The human body relies on a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to help the various organs and systems function at an optimal level on a regular basis. Some of these nutrients, which are classified as “non-essential”, can be produced naturally by the body to be utilized as needed. There is also a wide range of nutrients that exist outside of the body but are still required for the support of various functions and processes that are critical to whole body health. These nutrients, known as essential nutrients, need to be introduced to the body either through dietary sources or nutraceutical products. Iodine is an essential mineral that is known to have a strong influence on various aspects of overall wellness, particularly thyroid health. Since the body requires iodine for the production of thyroid hormones, insufficient thyroid levels often lead to a wide range of symptoms and health conditions that can have massive implications for long-term whole body health.
While the typical Western diet makes it relatively easy to supply the body with iodine that has been added to salt, many people cannot eat salt due to dietary restrictions. Fortunately, the nutraceutical industry has developed a wealth of products that can bypass dietary restrictions and other potential roadblocks to deliver highly bioavailable (absorbable) iodine to the body on a consistent basis.
How Does Iodine Support Whole Body Health?
This essential mineral plays a critical role in a variety of processes and functions that the human body requires in order to function at an optimal level, most notably the production of the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These thyroid hormones then pass throughout the body to help regulate metabolism and cardiovascular function. The human body relies on proper metabolic function to maintain a healthy amount of body fat by breaking food down to be converted into energy. This direct connection to metabolic function is the largest factor in weight gain being caused by low levels of either iodine or thyroid hormones.
There has also been some research that suggests iodine is a potent antioxidant and has the ability to provide the body with critical immune support as well.
What Are the Potential Impacts of Iodine Deficiency?
Iodine’s large influence over metabolic function through its role in thyroid hormone production can also lead to a wide range of symptoms and health conditions when there is a deficiency. Some of the most common symptoms of iodine deficiency include:
- Increased body fat and unexpected weight gain
- Fatigue
- Loss of muscle strength
- Dry hair and skin
- Increased sensitivity to cold temperatures
How Can Iodine Deficiency Affect Thyroid Health?
With iodine being a required component of the production of T3 and T4, sustained low levels of this essential mineral can eventually lead to a thyroid deficiency. When levels of thyroid hormones remain low due to production issues, a condition known as hypothyroidism, the body can experience an even greater variety of symptoms and conditions that could have negative impacts to whole body health. The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism, many of which resemble the symptoms of iodine deficiency, include:
- Increased body fat and unexpected weight gain
- Fatigue
- Loss of muscle strength
- Dry skin
- Thinning hair
- Increased sensitivity to cold temperatures
- Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter)
- Muscle aches
- Slowed heart rate
- Depressed mood and increased risk of depression
- Issues with memory and other forms of reduced cognitive function
- Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
What Are the Best Sources of Iodine?
Fortunately, the use of iodized salt in Western cooking makes it difficult for people to experience iodine deficiency in this part of the world. In addition to being found in iodized salt, iodine can be found in a variety of natural food sources, including:
- Chicken
- Dairy products
- Various types of seaweed (kelp, nori, wakame and kombu)
- Shrimp, canned tuna, cod, oysters and other types of fish and shellfish
- Beef liver
Unfortunately, there are still many people in this part of the world who are susceptible to iodine deficiency. Some people, especially vegans, cannot benefit from the prevalence of iodine in natural food sources due to their own dietary restrictions. Those who are trying to address high cholesterol levels need to specifically avoid salt in their diets. Expecting mothers not only need iodine to support their own thyroid health, but they also require it for the production and development of fetal thyroid hormones as well. Sometimes, even dietary sources are not enough to produce adequate levels of iodine for pregnant mothers. When dietary restrictions and other factors make it difficult to obtain iodine through food sources, it may be necessary to intervene through the use of iodine supplements.
Support Healthy Iodine Levels with Customized Care
The nutraceutical industry has spent many years developing products that can work around dietary restrictions and other potential roadblocks to deliver essential nutrients like iodine to the body. The integrative medical specialists at EVEXIAS Health Solutions offer a wide array of professional grade nutraceutical products, such as Iodine Complete, that have been expertly designed to support healthy iodine levels with a full range of other nutrients that have been recognized for their ability to promote optimal iodine activity.
If supporting proper iodine levels cannot effectively address hypothyroidism, EVEXIAS Health Solutions provides more options for customized care that include lifestyle management guidance and hormone optimization with EvexiPEL hormone pellets. Discover the nearest practitioner today to address iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism from the root level.
