Iodine deficiency causes a lot of problems for individuals who have issues with their thyroid. If you are feeling tired, fatigued, overweight, and moody, then you could have an iodine deficiency.
There are a lot of thyroid functions that can be exacerbated by those who don't have any iodine in their systems. Studies show that this deficiency affects 95% of patients who also have thyroid problems.
A DNA Health Testing Kit can help you take the guesswork out of your needs by providing scientific tailored custom health plans.
So how can you know if you have an iodine deficiency?
You may want to see if you have symptoms of this deficiency as well:
- Dull and brittle hair
- Balding
- Gray or dulling skin tone
- Low energy levels
- Poor concentration
- Depression
- Low thyroid functions
- Inability to deal with cold temperatures
- Weak heartbeat
- Weight gain
Also Read: Learn About the Impact of Turmeric on Weight Loss
[box type="bio"] BONUS: Download our free guide to understanding nutrigenomics![/box]
Typically iodine deficiency can lead to low concentration and hypersensitivity to cold, characterized by cold feet and hands.
It can also affect your metabolism. One of the major causes for this is because organic vegetables have become more popular, while still not getting enough iodine from the soil.
Table salt can help to balance out the levels of iodine in the bloodstream, but now with lowered salt intake, there have been increasing cases of iodine deficiency.
How Does Iodine Impact Weight Loss?
Shortage of iodine can cause changes with the thyroid gland that leads to poor metabolism and other problems with your weight.
It also causes free radical damage in the thyroid gland, which increases the risk of permanent damage to the thyroid gland.
Iodine actually blocks many compounds from binding to your thyroid gland, including perchlorate, goitrogens, and fluoride.
In fact, studies have shown Iodine deficiency activates antioxidant genes and causes damage in the thyroid gland of rats and mice.
Iodine can be found in high concentrations in the breast tissue and ovaries, acting as a buffer for estrogen and your metabolism.
In this way, it can affect your hormone receptors throughout the body if you don't have enough iodine. It can even prevent your hormones from communicating correctly with other hormones.
Kelp is one of the best ways to increase your iodine intake, especially if you have to have thyroid issues and experiencing rapid weight gain.
You can take iodine supplements as well to help with weight loss over a period of a few weeks.
Potassium iodide is the natural form of iodine found in kelp, which is becoming increasingly important in shedding pounds and staying lean.
Using an iodine supplement, you can stimulate thyroid hormones and boost immune system function because of its anti-bacterial effects on the human body.
With a properly working thyroid, many people experience weight loss naturally just by increasing their iodine intake.
Your body needs iodine to help maintain normal organ functions.
You can find iodine in table salt, as well as eggs, but many are finding that with deficiencies you also have to take supplements to get the amount of iodine in your system that you need.
Iodine drops are the common choice of doctors who want to help with thyroid disorders and also help weight loss.
Also Read: Learn How Theanine Can Be Useful for Your Anxiety
Can people lose weight with iodine if they don't have a thyroid problem or deficiency?
It is generally not recommended to take iodine if you do not need to increase your levels.
Many fad diets and fasts claim that iodine drops can help you increase weight loss, but it could also lead to more fatigue and more problems with your thyroid.
There are some side effects with taking iodine that you should be aware of as well.
Iodine is most likely safe to take by anyone. Common side effects include nausea and stomach pain, as well as cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose.
If you are sensitive to iodine, then you could have more reactions including swelling of the mouth and face, as well as severe bleeding and bruising, including hives.
Iodine is not recommended in large doses. Adults should also not take iodine over a prolonged period of time. Doses higher than 1100 UL without proper medical diagnosis could pose serious health risks. Children also should not intake more than 200 mcg per day if between the ages of 1 and 3.
There is an increase in thyroid problems if you increase intake beyond what you are prescribed by a doctor.
This could lead to more issues with weight gain. It's important that patients consult with a doctor before starting an iodine regimen.
There are also some cases where using iodine with medications for an overactive thyroid can decrease thyroid functions too much.
You should consult with your doctor if you decide to start taking any type of iodine supplement.
Also Read: 5 Reasons Why You Should Add Cumin To Your Weight Loss
What are the Benefits of Iodine for Weight Loss?
Did you know that iodine is essential for your metabolism to work right? Many people think that they can't lose weight because they aren't exercising enough or eating the right things. The truth is that you could be doing everything right, but there's something in your body's chemistry that is holding you back.
One of those causes has been linked to hypothyroidism and iodine deficiency. In a thyroid gland that is working properly, the tiny pumps are known as sodium iodide symporters (NIS) help iodine work with the thyroid to create the necessary hormones. However, if your thyroid is not able to produce these hormones correctly, it could lead to a severe imbalance of energy and metabolic rate.
While getting enough iodine into your diet is important, many people do not realize that they are suffering from a lack of iodine. They may feel moody and depressed, sluggish and overweight, but they may not consider that these are symptoms of an under-active thyroid gland.
