A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located at the base of the neck. It secretes a fluid, the hormone thyroxin, which s made from iodine and tyrosine, an amino acid. The thyroid, through the thyroxin hormone, regulates metabolism or the burning of food, growth and body temperature and influences mental and emotional balance; it is also a factor in the function of the reproductive system.

It occurs due to a lack of iodine in the diet, in vegetables and/or in the water. It is common among the people living in the hills, where the iodine content of the soil is limited, due perhaps to soil erosion by continued rains, etc. It is thus endemic, i.e. at such a place, one can find several people with swollen necks, as a result of an enlarged thyroid gland. More precisely, the disease is called endemic iodine deficiency goiter. Hence, when the food/water taken by persons in such areas is deficient of iodine, the supply of iodine to the thyroid gland suffers, and there is a constant pressure on the gland to secrete normal amount of hormones

To treat goitre naturally you are recommended to follow a perfect diet schedule that would help to heal the swelling to great extent.

In the breakfast you may start with a glass of milk, a handful of unbaked nuts and fresh fruits. A little later you may have a vegetable fruit juice with a teaspoon of yeast added to it. For lunch you are advised to have steamed vegetable, whole meal bread and buttermilk. After sometime you may take in a glass of fruit juice or milk. During dinner you may have salad of raw vegetables, vegetable soup, sprouts, nuts and home made cheese. Just before going to bed you may take up a glass of fruit juice or a vegetable juice.

Simple goiter is caused by an iodine deficiency which is common in those who live far from the sea. Iodine is required for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. This can easily be obtained from iodized salt, seafood, milk and kelp. When a person lacks iodine, the thyroid gland has to work harder to continuously produce a hormone that the body needs to function properly. In the process, the gland gets bigger and that's how goiter begins.

Goitre, also known, as bronchocele is a term applied to the swelling on the front of the neck caused by the enlargement of the thyroid gland. It is caused by deficiency of iodine in the diet. It is an endemic disease prevalent in the hill districts of the country. The growth of the thyroid gland is generally unattended by pain but if the goiter becomes large it may cause hoarseness. Too enlarged a goiter interferes with breathing and capacity to swallow.

The best way to deal with goiter is to take foods, which contain natural iodine. They are water nut (singhara), lotus reed, stem to the lotus, tuber of the plant cuperus tuberosus and pineapple.