Why Iodine is essential for Thyroid Health
Iodine is the most important nutrient involved in thyroid health. For this reason, it is imperative we have adequate intake to maintain optimal health. All cells in the body need iodine. There is a lot of misinformation about iodine and how it can have negative side effects. Like anything if taken at the right dose it is harmless. The body also has a regulatory system to excrete it if you have too much, making sure we are safe at all times!
Iodine: what you need to know
1. Without iodine the thyroid cannot work properly at all –the thyroid influences every cell in the body and 98% of the western population is iodine deficient.
2. There are lots of Iodine receptors in the breasts, and iodine helps prevent lumps and cysts too (think PCOS, breast lumps and thyroid nodules/lumps)
3. Iodine works in the body to kill parasites, fungal and yeast overgrowth as much as it does when you use it on your skin for infections of any type.
4. Iodine helps to detox the other damaging halides (bromide, fluoride, chloride) and heavy metals like mercury and cadmium by competitive absorption.
5. Iodine increases stomach acid which in turn helps you to digest your protein better and kill off bacteria entering your body through your oral passage, helping with gas and bloating.
6. Iodine helps the utilisation of sugar in the body for fuel, including in the brain, therefore increasing brain function, cognitive function and energy levels
Low iodine levels cause hormonal dysfunction, goiter (swelling of the thyroid) and hypothyroidism, immune dysfunction, digestive problems, mental retardation, infertility, depression and cretinism (severe mental retardation accompanied by physical deformities). Taking iodine can help with these conditions and also help with fibromyalgia, insulin dependent diabetes, thyroid diseases, arthritis, breast and prostate cancer and even weight loss, however the correct dosage and form is important for your individual needs.
How to know if you have enough Iodine
1. Get tested – It is important you have a urinary screen for iodine levels. The 24 hour load test is the gold standard of iodine testing. This is where you take an initial urine sample, then take a supplied dose of 50mg of iodine, then collect your urine for 24 hours in a large container and then a small sample of this is tested and compared with the initial sample at the lab. This test measures your Iodine saturation and usage, indication your personal Iodine requirement for optimal body function. For people with time or money restrictions alternatively a spot urine test can be done. It is faster because it only requires one sample after an absence of iodine intake, cheaper because you are only getting one vial assessed, and gives you a good ballpark figure for iodine status and what safe dose of Iodine you need to take. It is worth mentioning that dramatic changes of water will alter spot testing for iodine, but the 24hour load test is much more accurate as it is measuring our iodine loading and excretion per dose.
2. Take the right dose for you. The evidence shows from 30 years of research by Dr. Guy Abrahamand Dr. Brownstein that the adequate daily intake for iodine is 12.5mg. Mainland Japanese women intake is 13.8 mg daily with no negative side effects whatsoever. They also interestingly have the lowest rates of breast cancer and menopausal symptoms in the world and live the longest. The RNI (recommended nutrient intake) in the UK is 140 µg/d for women, so this is a massive difference!
3. Understand why you are taking it. It has almost disappeared from the western diet. Seaweed and sea fish are the only adequate sources of iodine in the western diet. You would need to eat these foods daily to get the right amount of iodine in your diet. Salt and iodized salt are poor sources of iodine as chloride (sodium chloride) competes with iodine in the body, meaning you don’t absorb the iodine very well.
Iodine is detected in every organ and tissue in the body. Without enough of it, it will bring a wide variety of health conditions. It is a key (if not the most important) mineral the body needs. It eliminates abnormal cells floating around the body. It helps to detox poisons and heavy metals and is key in maintaining thyroid health.
If you think you might be suffering from poor thyroid function, do get in touch with a Naturopath. I see this a lot in clinic, and it’s important for supporting so many important functions within the body. Find out how I can support you