If you experience unexplained weight gain, fatigue, pale skin, bloating or poor health of the skin, hair and nails, you may be suffering from hypothyroidism, a condition where your thyroid gland does not work properly. Proper levels --- neither too low nor too high --- of thyroid hormones is necessary for health. Though iodine is needed to produce thyroid hormones, eating seaweed and other sources very high in iodine is not a reliable substitute for prescription medication, including synthetic thyroid hormones such as Armour Thyroid.
Iodine
Iodine is a trace mineral important for your health. Adults require 150 mcg of iodine per day. The primary use of iodine is by your thyroid gland, a gland in your neck that stores iodine to use in the production of thyroid hormones.
According to the Linus Pauling Institute, iodine deficiency in the modern diet is rare, due primarily to the addition of iodine to table salt. The recommended daily limit of table salt, approximately 2,300 mg or a tsp, provides the recommended 150 mcg of iodine. Many other foods also contain iodine, including meats, dairy, fruits and vegetables. However, levels in produce can vary widely depending on soil conditions where they were grown.
Thyroid Conditions
Armour Thyroid is a synthetic hormone given to treat hypothyroidism, a medical condition where your thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Thyroid hormones are responsible for regulating the use of energy in your body, in particular the use of energy stores such as fat in adipose tissue.
Though hypothyroidism can arise from insufficient iodine intake or absorption, taking iodine in excess is not a reliable treatment for hypothyroidism. When you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, your doctor will give you specific recommendations for iodine intake.
Seaweed
According to the Linus Pauling Institute, the highest recorded iodine intakes have been found in northern Japan, where seaweed makes up a substantial part of the diet. These people were found to ingest 50,000 to 80,000 mcg of iodine per day. One quarter oz. of dried seaweed provides in excess of 4,500 mcg of iodine.
Safety
Though healthy people can easily eliminate excess iodine, it can be problematic to those with health problems. Thyroid disease, including hypothyroidism, raises the risk of adverse effects from excess iodine intake, especially when taking synthetic thyroid hormone, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Heart and kidney disease can further raise the risk. High iodine intake can cause iodine-induced hyperthyroidism, a dangerous condition where levels of thyroid hormones in your blood are too high.
