May 223 min read

Iodine, A depleted critical nutrient in todays modern world.

Here’s a hot topic for this edition of the Uniquely One Newsletter.

Iodine!

What is iodine? Iodine is a trace element that is naturally present in some foods, is added to some types of salt, and is available as a dietary supplement. Iodine is a key mineral that supports not only thyroid health, but ovarian health, breast health, fetal brain development, and so much more! It is estimated that more then half of Americans do not consume enough iodine, despite salt iodization. This is an epidemic of mineral deficiencies. Lets talk about how iodine works to support our bodies. What daily dose is currently being recommended. What foods can we eat to support our iodine levels.

Iodine is critical for so many functions of the body. Research Is proving just how therapeutically low on iodine so many of us truly are in our modern world. Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The brain of the endocrine system. A gland that must be regulated properly in order to get pregnant and maintain a have a healthy pregnancy. Iodine has many other physiological functions in the body as well. For example, it appears to play a role in immune response as well as having a beneficial effect on mammary dysplasia and fibrocystic breast disease. Research is now showing that iodine deficiencies can have an impact on diseases of the breast, thyroid, prostate, uterus, ovaries, pancreas and other organs.

How much iodine does one need daily?

There is some debate around this depending on what part of the world you’re in but for a good starting point, the recommended RDA for Woman is 150mcg/day of iodine. This is according to agencies such as; the American Thyroid Association, European Thyroid Association, Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and several others. Iodine needs are greatly increased in woman who are pregnant and or breastfeeding. More then half Americans do not get enough iodine. Make sure to check your supplements to see what you may be getting. (If you need a good medical grade multivitamin that includes iodine and other supplements in general respond to this newsletter with a YES And I will send you a link for 15% off supplements). As with all nutrients, iodine has synergistic effects with other vitamins and minerals. These include (but are not limited to), selenium, iron, zinc, vitamins A, C, D, and E, as well as B vitamins. It’s important that iodine supplementation (particularly at higher doses) be implemented alongside sufficient intake of these nutrients.

So how can I obtain the daily requirement of iodine my body needs? Eating iodine infused foods. Seafood, eggs and dairy products are the most concentrated. Many people are seem aware of seafood. I don’t know where you live but in Colorado we’re land locked and don’t always have access to seafood. Plus, seafood has been known now to have heavy metals which are a toxic to the body. So while I don’t discriminate against eating seafood as the good outweighs the bad with nutrients such as DHA. We do need to discriminate against what kind of seafood we’re eating. Lets focus more on SMASH- this stands for salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines and herring. These have been proven by and large to have much less heavy metal toxicity for our bodies and continue to provide Iodine and that good DHA among other nutrients. Large seafood like tuna have much more heavy metal toxicity for our bodies. Also, some other great iodine foods to nourish our bodies include; seaweed, asparagus, beets, cranberries, and of course, iodized salt. One other side note here is to be aware of halogens which can block the uptake of iodine in our bodies. This includes things like fluorine, chlorine, and bromine. Often times this is found in public drinking water, swimming pools, chemically laden furniture, etc.

Lets summarize some of the main points.

Iodine is a critical trace mineral.
More than half of Americans do not consume enough iodine, despite salt iodization.
Iodine supports ovarian health
Iodine needs increase in pregnancy and breastfeeding
Iodine is essential for thyroid function
The iodine RDA for non-pregnant women is 150 mcg/day. The iodine RDA for pregnant women is 220 mcg/day, yet the WHO recommends ≥ 250 mcg/day. Recommended amounts of iodine vary country to country.
The best food sources of iodine are seaweed, seafood, eggs, and dairy.
Iodine has synergistic effects with other vitamins and minerals. Eating nutrient-dense foods will help increase iodine intakes and its effects with other nutrients.