop a goiter because of one or more thyroid nodules, which occur because of an overgrowth of cells in the thyroid gland. These nodules cause the gland to enlarge, resulting in a nodular goiter. Sometimes, these nodules produce thyroid hormone, too, causing hyperthyroidism. In that case, the goiter is a multinodular goiter or toxic nodular goiter.

Autoimmune Disorders

Conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are autoimmune disorders, which means that your antibodies attack the cells of your thyroid gland. It leads to inflammation and subsequent enlargement of the thyroid gland. You also experience other symptoms like muscle weakness, weight gain, and tiredness.

Medications

Some medications, like lithium and amiodarone, interfere with thyroid function, causing the thyroid gland to enlarge. In some cases, these medications cause enlargement and swelling without impacting thyroid function, in which case it’s referred to as a nontoxic goiter.

Estrogen Dominance

If your body’s estrogen levels are too high compared to your progesterone levels, it can lead to the development of thyroid nodules and goiter. You may experience estrogen dominance during or after pregnancy, during perimenopause, or when taking birth control medication. Other symptoms include tender breasts, irregular periods, weight gain, bloating, and reduced sex drive.

Goiters

Types of Goiters

Not all goiters are the same. You can classify them into different categories based on how they grow and affect your thyroid hormone levels:

Simple Goiter

A simple or diffuse goiter develops when your entire thyroid gland swells up. It refers to the noncancerous enlargement of your thyroid gland and isn’t involved in the overproduction or underproduction of hormones.

Endemic Goiter

When you develop a goiter because you’re not getting enough dietary iodine, it’s referred to as an endemic goiter. It usually affects over 10 percent of the population living in areas with iodine-deficient soil.

Sporadic Goiter

Unlike an endemic goiter, a sporadic goiter occurs without a definite cause. It typically affects members of an iodine-sufficient population and can occur when you consume large amounts of goitrogenic foods like cabbage, spinach, soybeans, and kale.

Symptoms Of An Enlarged Thyroid Gland

Goiters aren’t always very large and noticeable. Sometimes, you may develop a minor goiter that’s undetectable and doesn’t cause any symptoms. Even so, diagnosing a goiter starts with looking for visible swelling in your neck. Of course, you may not be able to notice it on yourself until someone else points it out. Or, it may show up on an imaging test like an ultrasound.

If your goiter is bigger and growing close to the trachea, you may have symptoms like:

  • Trouble swallowing whenever you eat or drink something
  • Feeling like something is stuck in your thought
  • Feeling tenderness in your neck
  • Experiencing a tight feeling in your throat
  • Having trouble breathing and coughing
  • Your voice becomes hoarse

Besides a goiter, you may also show other symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, like weight gain or weight loss, weakness, feature, and changes in heart rate.

If you want expert guidance on spotting symptoms of a goiter, it’s best to speak to a health care professional,. Consider scheduling an online functional medicine session with Advanced Integrated Health. You can speak with a functional medicine specialist to learn about common symptoms of goiter and how to check if you have one.

Shrinking A Goiter Naturally And Improving Thyroid Health

When you develop a goiter, it’s not necessary that you undergo surgery to get it removed. Medical professionals recommend trying to shrink it naturally first. Here are some natural remedies:

Improve Your Iodine Intake

When you develop a goiter, one of the first things you can do is to improve your iodine intake. Today, the rate of iodine deficiency is much higher than it used to be, affecting approximately 2 billion people. However, despite so many people having inadequate iodine status, only about 50 million people experience clinical manifestations.

A low iodine intake can lead to thyroid goiter because the gland is trying to trap as many iodine molecules as possible. Increasing your iodine intake can help with an underactive thyroid gland. According to the FDA, the daily allowance for iodine is about 150 micrograms. A steady intake of the recommended daily amount is good enough to eliminate a goiter, especially if you live in a region that’s prone to iodine deficiency.

Consider Iodine Supplements

Another way to meet your daily intake is to take iodine supplements. There’s evidence that even small amounts of supplementary iodine can bring notable changes in thyroid hormone function among people who are predisposed to thyroid disorders.

