Is Iodine the Next Vitamin D?

The latest trends in healthcare today indicate that many of us are at high risk for iodine deficiency. In fact, iodine deficiency has been on the rise since the 1970s, when many Americans started cutting back on their salt intake and increasing their consumption of fast and/or processed foods that lacked iodine supplements. Up until that point, iodized salt had been the main source of iodine in our diets. To further complicate the matter, widespread dispersal of perchlorates, nitrates and thocyannates in the environment blocks the absorption of the little iodine we do get. Worse yet is the problem for those of us who live in the "goiter belt," or Midwestern and plains states, where the content of iodine in the soil where we grow our food and the water we drink is naturally low. At present it is estimated that at many as 40 percent of the people living in this area suffer from iodine deficiency. The most recent national nutrition survey found that more than one in 10 Americans are iodine deficient, with women being twice as likely as men to be affected. Indeed, it is estimated that 23 percent of women in their forties are iodine deficient. These statistics are alarming and clearly indicate that all Americans, not just those living in the "goiter belt," are at an ever-increasing risk for the health-related consequences of iodine deficiency.
Consequences of Iodine Deficiency
Iodine is necessary for healthy functioning of your thyroid. An important part of your endocrine system, the thyroid releases vital hormones that help to regulate your body's metabolic processes. Thyroid hormones not only help your body make energy, but keep body temperatures regulated and also influence essentially every organ, tissue and cell in your body. Put simply, if your thyroid doesn't work properly, neither do you. Iodine has also been credited as playing an important protective role against fibrocystic breast disease and breast cancer. In addition, iodine deficiency has been linked other forms of cancer, obesity, heart disease, fibromyalgia, ADHD and other mental health-related disorders. Possible links to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as well as multiple sclerosis, have also been noted.
Symptoms
An enlargement of the thyroid gland, or a goiter, is usually the earliest symptom of iodine deficiency. Iodine deficiency may eventually lead to thyroid dysfunction, which can cause a variety of symptoms, from fatigue and sleep disturbance to weight management problems (weight gain and difficulty losing weight or unexplained weight loss), moodiness, irritability, depression and cognitive impairment.
How Much Iodine do I Need?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends 150 micrograms (mcg) of iodine daily (RDI). This level may be sufficient to prevent a goiter, but has been proven woefully inadequate in supporting optimal health in adults. At larger doses (greater than 750 mcg), iodine supplements have been shown to reduce risk factors for a variety of dysfunctions and diseases. Currently, several studies suggest that 3 to 6 mg/day is necessary to support not only adequate thyroid hormone production and optimal brain functioning, but also to prevent cancer, obesity, heart disease, autoimmune dysfunction and chronic pain.
Iodine Sources
Iodized sea salt, kelp, sea vegetables and seaweed are all good sources of iodine. Ocean fish, including cod, haddock, sole and ocean perch, are also good. If you love sushi, it can be a good way to increase your dietary sources of iodine thanks to the combination of seaweed and fish. You can also buy kelp and seaweed supplements from you local health food store.
Warning
There are a few foods that are known to block the uptake of iodine into the thyroid glad when eaten raw or in large amounts. These include cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, peaches, pears, spinach and turnips. If you have an underactive thyroid, you should limit your consumption of these foods. If you have an autoimmune disorder that may be causing thyroid dysfunction, consult with your physician before increasing your intake of iodine, as it may be contraindicated.