Iodine is an essential mineral used by your thyroid gland to make hormones that contribute to growth and repair of damaged cells and a healthy metabolism.
However, up to a third of people have a deficiency in iodine. Some of these groups of people include vegetarians, individuals who live in countries with little iodine in the soil, pregnant women and those who don’t use iodized salt.
Why Iodine and Its Benefits
Iodine plays an important role in thyroid health - it can help with hormone health, reduce the risk of goiters, overactive thyroid glands and even with thyroid cancer.
Your thyroid helps to regulate hormone production, which controls your metabolism, heart health and much more. Your thyroid uses iodine to make thyroid hormones. Without enough iodine, hormone production can decrease, leading to hypothyroidism. Conversely, too much iodine can cause hyperthyroidism and lead to too much thyroid hormone production.
The thyroid gland uses iodine and the amino acids tyrosine and converts them into thyroid hormones - thyroxine (T3) and triiodothyronine (T4). These hormones are then released into the bloodstream where they control metabolism, which every cell in the body needs.
Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ at the base of your neck. It releases hormones that control your metabolism and the following body functions:
- Breathing
- Heart rate
- Central and peripheral nervous systems
- Body weight
- Muscle strength
- Menstrual cycles
- Body temperature
- Cholesterol levels
When you go through hyperthyroidism, you can expect weight loss, muscle weakness, sleep problems, fast heart rates, infrequent menstrual periods and high irritability. Symptoms for hypothyroidism are the opposite of hyperthyroidism, with weight gain, fatigue, dry skin, forgetfulness amongst them. Enlargement of the thyroid gland known as goitre also occurs during hypothyroidism.
As you can see, both iodine and your thyroid are a vital part of overall bodily function and processes, so it is really important to maintain them in good health.
Where to Get More Iodine
Most of us obtain enough iodine from sources such as dairy products, fish and fortified foods. It is also present in plant foods grown in iodine-rich soil and also iodized salt.
The recommended daily intake for iodine is about 150mcg per day. However, pregnant or breastfeeding women may need 220-290mcg daily.
Iodine is present in some food, such as:
- Seaweed
- Shrimp
- Cod
- Egg
- Tuna
- Yogurt
- Milk and other dairy products
- Iodized salt
Even though iodine is an essential mineral, there are actually few food sources that are rich in it. The most common sources with the highest amounts of iodine are seaweed, dairy, tuna, shrimp and eggs.
Iodine Deficiency
Having an iodine deficiency can seem similar to hypothyroidism where your body cannot make enough of thyroid hormones. An iodine deficiency can be uncomfortable and lead to severe symptoms, such as:
- Swelling in the neck
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Dry Skin
- Hair loss
- Heavy or irregular periods
- Problems during pregnancy
- Feeling colder than usual
Therefore, you can see that iodine is important for most essential body functions and can severely affect your health if you don’t have enough of it.
Nature’s Glory Kombu Balls for More Iodine
For those that have a lack of iodine, you can obtain more of it through daily supplementation. In fact, that’s where our Nature’s Glory Kombu Balls come in.
Kombu is naturally high in calcium, alkaline minerals, vitamins, chlorophyll, and amino, fatty, fucoidan and alginic acids. These all support bone health and hormone balance, healthy menopause and breast health, healthy thyroid and immune system.
Kombu is one of the foods that is naturally rich in iodine, along with a host of other healthy compounds for your body. The Kombu balls are also good for metabolism, cholesterol, blood pressure and intestinal controls.
A food-based health supplement traditionally made from deep-sea kelp and plum concentrate, Kombu Balls are easy to swallow, suck or chew daily. You can consume 10 to 15 balls or more daily, after meals.