Could too much iodine be the cause of your thyroid symptoms?
I believe the answer to this question is a resounding YES!
Thyroid symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, anxiety/depression, constipation, thinning hair, difficulty losing weight, feeling cold constantly and achy muscles, just to name a few, are frequent complaints of almost every patient I interact with. Hashimoto’s disease, which is an autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid gland, is now the most common autoimmune condition in the world affecting approximately 1 in every 6 women!
What gives? Why are thyroid symptoms so darn prevalent these days?
There are many factors at play here, but one of the most important is excessive iodine.
There is overwhelming evidence in the scientific literature that excessive exposure to iodine aggravates thyroid conditions. The research also shows that restricting iodine can significantly improve and even reverse thyroid disease in up to 80% of people.
Let’s review a few of these studies.
This study compared different geographical regions in China and found that regions with higher iodine intake had proportionally higher rates of thyroid disease. In other words consuming a diet higher in iodine leads to more thyroid problems.
This one looked at the effects of using low dose iodine as nutritional supplement and found that even low levels of supplemental iodine (more than 750mcg/day) can adversely affect thyroid function. Unfortunately, many healthcare practitioners are still recommending iodine supplements to their thyroid patients. I believe this is a big mistake and the research backs this up.
This final study compared people with pre-existing thyroid conditions. All participants had diagnoses thyroid disease and were asked to restrict dietary intake of any iodine containing foods (see below) or medications for 2 months. The results were quite impressive. Significant improvement in thyroid function and even complete recovery was noted in close to 80% of the participants. Simply limiting the amount of iodine that enters your body can have a big impact on your thyroid symptoms.
So should everyone limit iodine in their diet?
Our bodies require some dietary iodine for basic metabolic functions, however the amount required is quite small (less than 150mcg/day). There are even some conditions that seem to respond favorably to iodine intake and supplementation including breast and uterine cysts, breast cancer and PCOS. For these reasons, I like to refer to iodine as a “Goldilocks” nutrient: not too much, not too little, but just right. If you have been diagnosed with a thyroid condition or experience thyroid related symptoms, I believe it’s a great idea to limit iodine intake. If you don’t have thyroid symptoms or confirmed thyroid disease, then restricting iodine is probably less important.
How are we getting too much iodine?
Iodine is finding its way into our bodies in higher quantities that ever before in human history. Iodine is added to salt, calcium and potassium iodate are added to condition flour in commercial bakeries, iodine is used as a disinfectant during the milking process at dairy farms, and iodine containing substances are added to skin and beauty products. So, if you use iodized salt (or eat processed foods that contain iodized salt), if you eat baked flour products or dairy products, or if you use common beauty products then there is a good chance you are getting too much iodine exposure. No wonder the prevalence of thyroid disease is skyrocketing!
As a general rule, I think it’s best for everyone to limit the products discussed above. And, if you have confirmed thyroid disease or thyroid related symptoms, then I would recommend diligently removing these foods from your diet.
Here is a list of high iodine containing products:
- Iodized Salt (Celtic sea salt and kosher salts are not iodized)
- Seasonings that contain iodized salt (onion salt, garlic salt, celery salt, adobo
- Seaweed and sea vegetables
- Commercial breads and baked goods that use flours
- Milk and other dairy products
- Restaurant and processed foods
- Soy products including edamame, tofu, soy meat alternatives
- Foods, capsules, pills that contain red dye #3
- Foods or beauty products that contain:
- Iodates
- Iodides
- Algin
- Alginate
- Carrageen
- Agar
Now let’s look at a real life example of how limiting iodine can make a tremendous impact on your health.
Michelle came to see me about three months ago literally at her wits end. She complained of a variety of thyroid symptoms, most notably weight loss resistance, debilitation fatigue, excruciating muscle aches, constant brain fog and a recent onset tremor in her legs that was her biggest concern. Her conventional doctors told her that her blood work looked fine and suggested antidepressants, anxiety medication and steroids. During our initial consultation, Michelle told me that she recently started using a topical iodine cream because she heard iodine could help with thyroid related symptoms. I recommended that she stop using the cream immediately and adopt a low iodine diet. We also recommended a specific diet that helps to lower inflammation and addresses common food intolerances. Michelle started noticing improvements within the first week and by the forth week she lost 25lbs, regained most of her energy and brain function and her leg tremors have been cut in half. Michelle happily gave me permission to share her story.
Have you tried avoiding iodine containing foods or beauty products? I’d love to hear your experience. If you haven’t then I encourage you to give it a shot. You have nothing to lose but all those annoying thyroid related symptoms.
