 |
| © Natural Society |
The Significance of Iodine and 7 Foods Rich in Iodine
Feb 28, 2013 | Natural Society | Paul Fassa
Do you know how important iodine is for your overall wellbeing? The
common nutritional deficiency behind most hypothyroidism and sluggish
thyroid activity is
insufficient iodine. Further, you are very
susceptible to radiation damage without sufficient protection from
iodine. These are just a few of the reasons it is essential to maintain
optimal iodine levels by supplementing or consuming foods rich in
iodine.
The low levels of this mineral in the American diet led to
adding iodine in table salt, but even this addition is no longer
providing much benefit. One study from the University of Texas found
that about
47% of the top manufacturers of sale are skimping out with
their inclusion of iodine – so much so that they fail to meet the FDA’s
“recommended” levels. But interestingly, the inclusion of iodine in salt
has changed since it first began in the 1920′s, with today’s standard
“iodized salt” being nothing less than manufactured and toxic.
But the bottom line remains: we are still taking in less iodine than before.
Iodine’s RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) is 150 mcg (micrograms)
per day. Dr. Guy Abraham, who mentored Dr. David Brownstein, author of
Iodine: Why You Need It; Why You Can’t Live Without It, recommends
matching the Japanese intake of iodine of 12.5 mg (milligrams) per day,
100 times greater than the FDA’s RDA. Japan has the lowest rates of
thyroid, prostate, and breast cancer.
But even the FDA recommends
165 mg of iodine to prevent thyroid cancer in the event of a radiation
emergency, and iodine has been used medicinally with even higher doses
in the past.
Use non-toxic unprocessed sea salts and supplement
with an iodine supplement. You could try Nascent iodine, Lugol’s
solution, or browse around to come to your own conclusion about this
controversial answer.
Hypothyroidism and Iodine Deficiency
A
condition that could lead to impossible weight loss or leave you
feeling sluggish, extremely tired or depressed hypothyroidism is a
rising epidemic some blame on no longer iodizing table salt. This is why
iodine supplementation and consuming foods rich in iodine are often
recommended as treatment for hypothyroidism. (Here are 6 other
hypothyroidism natural treatments).
It’s
estimated that at least five percent of the population suffers from
hypothyroidism, which is the low end of a sluggish thyroid that much
more than five percent of the population experience.
Hormones from
the thyroid gland, located in the throat, regulate other glandular
functions that ultimately regulate digestion, metabolism rates, and many
other hormonal functions. Too much thyroid hormone production results
in hyperthyroidism, which is very rare. It results in anxiety and
insomnia among other symptoms.
7 Foods Rich in Iodine
- Shell fish contain high amounts of iodine. But due to ocean contamination, shellfish sources need to be scrutinized closely before purchasing and consuming. Even farmed shrimp are often toxic.
- Seaweed,
such as Kelp is another food rich in iodine. Kelp can be taken as
supplement tablets if you don’t enjoy the taste of seaweed, or brown
seaweed is another source. Again, beware of the geographical sources.
- Coconut oil contains
iodine combined with other nutrients to boost thyroid activity. It
should optimally be organic, virgin cold pressed. It can be used for
cooking, baking, in smoothies, or simply taken as a supplement by the
spoonful. This just adds to the many health benefits of coconut oil.
- Himalayan Crystal Salt is an excellent source of naturally-occurring iodine. One gram of Himalayan salt contains about 500 micrograms of iodine. Beware, health food stores that sell products labeled sea salt may be pushing some toxic, processed salt.
- Other helpful foods include organic butter, especially ghee, egg yolks, and cod liver oil. Yes, fats are good for thyroid health.
- Avoid non-fermented soy products - They
can be harmful to thyroid health and more. Fermented non-GMO organic
soy sauce is okay. Actually, all fermented foods have both thyroid and
probiotic benefits. So enjoy them often.
- Avoid bromides that
are used by most commercial bakeries for bread and pastries. Bromine
displaces iodine in the thyroid gland. Find a source that doesn’t use
bromine (bromides) in its baking process. Whole Foods bakery is one source, but their breads and baked items from the store shelf may contain bromides.
Whether supplementing or consuming foods rich in iodine, it’s important to solve an iodine deficiency if you have one.
No comments:
Post a Comment