The major function of the thyroid gland is to produce thyroid hormones that are crucial to support overall health and wellbeing.
When the body does not get enough iodine it leads to a deficiency which is a common cause of thyroid dysfunction. The first visible sign of a deficiency is an enlarged thyroid gland, or goitre.
Nutritional supplements that supply a safe and effective amount of iodine are a convenient way to top up iodine levels in the body.
Here’s What You Need To Know About Iodine Supplements
When it comes to taking an iodine supplement to support thyroid function it’s best to err on the side of caution.
Here’s FIVE things I would like you to know:
- Only small amounts of iodine are required to help prevent a deficiency.
- Taking large milligram doses of iodine is NOT a good idea unless you are doing this under medical supervision.
- Iodine is available in nutritionals supplements most commonly in the form of potassium iodide or sodium iodide.
- It’s generally considered safe for adults to take up to 300 micrograms of iodine per day. The safe upper level of intake is set at 1,100 micrograms per day.
- You may need more iodine depending on your age, health status, and dietary intake. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need to get enough iodine for their babies to grow and develop properly.
Advice From An Iodine Expert
According to Dr. William Davis, a respected cardiologist, iodine is an essential nutrient for a variety of reasons.
“Iodine deficiency is common and increasing in prevalence, given the widespread avoidance of iodized salt. So what happens when you become iodine deficient? Among the effects:
- Weight loss is stalled or you gain weight despite your efforts.
Heart disease risk is escalated. - Total cholesterol and triglyceride values increase.
- Your risk of fibrocystic breast disease and breast cancer increases (breast tissue concentrates iodine).
- Gingivitis and poor oral health (salivary glands concentrate iodine).
Iodine is inexpensive, safe, and essential to health and weight management. If it were a drug, it would enjoy expensive marketing and a high price tag. BUT it is an essential nutrient that enjoys none of the attention-getting advantages of drugs, and therefore is unlikely to be mentioned by your doctor, yet carries great advantage for helping to maintain overall health”.
Tips To Help You Find The Best Iodine Supplement
When it comes to assessing the quality, and potential effectiveness of an iodine supplement to support your thyroid you may find it hard to choose the right one.
In order to clear some confusion I have listed my top five tips to help you find the best thyroid supplement: Top Five Tips To Help You Find The Best Thyroid Supplement {A Naturopath Explains}
You can also check out ThyroSynergy®. I specially formulated this dietary supplement to include 10 essential nutrients for thyroid health, including the recommended amount of iodine.
References
Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the New Zealand Ministry of Health (MoH). Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Iodine. Link
Chung HR. Iodine and thyroid function. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2014;19(1):8–12.
National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA. Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Iodine. Link
