How to Supplement with Iodine for a Healthy Thyroid

 

 

Many nutritionists believe that iodine is one of the most important supplements you can take, because iodine helps keep your thyroid healthy. The trick, however, is finding the right iodine supplement that is readily biovailable to your body.

Does Your Thyroid Need Nutritional Support?

When a person has hypothyroidism it means that his or her thyroid gland is underactive. Your thyroid helps produce the hormones that your body needs to thrive, so when it’s not firing on all cylinders, it means you could have subtle hormonal issues that produce symptoms such as problematic skin and hair — or loss of energy, concentration, libido and zest!

Your thyroid gland requires iodine in order to produce the hormones that your body needs in order to feel right.

Are You Getting Enough of the Right Kind of Iodine?

It turns out that eating sea vegetables and sea lettuces like kelp and dulce — though helpful — might not provide enough of that quality iodine that your body is craving.

Some doctors believe that symptoms of hypothyroidism are too often overlooked, and that an increasing number of people (from each successive generation) are challenged with underactive thyroids.

When iodine intake is inadequate, humans can develop thyroid gland enlargement — the body’s attempt to maintain normal thyroid function.

Iodine can also help the human body in these ways:

• ▸ main body surveillance mechanism for abnormal body cells including cancer cells
• ▸ detoxify chemicals
• ▸ antiseptic to bacteria, algae, fungi, viruses and protozoa
• ▸ detoxify biological toxins: food poisons, etc.
• ▸ protect from apoptotic diseases like leukemia
• ▸ antiseptic activity in stomach against the ulcer causing helicobacter pylori

Your favorite doctor can get a good idea about the activity and health of your thyroid gland by looking at specific markers in the lab results of your blood work.

Some doctors offer bioavailable (not synthetic) hormones via a compounding pharmacy to help bolster the thyroid. Also, some naturopaths and nutritionists are able to recommend diet changes and/or glandular and nutritional iodine — or mineral, plant and herbal supplements — that many have experienced as helpful.

 

Iodine as a part of Nutritional Counseling

Many of people I see as new clients in my practice have iodine deficiency. Because of this, they will readily absorb iodine from the environment when it’s available. However, your body is unable to recognize the difference between regular iodine and radioactive iodine. It will absorb both of them equally well. So if you’re deficient in iodine and a radioactive cloud passes by or the radioactive iodine is in your water, your body will tend to suck that radioactive iodine into your thyroid gland to fill up its iodine stores.

Some individuals are so depleted of iodine that it needs to be initially added in small increments so as not to cause hypothyroidism because the thyroid could not handle high iodine intake. Therefore it’s not my recommendation that everyone rush out to purchase supplemental iodine. However, it is my belief that iodine is one of the most important supplements required in the North America.

Numerous people have asked me to share my thoughts on the nuclear disaster in Japan and how it might affect us living in America.

My review of the literature indicated that the leading American experts are stating that we have nothing to concern ourselves with respect to radiation exposure. With that being said, I believe it is only prudent for us to be proactive in doing our best to protect ourselves.

When we consume sufficient iodine and the iodine receptors in our tissues are full, we will not accept any radioactive iodine. Conversely, if the iodine receptors are not full then your tissues are of taking in radioactive iodine. Iodine deficiency is rampant in America and the cause of much of the hypothyroid conditions present in America. It is difficult to get adequate iodine from our food sources as our soils are mineral depleted and studies show that many sea vegetables have little iodine to offer.

“Most underactive thyroid problems stem from a lack of raw material needed by your thyroid gland to produce the necessary hormones. Iodine is by far the most commonly needed material.

Subclinical symptoms of hypothyroidism have always been an overlooked problem in this country. It seems that a larger percent of each successive generation suffers from the problem, yet it is given less and less attention. Many of the children of this latest generation are routinely having difficulty concentrating in school and maintaining a motivation for learning.”
~ Dr. Williams from Ingram, Texas

Healing Hypothyroidism

Dr. Williams goes on to say that sugar regulation and adrenal issues play a role in this phenomenon. Then he states: “ Hypothyroid problems may also be a significant contributing factor and should always be ruled out. I’ve seen dozens of children make dramatic improvements in their school and social lives after being given iodine supplementation and thyroid glandulars (specific whole food supplements).”

Looking to the future we must evaluate our food sources and be as careful as we feel is necessary to protect ourselves. This is a very personal choice. I learned that the local vegetables from my local farmer’s market have recently been tested to be radiation free.

My suggestion is to eat a balanced diet of non-processed foods containing the three food groups of protein, complex carbohydrates and good fats. Keeping the immune system strong is important.

Again, it might be in your best interests to seek out a highly recommended doctor, nutritionist, or naturopath to determine what your unique needs for iodine are, and how best to supplement those levels based on the individual chemistry of your own body.

As always, the first step is to listen closely to how your body feels:

• what’s your energy level on a scale of one-to-ten?
• what is your level of emotional enthusiasm when you wake up?
• how are your skin, hair, and fingernails appearing?

Answers to these questions could provide you with clues to your overall health!

by Jim Harris