Organic Iodine?

[cre8tivgrl]

I have a friend who's doctor wouldn't diagnose her with hypothyroidism (he told her she needed anti-depressants for the rest of her life instead), but her chiropractor recommended organic iodine. She has been taking it and has felt better.

I am wondering if any of you have tried it? I am considering trying it while I am waiting for my appointment date to come.

[Nancy LC]

I think I've read that getting too much iodine can mess up your thyroid as well as getting too little. In fact, I know some thyroid patients are told to avoid eating seaweed and things that have lots of iodine.

Here's more info: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=18395

[cre8tivgrl]

Thanks for the link, Nancy. You are right...It seems like an excess or lack of iodine could be a problem either way. Perhaps my friend's iodine levels were low, so the organic iodine helped balance her out, thus making her feel better.

On a side note...I found it interesting that the article mentions that some countries have much higher iodine levels... specifially Japan. Yet when I think of the Japanese it seems like thyroid issues are not a problem for them. That might be a presumption that is incorrect, or maybe they are just not predisposed to have thyroid problems at all ?

Anyway, getting back to low carb... because iodine is added into bread, salt, vitamins, etc. it might stand to reason that some lcers, particularly the ones cutting back on sodium, processed foods and forgetting to take supplements might be lower on iodine.

Just a thought. :)

[Nancy LC]

We had issues in the US before they added it to salt and bread. It used to be a huge problem in the Mid-West many years ago. The Japanese have always eaten a lot of seafood and bits of kelp, so they naturally got plenty in their diet.

There is a type of thyroid disease that is caused by lack of iodine. It causes a goiter (swelling of the thyroid gland).

[trw1966]

The U.S. no longer uses iodine in bread. I am a low carber and my iodine levels were at the bottom of the barrel. I've been on organic iodine for almost 3 months. Haven't really noticed any difference in taking it though.
I asked the last time I was in my Dr's office if I should keep taking it and he said everybody should be taking it.

Interesting article:

http://www.dcnutrition.com/Minerals/Detail.CFM?RecordNumber=73

[Nancy LC]

Its generally added to salt. Just look for iodized salt. But yeah, if you aren't using iodized salt or eating much sea food, you might need to add some.