Are You Getting Enough Iodine
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My mother told me the swelling was called a goiter. Now I know that it is a swelling of the thyroid gland caused by a deficiency of iodine in the diet. Once fortified salt began to be used in the wealthier nations of the world, the condition pretty much disappeared.
Unfortunately, 30% of the world’s population still consumes a diet deficient in this element. This typically occurs in remote inland areas and semi-arid equatorial climates where no seafood or sea vegetables are eaten.
Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include extreme fatigue, mental slowing or retardation, depression, and weight gain. A deficiency in this element is felt to be the leading cause of preventable mental retardation.
The standard medical establishment position is that in today’s modern society people get adequate amounts of the element through diet. The Linus Pauling Institute’s viewpoint is: “There is presently no evidence that iodine intakes higher than the RDA are beneficial.” (The RDA for adults is 150 mcg/day.)
What are the Food Sources?
| Food | Serving | Iodine (mcg) |
|---|---|---|
| Salt (iodized) | 1 gram | 77 |
| Cod | 3 ounces | 99 |
| Shrimp | 3 ounces | 35 |
| Fish sticks | 2 fish sticks | 35 |
| Tuna, canned in oil | 3 ounces (1/2 can) | 17 |
| Milk (cow's) | 1 cup (8 fluid ounces) | 56 |
| Egg, boiled | 1 large | 12 |
| Navy beans, cooked | 1/2 cup | 32 |
| Potato with peel, baked | 1 medium | 60 |
| Turkey breast, baked | 3 ounces | 34 |
| Seaweed* | 1/4 ounce, dried | Variable; may be greater than 4,500 mcg |
*Some seaweed species contain relatively high amounts (kelp and kombu) but others have very little (wakame and nori). Michael Donaldson, PhD, writes, “Contamination with heavy metals can be a serious problem with sea vegetation. Recently, 8 of 9 herbal kelp supplements from a health food store were found to have excessive levels of arsenic in them.”
As you can see, there aren’t many foods high in the element for a vegetarian, especially a vegan. Do we all eat potatoes, navy beans and seaweed every day?
Evidence that Supplementation Might Be a Good Idea
Dr. Miller writes (you can read his paper here ) that iodized table salt is the chief source of the element in a Western diet. However, 45% of households don’t buy fortified salt, and the population has decreased its use of iodized salt by 65% over the past 30 years.
Here’s something to think about: 15% of adult female Americans suffer from moderate to severe deficiency, and today approximately 15% will develop breast cancer during their lifetimes. Women in Japan get lots more of it in their diets and have a low breast cancer incidence. Breast tissue has a high concentration of iodine. It makes you wonder.
Additional Benefits:
- Induces apoptosis, or programmed cell death (destroys cells like cancer cells and cells infected with viruses). Dr. Miller says, “Its anti-cancer function may well prove to be iodine’s most important extrathyroidal benefit.”
- Functions as an antioxidant in the body.
- Removes toxic metals from the body, such as mercury, aluminum, lead, bromide, fluoride.
- Suppresses autoimmunity.
- Strengthens the T-cell adaptive immune system.
- Removes biological toxins.
- People who take iodine in larger amounts than the RDA report a greater sense of well-being, increased energy and a lifting of brain fog.
Practitioners of the medical establishment are suspicious of most nonpharmaceutical, naturally occurring, nonpatentable substances. However, you might want to discuss this with your open-minded health professional. There are some safe supplements that just might supply your body with the form best suited for each part of your body.Return to Nutrition Facts from this Iodine for Your Health page.
