Iodine and Thyroid Function

Iodine is an essential nutrient which is important for hormone production from the thyroid gland. These hormones produced in the thyroid are crucial for growth and development, metabolism and the regulation of fat burning for fuel in the body.

A very tiny amount is needed for proper thyroid function but a deficiency can cause problems throughout the body. This deficiency can cause decreased thyroid function, weight gain, and slower metabolism.

Cold hands and feet, brittle hair and nails, depression or anxiety, lethargy, poor memory, weight gain or menstrual irregularities are some symptoms associated with too little iodine in the body. Iodine deficiencies have also been linked to brain damage, thyroid disease, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and birth defects.

Over the past few decades, iodine levels of patients tested in the US has declined by as much as fifty percent. Iodine deficiencies can result from a lack of fish and seafood in the diet, consuming processed foods, or even exposure to environmental toxins. To ensure you’re getting enough iodine from your diet, be sure to consume foods that naturally contain iodine such as sea vegetables, seafood, eggs, onions, and radishes. Since food no longer contains the levels of iodine that it used to because of degradation in soil quality, another option is to supplement your diet with a high-quality multi-vitamin that contains iodine.

To learn whether or not these symptoms could be the result of an iodine deficiency, book an appointment with MyVita Wellness Institute to set up vitamin and nutrient test and to determine an appropriate dose of iodine for your individual needs.