Use Food to Fight Goiter
The thyroid gland may be small, but it’s incredibly important, affecting almost every organ in the body. Sometimes, it can react abnormally and develop a goiter. According to the American Thyroid Association, the term “goiter” refers to an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. It can happen if your thyroid gland is producing too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism). It can also be caused by abnormal growths in the thyroid gland, even when thyroid hormone levels are normal.
Goiter is not common in the US— about 200,000 cases are identified each year. Getting enough iodine is key to preventing most cases of goiter. Decades ago, iodine was lacking in much of the American diet, and goiter was much more common. Today, most table salt is fortified with iodine, preventing goiter caused by iodine deficiency. One-quarter of a teaspoon of iodized salt provides about 100 micrograms of iodine. If salt is iodized, it is clearly stated on the front label. The recommended intake for individuals age 14 and older is 150 micrograms a day. Some dietary supplements also provide iodine. However, some exceed the established upper limit of 1,100 micrograms, providing as much as 1,500 micrograms per capsule. Getting too much iodine can cause some of the same symptoms as iodine deficiency, including goiter. High iodine intakes can also cause thyroid cancer. Of course, if you’re taking higher doses while under a doctor’s care and are being regularly monitored, then the 1,500 microgram upper limit may not apply.
Who Is at Risk? A low intake of iodine is not the only risk factor for developing goiter. Women are more likely to develop goiter than men and anyone over the age of 40 is at greater risk than those who are younger. There is a hereditary factor. So, if someone in your family has goiter due to autoimmune thyroid disease, you may be at risk for developing goiter yourself. According to Mary Vouyiouklis Kellis, MD, an endocrinologist at Cleveland Clinic, one autoimmune disease, known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is one of the most common causes of goiter.
Symptoms of Goiter. The main symptoms of goiter are a swelling in the front of the neck, a feeling of tightness in the throat area, hoarseness, and swelling of veins in the neck. Dr. Vouyiouklis Kellis says that performing a neck exam and asking you to swallow is the first way your doctor will identify whether goiter is present. She adds, “If there is any suspicion of thyroid nodules, then we recommend a thyroid ultrasound.” While most thyroid nodules are benign, about five percent are cancerous.
Your Diet and Goiter. It’s important that you get enough iodine in your diet. Aside from iodized salt, other sources of iodine include cod, tuna, scallops, shrimp, sardines, salmon, seaweed, and dairy products. It’s also found in plant foods that are grown in soil that is rich in iodine. But according to Grace Drocha MBA, RD, CDCES, National Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “This is not a reliable source of iodine, since there is no way of knowing whether produce purchased in grocery stores is grown in iodine-rich soil.”
It’s also important to note that while the American diet is high in sodium, it comes mostly from processed foods. Most of the salt added to processed foods is not iodized. So, if you’ve been counseled to cut back on sodium, reducing your intake of salty, processed foods shouldn’t have an effect on your iodine intake. That’s important to know, since 75 to 90 percent of sodium in the average American’s diet comes from prepared and processed foods. In addition, specialty salts, such as sea salt, kosher salt, Himalayan salt, and fleur de sel are not typically iodized.
Another dietary consideration are foods known as “goitrogens.” These are foods that contain compounds that interfere with the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Foods that have been identified as goitrogenic include cruciferous vegetables such as bok choy, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, canola, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, collard greens, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, radishes, rutabagas, and turnips. The Rosaceae family of fruits, which includes almonds, apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, and strawberries, is also goitrogenic. Other examples are bamboo shoots, millet, soy, spinach, sweet potato, tapioca, and yuca (cassava or manioc). However, these foods are problematic only when eaten raw (heat breaks down the goitrogenic compounds), when eaten in large amounts, or when coupled with an already existing iodine deficiency.
Medications and Iodine. Some medications can actually trigger inflammation of the thyroid gland, causing goiter. Dr. Vouyiouklis Kellis says Lithium (mood stabilizer) and Amiodarone (treats heart rhythm problems) are two such drugs that can cause thyroid dysfunction and result in goiter.
Diet Recommendations. Dietitian Derocha recommends getting your iodine from your diet, not iodine supplements, unless prescribed by your health care provider. Smaller amounts present in multivitamin/ mineral supplements shouldn’t be a problem. Include iodine-rich foods in your diet and, when you use salt, choose iodized salt.
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