For women, iodine is essential for hormone production and fertility. With poor iodine consumption, a female's body may not produce the right hormones which could lead to unstable mood swings and infertility. Did you know that the female breast also has NIS pumps so that it can deliver iodine to nursing babies?
Without iodine, many mothers have babies that are stunted in growth. In countries where iodine is not included in table salt, babies may not be as strong or have the best immune systems either. That's why so many drinks and products are including iodine, but can you have too much?
There is such a thing as too much iodine. It's important that if you are taking more than 500 mcg a day that you have been talking to a professional doctor and aren't taking any other prescriptions for your thyroid unless it's a dude because of an iodine deficiency.
If you are looking to lose weight by taking iodine drops alone, you may be able to substitute that with a healthy diet of kale, seaweed, eggs, dairy, and table salt.
Losing weight when you have a thyroid problem can be difficult. Many people who have suffered issues with their thyroid will instantly start to gain weight. Thyroid problems can cause weight gain, chills, brain fog, and hair loss. Taking iodine is an easy way to increase these functions and produce more hormones that will trigger your body to metabolize faster.
Unexplained changes in weight is the most common sign of a thyroid disorder. Weight gain is commonly caused by low hormone levels through hypothyroidism. However, if you have hyperthyroidism, you may experience rapid weight loss that is also dangerous. Iodine is key to keeping your thyroid active and healthy, but your doctor may prescribe a medicinal treatment that is stronger than iodine drops.
Iodine is a mineral that people need in their diets to ensure that the thyroid works properly. It plays a wide range of important roles in the human body, but most importantly it affects the immune response and development of your metabolism. For one, iodine helps change thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) into triiodothyronine (TD) and thyroxine (T4). This helps the thyroid to achieve its natural function and work properly.
Too much iodine or too little iodine can cause problems with those who are sensitive to hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Some of the best sources to get iodine naturally include iodized salt and seaweed. While iodine deficiency is not seen very often in western culture, additional iodine should only be taken when you have talked to a doctor first.
The recommended intake for iodine to achieve all of its natural health benefits include 150 micrograms (mcg) for male and female patients. When pregnant, women may need to take in more iodine at a recommended dosage of 220 mcg. Iodine mostly comes from the crops where plants are grown, so there will be more iodine present in meat and produce that is grown within iodine-rich soils.
Some studies have shown that these are the common benefits to using iodine in addition to losing weight:
Regulates Metabolic Rate
This helps with weight loss as well. Once your body's metabolism is triggered, you begin to burn calories. Iodine directly affects the functions of the thyroid glands, so if you are not losing weight although you are working out and have been gaining weight easily, then you may have an issue where your thyroid does not trigger your metabolism correctly.
Helps with Energy
Iodine can also increase your energy levels, making it easier for you to get into the gym and start a cardio routine. If you are often feeling worn down or tired, you may not be getting the optimal energy levels needed from your body due to an iodine deficiency.
Skin and Hair Care
While it's not directly related to weight loss, iodine drops can help if you have problems with your skin drying out and your hair becoming brittle. Most people recognize that these problems can be fixed with changes to the diet, but they don't realize that iodine could be the major cause of these issues in the first place. To get back shiny, luminescent skin, patients had to take iodine treatments to help balance out their levels.
Prevents Stillbirths
You often see pregnant mothers increasing their iodine intake to help with their pregnancy and keep down the risk of stillbirths. Without iodine present in the body, pregnancy women can experience gestational hypertension which results in a stillbirth. To ensure proper growth of the baby and movement, iodine may be recommended by a doctor.
Boosts Immune System
Are you constantly feeling stuffed up or have a runny nose? you could also have problems with iodine deficiency or thyroid issues. It's important that you boost your immune system using iodine drops if this is the case. It can help with the defense against free radicals as well as cancer. Studies have also shown that it protects brain cells of rats from harmful effects of free radicals.
Removes Toxic Chemicals
There are some toxic chemicals that can get into your bloodstream and cause issues for your thyroid. These include lead, mercury, fluoride, and some biological toxins. With iodine in your body, you can prevent these chemicals from affecting your blood cells.
Using iodine has been a key way that many illnesses are treated, but it's the number one way that people naturally treat hypothyroidism. If you are gaining pound after pound, you could simply have a problem with an under-active thyroid that is not producing the right hormones for your body. Furthermore, it could be causing an increasing problem for your energy levels and mood. If you are constantly feeling down and tired, then it's likely you have a thyroid issue that could be improved by iodine drops.
What can you add into your diet to help with your iodine intake?
Most people can naturally intake iodine through table salt and eggs. This simple combination would give you more than enough iodine for a day, but there are different requirements for each individual. For kids and teenagers, you don't want to have so much iodized salt going into their diets unless they are a deficiency in iodine.
Seaweed and dairy products also help to avoid deficiencies in iodine. By increasing your iodine, you also prevent your thyroid from steering off course.
