Diet Treatment for Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid is an important gland of the body that produces thyroid hormones, which regulate the metabolism process. When there is a growth of harmful cells in the tissues of the gland, it causes thyroid cancer. This type of cancer can occur in any age group, though it usually affects people between 25 years to 60 years of age, with women being at a higher risk than men. Just like any ailment, there are various causes of thyroid cancer. These are: heredity, receiving radiation therapy in the neck and chronic goiter, caused by deficiency of iodine. There are various kinds of thyroid cancer: Anaplastic carcinoma (giant and spindle cell cancer), follicular carcinoma, medullary carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. All the types of thyroid cancer have different symptoms. However, some common symptoms are severe cough, cough with bleeding, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness of the voice, enlargement of thyroid glands, swelling in the neck, and a thyroid lump.
Thyroid cancer can take a physical and emotional toll on the sufferer, especially so because of the painful conventional treatments, namely external radiation, chemotherapy, radioactive iodine, surgery or hormonal treatment. These therapies usually have dangerous side effects, wherein healthy cells get damaged along with malignant cells. These harmful effects are the reason why many sufferers undertake alternative therapies along with the conventional medication. Alternative therapeutic discipline like meditation, aromatherapy, yoga, acupuncture, and massages stabilize and also improve the patient’s health during and after the conventional medical treatments. These therapies also help in calming down the mind and body of the sufferer.
Thyroid cancer prevention and healing process includes measures common to most ailments. For instance, diet plays a very important role in the treatment. The patient must avoid unhealthy foods like junk food, hydrogenated fats, refined oil and salts, alcohol and carbonated drinks. He must also always have a balanced diet with lots of water, especially ¼ teaspoon of salt added to a quart of water. The patient must also ensure that his bowel and colon are clean. Some form of physical activity, like walking, jogging, martial arts or tai chi, is also very beneficial to keep thyroid cancer at bay. Since thyroid cancer is caused by persistent goiter, in turn, caused by deficiency of iodine, make sure you have enough intake of iodine, especially in organic form. So include foods like lettuce, carrots, garlic, onion, turnips, whole rice, oats, tomatoes, pineapples, citrus fruits, strawberries, guavas, seafood, and egg yolks in your diet.