However, eating too many iodine-rich foods can lead to an iodine excess. When it’s not absorbed into the body, a goiter forms on your thyroid gland. If you’ve developed a goiter because of excess iodine, it’ll help to make a few changes so your iodine levels go back to normal.

Avoid Eating Too Many Goitrogenic Foods

Some foods are high in goitrogens – compounds that impair iodine utilization. Common examples of goitrogenic foods include raw cruciferous vegetables like kale, cabbage, and brocolli, as well as foods like spinach, peach, and millet. If you do eat these foods, we recommend cooking them since that reduces their goitrogenic effects.

Reduce Stress Levels

While stress can’t cause a goiter on its own, it can certainly worsen thyroid problems. Chronic stress has a negative effect on hormone levels and impairs your thyroid function. We recommend adding relaxation techniques to your routine. Activities like deep breathing, yoga, and meditation are great ways to manage your stress levels.

Get More Exercise

There’s a correlation between obesity and your thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism slows down your body’s metabolism, leading to weight gain, while hyperthyroidism has the opposite effect because of the way it speeds up your metabolism. Since obesity can worsen swelling in your thyroid gland, weight loss can help eliminate goiter. It’s recommended that you aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity each week.

Address Nutritional Deficiencies

Besides ensuring an adequate iodine intake, you need to address nutritional deficiencies that are linked to goiter development. Having a zinc, vitamin A, or manganese deficiency can affect your body’s ability to utilize iodine properly, contributing to goiter formation. If your blood tests show a deficiency in these micronutrients, consult your medical practitioner for advice on what supplements to take.

Other Treatment Options

Other Treatment Options

While it’s great to try natural methods that can bring thyroid hormone production back to normal, medical treatment may be necessary in some cases. Here are a few approaches to know about:

Radioactive Iodine Therapy

If you’ve developed a goiter because of Graves disease or hyperthyroidism, radioactive iodine treatment is recommended. The process involves taking a radioactive iodine pill, which treats your overactive thyroid gland by destroying thyroid cells, causing the goiter to shrink. This method is also used to treat thyroid cancer, which can lead to the formation of a goiter.

Medication

Depending on the extent of your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medications to regulate your thyroid hormone levels and shrink the goiter. Common examples include thyroid hormone replacement drugs, like levothyroxine, or thyroid suppression drugs, like methimazole, which reduces the amount of thyroid hormone produced. Your doctor will prescribe medication depending on whether you’re showing symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

Radiofrequency Ablation

If you’ve developed a goiter because of a thyroid nodule, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is recommended. It’s a less invasive option than radioactive iodine therapy and thyroid surgery because it uses radio waves to create heat. These waves reduce the size of thyroid nodules, making it effective for people with symptomatic thyroid nodules.

Thyroid Surgery

If the goiter is leading to severe symptoms, is growing rapidly, or is found to be cancerous, you may need thyroid surgery. Also known as thyroidectomy, it involves the surgical removal of all or a part of your thyroid gland. This is usually the last option reserved for when other conventional treatment approaches don’t work.

Are You At Risk Of Developing A Goiter?

Certain factors can increase your risk of developing a goiter. For instance, you:

  • Don’t use iodized salt or eat iodine-rich foods like seaweed
  • Are you pregnant or just had a baby
  • Are a woman in her 40s, approaching menopause
  • Have a family history of autoimmune or thyroid disease
  • Take medication, such as lithium, which is known to cause thyroid issues

Want to know more about the risk factors of goiter formation? Schedule an online functional medicine session with one of our experts at Advanced Integrated Health.

Book An Appointment With Advanced Integrated Health

If you or a loved one has developed a goiter because of thyroid issues, it’s recommended that you try natural remedies first. You can shrink a goiter naturally using approaches like improving your iodine intake, getting enough exercise, avoiding goitrogenic foods, and managing stress levels. Besides getting enough iodine and exercise, some cases call for conventional medical treatment.

Risk factors for goiters include limited intake of foods rich in iodine, taking medication like lithium, and having a family history of thyroid problems. But before you begin seeking treatment for goiter, it’s recommended that you consult a medical professional. Understanding the pros and cons of each treatment option is essential before making a decision. If you need guidance on available therapies, consider getting in touch with our experts at Advanced Integrated Health.

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