Is Your Thyroid Deficient Iodine?

If you live in UK, and even more if you notice some of the listed below symptoms, the chances that you are deficient in Iodine are very high as most people living here do not do not ingest sufficient amounts of this vital mineral with food due to the soil depletion and other factors. If you are deficient in Iodine, you cannot make enough thyroid hormones. Thus, iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism, fatigue, difficulty losing weight, cold intolerance, dry skin, muscle & joint pain, constipation, depression, mental impairment, forgetfulness, menstrual disturbances, impaired fertility, inability to concentrate, enlargement of the thyroid, and mental retardation in children whose mothers were iodine deficient during pregnancy.

Iodine is an essential trace element that is necessary to the production of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine responsible for proper metabolism (body weight), regulating heartbeat, controlling body temperature, menstrual cycles, cholesterol levels, muscle strength, and much more.

Scientific research indicates that 70% of UK girls age 14-15 are iodine deficient suggesting that this problem might be linked to IQ declines. In 2013 Lancet announced that two thirds of pregnant women in the UK are also iodine deficient. As far as daily intake of iodine is concerned we are far behind Japanese whose average daily intake of iodine is 100 times higher than in the UK due to their diet which is rich in sea weeds.

Energy & metabolism booster

Iodine plays an important role in maintaining optimal energy levels of the body by ensuring the efficient utilization of calories, preventing them from being deposited as excess fats. A research by Howell which involved British athletes found that the addition of iodine to their diet significantly boosted their energy and endurance levels and also improved competitive performance.

Removes Toxins & promotes healthy hair, skin, nails, & teeth

Iodine can help flush out various toxins from the including fluoride, lead and mercury. Iodine is an important element for hair care, and lack of this mineral can result in hair loss. Moreover, it may also speeds up hair growth and increase follicle strength. The health benefits of iodine include also the formation of healthy, strong and shiny skin, nails and teeth.

Improves cognitive function, reduces oxidative damage & strengthens immune system

Iodine promotes the healthy functioning of the nervous system and cognitive functions of the brain, including focus and memory. Iodine is also regarded as a major booster of the immune system as being an antioxidant it prevents immune system cells from being weakened by free radicals.

Prevents Hypothyroidism and birth defects

Iodine prevents hypothyroidism a condition is characterized by an under-active thyroid gland. One of the most common results of hypothyroidism is gaining weight because the body can’t efficiently burn off the calories to turn them into energy. A sufficient quantity of iodine in pregnant women is essential to prevent stillbirths or neurocognitive conditions in the new-born babies. Studies show that pregnant or nursing women lose half of their entire daily dose of iodine, which leads to a serious deficiency.

The best natural source of Iodine is Kelp

 

Written by Slawomir (“Swavak”) Gromadzki, MPH