Benefits of iodine

BENEFITS OF IODINE

here is a quick helpful blog on all things iodine, how you can raise iodine in your diet naturally and more

the sea is the main provider of iodine on earth

• benefits of iodine

• RDA

• Iodine deficiency

• symptoms

• iodine rich foods

• goitrogens and what food to avoid

• iodine test

• supplementation with lugols iodine

• transdermal application of iodine

• iodine flushing

• iodine toxicity

• iodine contraindications

BENEFITS OF IODINE

Iodine is considered one of the body’s vital nutrients, maintains brain functions, responsible for regulating thyroid function, supporting a healthy metabolism, aiding in growth and development, synthesis of amino acids from proteins, digestive enzyme activity, and proper skeletal and central nervous system development and preventing certain chronic diseases and evidence shows iodine may help prevent cancer.  Iodine affects every cell in your body: your  adrenals, ovaries, uterus, prostate, and every mucus bearing cell including gut and its biome!  Iodine is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral, a heavy metal chelator and immune booster .  We rely on iodine for a healthy thyroid gland, iodine assists our body to create thyroxine (T4 hormone) and triiodothyronine (T3), two of the main hormones produced by the thyroid that control numerous important body functions.   

WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED DAILY DOSAGE OF IODINE

most websites state 150mcg - 450mcg iodine daily

Birth to 6 months 100mcg

7-12 months 130mcg

1-8 years 90mcg

9-13 years 150mcg

14 years and older 150mcg

Pregnany women 220mcg

breastfeeding women 290mcg

IODINE DEFICIENCY

Unfortunately, many adults are iodine deficient and don’t consume enough iodine-rich foods and, thus, suffer from a deficiency, some sources say around 50 percent or more of the adult population in Western developed nations are iodine-deficient.  That’s why eating iodine-rich foods is so vital.

IODINE & IODIDE

Iodine present in foods is natural, an essential mineral that enters the body through iodine-rich foods, It’s found naturally in mineral-rich soils and also ocean water, including certain salts, eggs, sea vegetables, fish, beans and other foods.  iodized salt contains several chemical forms of iodine, including sodium and potassium salts.

inorganic iodine is called iodate or iodide which usually occurs as a salt and is called iodide when it does (not iodine).

fish and seafood is rich in iodine

SYMPTOMS OF AN IODINE DEFICIENT DIET  Thyroid function relies on proper levels of iodine, so too much (or too little) can cause many serious health problems, too little can cause:

• Trouble producing saliva and properly digesting food

• Swollen salivary glands and dry mouth

• Skin problems including dry skin

• Poor concentration and difficulty retaining information

• Muscle pains and weakness

• Increased risk for thyroid disease

• Increased risk for fibrosis and fibromyalgia

• A higher risk for developmental problems in babies and children

• thyroid deficiency

• cysts growths or inflammation in tissue due to iodine deficiency

• thyroid issues, inflammation, nodules when tissue swells trying to find iodine,  For Lumps - the newer the lump the better chance of helping reduce or removing it, if the lump is old it may be calcified and be hard to remove

• womb issues,  fibroids

• swollen lymph glands

• swollen breasts

THE BODY STORES IODINE

A healthy adult usually has about 15–20 milligrams of iodine present within her body at one time — 70 percent to 80 percent of which is stored in the thyroid.

IODINE RICH FOODS

The ocean is considered the prime provider of iodine‐rich foods, such as seaweeds: kelp, kombu, nori, arame & wakame, these are also available as a tincture in alcohol, kelp supplements, tincture or capsules are available at indigo herbs don’t forget to use my code CARAINDIGO for 10% off

include in your diet, the following iodine rich foods, if you can choose natural organic food sources  (m not a fan of iodised salt) natural will assimilate better than synthetic substitutes:

• dried seaweed kelp: 1 whole sheet dried: 19 to 2,984 micrograms (amounts vary widely — anywhere from 11 percent to 1,989 percent)

• dried nori seaweed 16–43 micrograms per gram (up to 29 percent DV)

• dried wakame seaweed 66 micrograms per gram (44 percent DV)

• tuna: 1 can in oil/3 ounces: 17 micrograms (11 percent DV)

• cheese / mozerella raw  (unpasteurized) — 1 ounce: 12 micrograms (8 percent DV)

• organic milk 1 cup: 56 micrograms (37 percent DV)

• yogurt (organic, grass-fed and ideally raw) — 1 cup: 75 micrograms (50 percent DV)

• eggs: 1 large: 24 micrograms (16 percent DV)

• cod wild caught: 3 ounces: 99 micrograms (66 percent DV)

• lima beans 1 cup cooked: 16 micrograms (10 percent DV)

• corn organic non gmo   1/2 cup: 14 micrograms (9 percent DV)

• prunes: 5 prunes: 13 micrograms (9 percent DV)

• peas 1 cup cooked: 6 micrograms (4 percent DV)

• banana  1 medium: 3 micrograms (2 percent DV)

• Other beneficial foods:

• butter

• sardines

• scallops

• shrimp

• salmon

• turkey breast

• cranberry

• strawberries

• raisins

• navy beans

• green beans

• baked potato

• leafy greens

• onions

• sweet potatoes

• nuts & seeds

• whole grains like barley

• himalayan salt / celtic sea salt

note: iodine levels vary greatly within food depending on growing conditions, wild-caught seafood and cage-free, organic eggs may contain higher levels of nutrients than farmed fish

seaweeds are rich in iodine

AVOID GOITROGEN FOODS

Firstly AVOID: gluten, soy foods, fast food, industrial seed oils, fluoridated water, sugar, alcohol & processed meat

