Are You Iodine Deficient?
Who is iodine deficient? Studies show that three-quarters of Americans are iodine deficient. Iodine is a trace mineral, by law, added to salt to protect citizens from becoming iodine deficient. That may have backfired because later, Americans were warned that too much sodium could cause heart disease. So they avoided table salt like the plague. Avoiding table salt still makes good sense. Substituting Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt for table salt is a good solution. Without another source, we risk being iodine deficient.
Iodine is critical to these systems in our body:
- Immune System. Iodine protects us from viruses and other bugs.
- Reproductive System. Before, during and after pregnancy.
- Thyroid & Goiter. 75% of iodine goes directly to these organs.
- Metabolism. Iodine is key to a functioning, speedy metabolism.
- Energy. Critical to fast recovery and endurance.
- Fibrocystic Disease. Iodine prevents and heals fibroids & cysts.
- Breast Cancer. Iodine is critical for prevention.
- Detoxification. Iodine facilitates flushing chemicals.
- Growth. Hair, nails, and teeth.
- Healthy Gut. The stomach needs iodine to make enzymes.
- Heart Health. Protects the heart muscle.
Iodine has also been shown to relieve mood swings, depression, and ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). The endocrine system cannot function without it! When iodine deficient, your hormones can go out of whack. The adrenals rely on this trace mineral to function well during stress, and for recovery from stress.
How Do We Get Enough to Keep from Being Iodine Deficient?
Image of Kelp.
Kelp is a good source of iodine. However, the oceans, where kelp is found, are struggling with mercury toxicity. Therefore, finding “clean” kelp is key. The brands, “Country Life,” “Icelandic Kelp,” “Nature’s Life,” and “Ecological Formulas” have been tested to be safe.
The most popular brand of iodine is Lugol’s Iodine. Iodine transports easily through the skin. One to three drops applied topically to your belly can help meet daily requirements. Some people discover they feel better with more. After using daily for a month, you may get all you need with two to three times per week. When supplementing with iodine, boost your selenium, magnesium, and Vitamin C levels for proper assimilation.
The iodine dosage should be no more than 2,000 mg. a day. If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Disease, talk to your doctor before supplementing with iodine. Some of my clients with these conditions noticed improvement in mental clarity and energy level while using iodine topically. As a result, they cut their thyroid medication in half. I suggest reading the online articles by Dr. Guy Abraham and Dr. David Brownstein on the use of iodine.
How to Introduce a New Supplement
My best advise with supplements is to educate yourself. When searching iodine options, you will find the pros and the cons. Start with small doses. Try one-half the recommended dose. If sensitive, at first, just try one-quarter of the recommended dose. Do not try more than one new supplement at a time. That way, you will see the effects, and can adjust the dose accordingly. While easy to double an ineffective supplement dose, undoing a bad reaction is impossible. Believe me, I learned the hard way. I once was that person who believed if a little was good, more would be better. Not true!
Spring is the perfect time to try new supplements and to boost your energy. Let me know what supplements you can not live without! And join me for our next Happy-Gut Makeover, in April!
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