Iodine can correct thyroid function, improve metabolism, boost energy, and reduce nodules. But only when used correctly.

Let’s look at the common sources of iodine and whether they are good, bad or indifferent to our body.

Iodine Deficiency Symptoms…

Dull and brittle hair
Balding
Sallow skin tone
Low energy levels
Brain fog or mental decline
Depression and mood changes
Low thyroid function
Extra sensitive to cold temperatures – you’re the one in the room with the jumper on.
Heart rate changes – weak, erratic or skipping
Weight gain
Goiter or appearance of swelling at the throat
Fibroids
Cysts in any glands – eg ovary, pituitary, breast tissue
Nodules – thyroid
Teeth imprints on side of tongue, or fat puffy tongue.

Sources of Iodine

Kelp

Kelp is a seaweed that grows in shallow water. It is a natural source of vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D and E. Kelp is also a rich source of minerals such as zinc, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium.

Kelp has a high content of metals, especially if it grows in polluted water. Kelp supplements may contain arsenic.

While it is high in iodine because it absorbs it from the ocean, most standard supplements only contain 225 μg (micrograms) of iodine per capsule.

Correcting iodine deficiency in the body requires higher doses than this – only to be done under naturopathic care – therefore kelp is not a suitable supplement for this purpose, plus quality control is a concern.

Iodised Table Salt

The iodisation of salt was hailed as the first public health miracle. However, iodised salt is inadequate for supplying the body’s need for iodine, particularly in our toxic environment. Even though refined salt can prevent goiter in the vast majority of people, the minuscule amount of iodine found in it falls far short of the amount necessary for promoting optimal thyroid function. Furthermore, refined salt fails to provide enough iodine for the rest of the body’s needs.

Iodised salt contains 77 μg (micrograms) of iodine per gram of salt. This is a tiny amount. Plus research shows that just 10% of this iodine will actually be absorbed!

Statistically less than half of U.S. households use salt. As a result, iodine levels have fallen by more than 50% over the last 40 years as reported by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from the Centers for Disease Control.

It is no shock that this coincides with the raising obesity epidemic.

Seafood

Seafood and sea vegetables are the best dietary source of iodine available to us. The healthiest population in the world is the traditional Japanese diet, which is very rich in seaweeds and seafoods. In fact, the average Japanese diet contains 90 times more elemental iodine than the Aussie one!

Changing your diet to include more seafood is a great move for many reasons, but may not be enough to budge an iodine deficiency.

Why?

The amount of iodine needed to detox the body of competitive halides and replenish the bodies stores of iodine is very high – between 6,000 – 50,000 μg (micrograms) a day. It is impossible to meet these needs with diet alone. I’m talking buckets of seafood here! Not only is eating that amount of seafood physically improbable, it is also possibly dangerous due to the levels of mercury and other pollution in our seafood these days.

Plus seafood is expensive, so there’s that factor as well.

The solution

The solution is simple. When you work with the Lucy Rose Clinic, you can access the right dose of iodine for your needs with a script for high dose iodine.

We use a specialist compounding pharmacy to make our patients nutrient formulas, which combines not only the right dose of iodine, but includes all the other co-factors required for absorption and thyroid hormone correction.

The iodine used in the compounding formulas is created by mixing potassium hydroxide with iodine, resulting the most bioavailable form of iodine – potassium iodide. It is not made from seafood or kelp, so people with allergies to iodine or seafood can safely take it.

So how do you get onto this amazing corrective formula? You book your first call!

Iodine TEST

Getting iodine levels sufficient in the body is not as simple as taking an iodine supplement. We need to understand their level of iodine in the body, and see if there is blocking elements that will affect treatment, such as bromide.

If you have an iodine deficiency, then you will also have other hormone imbalances as a result, and these will require some special testing and TLC to improve function.

This is why we run thorough pathology, screen nutrients, hormones and energy factors. Thyroid problems need thorough investigations so that the driving factors can be addressed at the same time as iodine correction – getting patients better, FASTER!

Detoxification needs to be individualised – especially for thyroid patients.

Systemic inflammation, vitamin D deficiency, B vitamin deficiency, vitamin C deficiency and low levels of essential minerals in the body can all block an iodine supplement being absorbed properly. These must be addressed at the start.

Bad Halides

Competitive Halides block iodine absorption, so we need to help your body detoxify these safely.

These are:

Bromide
Fluoride
Thiocyanates -eg Saxa salt, mercury (from filings)
Goitrogenic substances – plants from the brassica family, soy – particularly when consumed raw.

Luckily, these toxins can be successfully detoxified with the right treatment.