Iodine supplementation

[Hazelilly]

Hi! This is my first post on here. I recently noticed that my thyroid was enlarged. A ultrasound confirmed it. All my labs were normal, so it will probably just be watched and maybe tested further. All of that brought me down the path to learning about iodine. In hindsight I think I was very very depleted. I have been using sea salt (no iodine), not eating any processed foods, I was eating cruciferous veggies for almost 3 meals a day (which block iodine absorbtion) and I have 2 children and am still breastfeeding. So, I just want to put out there the importance of iodine. It assists so many hormonal functions. Supports thyroid health, breast and ovary health, cancer prevention and much more.

I am only on a low dose now because of breastfeeding, but I will definitely be ramping it up.

Also, there are additional supplements that you want to take with it, if you do take it, so definitely do your research before supplementing.

[ladyshanny]

Before we would recommend supplementation, we would encourage people to purposely eat foods that are rich in iodine such as iodized salt, sea vegetables (kelp, wakame etc), cod, shrimp, baked potatoes, turkey breast, canned tuna, eggs, lobster etc.  Because these are all real, whole foods, the iodine in them comes tied to other nutrients which are required for bioavailability and reduces the need to take those other supplements that you mention.

 

I can't speak to your particular case as you are under a doctor's care but for the most part we recommend that people eat a whole, varied, diverse diet in order to maximize their nutrition profile.  Beyond specific circumstances that only a doctor can diagnose, most people will do better eating real food to get nutrients rather than taking a pill.

[Hazelilly]

I totally agree! I wrote this post from my phone and it didn't really come out the way I wanted it, as I look over it now. I take kelp as a supplement. The things that are needed in addition to process it are all in whole foods, like selenium in Brazil nuts. I think that with the rise in sea salt popularity, many people aren't using iodized salt anymore. Seaweeds are wonderful for getting iodine.

My intention in posting was to mention how important iodine is as part of a healthy diet.

[Abbiewhole30]

Hi! Thanks for mentioning this! I think it's important. I just came back as iodine deficient on my bloodwork and the culprit, I think, is that I was using sea salt without iodine!! Whole30 moderators- I was avoiding iodine unintentionally because I wanted the more natural salt that hadn't been stabilized with sugar. I think it might be worth considering mentioning something about the importance of iodine somewhere on the website because although I'm sure it wasn't your intention, when you guys informed me that most table salt is stabilized with sugar, I immediately wanted to avoid that type of salt (even though it is allowed on the plan.). Just a thought!

[krazy4whole30]

Hi Abbiewhole30,

Did you have any symptoms from being iodine deficient?  Did you notice you were more tired?  I too switched to sea salt a few months ago and I can't seem to get my energy back.  Just wondering if you were feeling the same.  Thanks.  

[jmcbn]

An iodine deficiency is usually linked more closely to depression & anxiety, a slowing metabolism, or the more visible 'goitre' than a lack of energy.

Cod & haddock have particularly high levels of iodine so you could look at adding those to your food rotation if you believe your iodine levels to be low. Then there is seaweed which can be added to soups, stews & broths, plus there is iodine in baked potato skin, and in eggs to some degree... If you're eating a wide variety of these foods you shouldn't really need to supplement unless you have thyroid issues.

Hope this helps.

[krazy4whole30]

Thank you jmcbn.  I don't eat a lot of cod and haddock, or seaweed.  I rarely have baked potatoes, but I will eat more eggs.  I was eating eggs so much, that I needed a break for a while.  I'm ready to eat them again.  I'd rather get my nutrition from eating food than taking a pill.