Are you iodine deficient? Iodine is an essential trace element that is needed to keep the body functioning properly. The lack of iodine can cause the thyroid gland to become irregular. The thyroid gland is located just below the larynx and it performs several important functions. T3 and T4 are two hormones that are secreted by this gland and play an important role in the process of metabolism. According to D. C. Jarvis MD, all blood passes through the thyroid gland every 17 minutes. Cells making up the gland have an affinity for iodine and during this passage, iodine kills weak germs that my have gained entry into the blood through injury, the nose lining, and food absorption. If the thyroid gland is impaired it can lead to inadequate secretion of the hormones and hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid can develop. There is a direct correlation between the amount of energy you have and your iodine intake.
Let me begin by saying that a visit to the doctor is required first before trying to figure this all out. Anything to do with the thyroid gland is tricky, so visit your doctor and get an expert opinion on what maybe going on. You should know that traditional medicine diagnoses hypothyroidism in the normal range of TSH according to Dr. Mercola is too high. He believes that if patients have a TSH level greater than 2.0, not 4.5 that there is a strong chance that your thyroid gland is not working properly. Be aware that there is such a thing as hyperthyroidism as well and that refers to an overactive thyroid.
With that being said, Dr. Jarvis, in his book Folk Medicine says that chlorine in the water can cause the body to lose much needed iodine in our bodies. A sluggish thyroid may be also due to a family history, autoimmune diseases, diet, menopause or pregnancy. Thyroid hormone is believed to be the missing ingredient in the treatment of fibromyalgia as well.
Iodine can be found in some of our food such as: iodized salt, kelp and other ocean food including cod liver oil. A deficiency can lead to many diseases, lower IQ, mental retardation, stunted growth, lower body temperature, goiter, stress gastritis and much more.
There is evidence that iodine taken orally can help painful fibrous breast tissue, soreness and swelling inside the mouth (i.e. from chemo treatments) and diabetic foot ulcers when applied directly. Iodine for skin cancer is very effective as well.
According to Mayo Clinic, Graves’ disease is an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). While a number of disorders may result in hyperthyroidism, Graves’ disease is the most common cause. Now the question is, is there a relationship between Graves’ disease and the body’s iodine production?
Dr. Sinatra who himself was diagnosed with Graves’ disease claims that natural iodine helped him. In his article, he says that many doctors assume that people with an overactive thyroid have an excessive amount of iodine. “It might make sense, as iodine is essential for the production of thyroid hormone, and so if the thyroid gland is producing an excessive amount of thyroid hormone, as is the case with Graves’ Disease, then it’s easy for someone to naturally assume that there is also an excess of iodine.” But he realized that many people with Graves’ Disease and other hyperthyroid conditions are actually deficient in iodine as he was. In this article he tells how he began an iodine loading protocol that helped him.
Dr. Sinatra talks about doing the Iodine Patch Test as a follow-up test after your physician’s analysis, rather than an initial test to determine whether you are iodine deficient. The test involves using a 3% iodine tincture (the orange color) and painting a 2 x 2 square on your forearm, and then measuring how long it takes to disappear. Ideally, Sinatra says is that this “patch” should stay on your forearm for at least 24 hours. If it disappears between 12 to 24 hours, then according to this test you’re mildly deficient in iodine. If the iodine tincture disappears in twelve hours or less, then the iodine deficiency is more severe. Apparently, it takes months to make up for the deficiency.
In an interesting note, many believe including Dr. Mercola that unfermented soy which is most of what is now sold in our grocery stores can worsen your thyroid’s ability to function properly. Unfermented soy contains isoflavones that reduce thyroid function. Dr. Kaayla Daniel’s book, The Whole Soy Story, speaks to the health consequences of soy to all kinds of diseases.
One food that has some research behind it to possibly improve thyroid function is coconut oil. Coconut oil is a medium chain triglycerides and saturated fat, which we are now learning is one of the healthiest fats you can put into your diet. According to Nigel Turner and Jiming Ye from Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research, “Coconut oil has a direct effect in suppressing inflammation and repairing tissue, and it may also contribute by inhibiting harmful intestinal microorganisms that cause chronic inflammation…including Crohn’s disease.” Coconut oil is also being used and tested for a multiple health issues.
Other sources of iodine in our diet:
| Food | Serving Size | Iodine |
| Dried Seaweed | 1/4 ounce | >4,500µg (4.5 mg) (3000% DV) |
| Cod | 3 ounces | 99µg (66% DV) |
| Iodized Salt (Fortified) | 1 gram | 77µg (51% DV) |
| Baked Potato with peel | 1 medium | 60µg (40% DV) |
| Milk | 1 cup (8 fluid ounces) | 56µg (37% DV) |
| Shrimp | 3 ounces | 35µg (23% DV) |
| Fish sticks | 2 fish sticks | 35µg (23% DV) |
| Turkey breast, baked | 3 ounces | 34µg (23% DV) |
| Navy beans, cooked | 1/2 cup | 32µg (21% DV) |
| Tuna, canned in oil | 3 ounces (1/2 can) | 17µg (11% DV) |
| Egg, boiled | 1 large | 12µg (8% DV) |
More info:
- A good source of iodine is Lugol’s.
- Also see these links: Nigella Sativa on low thyroid and my post on Nigella Sativa.
- Thyroid Facebook support group with author Mary Shomon.
- Here is information on a natural thyroid medication.
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