Foods rich in sulphur are generally goitrogenic, avoid large quantities of the following foods that can inhibit iodine uptake, Soaking or cooking reduces content, obviously use your intelligence, reduce consumption, you don’t need to omit but don’t have these at every meal:

• cruciferous veg: brocolli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage kale cauliflower, collard greens, mustard greens

• veggies: tomato, eggplant, radish spinach leeks, sweet potato, turnip, squash okra horseradish cassava mustard

• FRUIT figs grapes peaches plums strawberries pears

• TEA green black etc

• NUTS: almonds cashews peanuts pine nuts walnuts

• SEEDS: flaxseed hemp oatmeal millet pumpkin seeds

• BEANS: garbanzo beans, soy beans

• GRAINS: wheat, kamut, barley, spelt, bulgur, rye

SKIN TESTING FOR IODINE DEFICIENCY

Use a regular iodine (the brown kind) put a dot on your skin, cover with a plaster, if the mark disappears quickly you are iodine deficient.  Do this test regularly, Once the stain remains for 8 hours you can move to a 1-3 weekly maintenance dose on the skin. it is personal choice as to whether you apply regularly or occasionally (again do research)

SUPPLEMENTATION WITH LUGOLS

one of my favourite (and many other naturopaths) ways to add iodine into your diet is to supplement with lugols iodine

DOSAGE

Lugols 5% iodine

adult 2 - 6 drops (max 12 drops)

child over three 1 drop

animal 1 drop (dog / cat)

DOUBLE YOUR DOSE WHEN

• travelling

• infection or illness

• exposure to chlorine

• to boost immune system

• if stressed

HOW TO TAKE IODINE

you can use kelp supplements, tincture or capsules are available at indigo herbs don’t forget to use my code CARAINDIGO for 10% off

EATING the right iodine rich foods regularly or taking a natural tincture or supplement such as kelp which has high iodine levels is best

TOPICAL the best way to use lugols iodine is by applying the iodine solution directly to your skin, the iodine will be absorbed into the body through dermal application on thin areas of skin, you can even paint onto areas of the body, such as throat if you have a thyroid problem or nodules forming, or onto the breast area if swelling is present, you can apply to skin areas if you are suffering from fungal infections such as candida, jock itch etc, see below for further details

ORALLY you can take iodine orally both as a supplement or lugols liquid iodine, though the liquid iodine method may kill good bacteria in your gut as well as bad, most naturopaths now recommend topical application to protect the gut biome. SITUATIONS WHERE ORAL INGESTION OF IODINE IS RECOMMENDED H PYLORI: Is a situation where oral ingestion of Iodine could be indicated, and once this treatment is finished you must replace the beneficial organisms killed by using a high probiotic tablet and gut reconditioner. 

DOUCHE you can also gargle with iodine or use an iodine douche (vaginally) this is especially helpful if you are suffering from recurring conditions such as throat infections, thrush or UTI infections etc

note: always consult a doctor before taking any supplements

FLUSHING PROTOCOL you can do a 1 week  protocol in order to assist iodine to enter your cells:

• take 1 drop iodine

• 1 glass water with 1/2 tsp salt until you need to pee

TRANSDERMAL APPLICATION

Most naturopaths do not advise that ANY type of iodine be taken orally despite what anyone says on the internet. as iodine is an extremely powerful germicide and will adversely affect your beneficial microbiome in the following areas of your body:

• oral biome

• laryngeal, pharyngeal & esophageal biome

• gut bacteria & microbiome

iodine is absorbed through the skin which is a direct route to your bloodstream.

If you do a patch test and it suggests you are iodine deficient apply several sprays of  Lugols iodine directly onto the skin, rub in with a finger and allow to dry.  Vary the application sites each day between the inside of each wrist, the crook of each elbow, essentially any site where there is vascular activity close to the surface of the body as some people can experience drying of the skin

WHST IS THE BEST TIME TO TAKE IODINE?

take early in day ideally 6-9am. avoid taking after lunch time as iodine is a stimulant and may affect your sleep

CAN YOU OVERDOSE ON IODINE ?

There are many reports on the internet that say yes, i say be cautious, do your research and stick to a safe dose.

Iodine is water soluble, and your kidneys will remove excess, any unused iodine that we get from iodine-rich foods is then excreted in the urine, if you are taking an iodine supplement be careful with dosing, for some people there  may br adverse effects or contraindications to taking iodine, you may experience palpitations if an iodine dose is too high

CONTRAINDICATIONS

go cautiously if the person has

• thyroid issues

• heart issues

• any major condition ask your doctor for advice

• if you are sensitive to topical iodine application

• iodine may stain skin or clothing (you can get clear iodine)

always consult a doctor especially if you have any symptoms, it is essential you go for the appropriate tests to check iodine and thyroid function, the thyroid can also affect the gallbladder and stomach function

EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

the meaning of Iodine deficiency or toxicity:

DEFICIENCY (under) Needing to make things happen

TOXICITY (over) can’t make things happen

REMOVE STRESSORS FROM LIFE

It’s important to also clear toxins and stress from your life, as just taking a supplement won’t work purely by itself, remove or reduce:

• stress

• pollution

• environmental toxins

• filter your water

• don’t overexercise

• avoid synthetic hormones

• avoid foods that triggering inflammation and eat a natural healthy diet

remove stress from your life which affects life force, Qi and organs negatively

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cara wiseroots

CAM holistic therapist healer teacher

disclaimer

always visit a doctor / health care practitioner the information in this blog is classified as for information only and is only my story and point of view, please do your own research as you are liable for your own safety

Always check contraindications before taking any remedy or contact a professional

check contraindications before taking any herbal remedy

t&c apply