Titus Perry
6/24/2024
Iodine is one of my favorite minerals! In this article you will learn a little bit about what iodine is, what it does in our bodies, and why you likely aren't getting enough of this incredible nutrient. All of this and more will be covered on this post. Iodine has been shown to have miraculous benefits for a number of different conditions, diseases, and health complications, as well as preventing cancers and optimizing health. In this article I will break down the benefits and research behind iodine in many of its forms and why I believe everybody should really hop aboard the iodine train.
WHAT IS IODINE?
We’ll keep it simple. Iodine in its natural form is an elemental gas that can be found on the periodic table as "l". It is considered a halogen, and you’ll see it alongside other halogens such as bromine, fluorine, and chlorine. Now, unlike these other trace elements, iodine is crucial to optimal functioning of almost all parts of our bodies. Many times, Iodine is associated purely with the thyroid gland, and while it is pivotal to optimal thyroid health, it is also utilized by every single cell in the human body. Every cell has an iodine receptor.
HOW WAS IODINE DISCOVERED?
Iodine was discovered in 1811 and funnily enough it was by accident. A scientist experimenting with seaweeds made the discovery while burning the ashes of the seaweed and discovered the iodine molecules in the process. In 1829 the French physician Dr. Lugol furthered the research into the iodine molecule and came up with the very well-known brand “Lugol’s solution”. He found that when iodine was paired with a potassium molecule it helped to stabilize the iodine and made it water-soluble. This made it possible to unlock its antiseptic qualities which is why Lugol’s solution is a potassium iodide solution. It was then found in 1860 that iodine was able to treat goiters (a cystic growth on the thyroid gland) which led to the discoveries and links that iodine was an important trace mineral that is essential to the body.
IODINE BECOMES MAINSTREAM
On May 1st, 1924, iodine was added to salt to create iodized salt in the U.S. (Michigan). Though it has been a regular additive in traditional table salts across the country, possession of iodized salt was not widespread, and this was evident in the fact that although over 70% of table salt sold in the U.S. is iodized, less than 20% of the world has access to it (as recently as the early 1990's). Iodine deficiency has been touted as the single greatest cause of cognitive deficiency in the world, with as much as 35%-45% of the world population still at risk of deficiency as of 2022 https://shorturl.at/4GIB5. This is especially pronounced in babies born to iodine deficient mothers during pregnancy as severe iodine deficiency has strong links to cretinism and mental retardation https://shorturl.at/yhCuv as well as hypothyroidism. It is interesting to note that the nearly identical, though behaviorally distinct synthetic fluoride was added to the German water supply in the 1940's. This practice persisted and soon infiltrated the water supply of other nations the world over to this day. Iodine is crucial in detoxing fluoride from the body, in fact it's the single greatest weapon at our disposal when addressing fluoride toxicity.
IODINE'S ROLE IN HUMAN HEALTH
Iodine is crucial to human health, so much so that nearly every single cell in the body has an iodine receptor. It is especially plentiful in the thyroid and reproductive organs. Because of this it is strongly linked to a variety of health concerns in and around these organs and glands, namely
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Fibrocystic breast disease
Uterine fibroids
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Goiters
etc. Iodine is crucial to immune function as well. It is responsible in men and in women for helping white blood cells and antibodies to ward off infection and has been used for centuries as an antiseptic and antibacterial agent for topical use in treating burns, cuts, scrapes, and so on. It also effectively fights free radicals and stabilizes other nutrients and cells. This matters as excess free radicals wreak havoc on all cells throughout the body and are the equivalent of letting a termite infestation run rampant in your house. You may not recognize it initially but eventually the foundation and structure of your home will be weakened beyond repair and once enough damage is done, and you finally take the problem more seriously, some of it will be irreversible, that damage is done. This is equivocal to how free radicals can damage bodily tissues like the skin, internal organs (with the liver being the lone exception due to its regenerative abilities), eyes, etc.
IODINE DOSING
Iodine has been given an RDA (recommended daily allowance) by the FDA (Food & drug administration) of 150mcg a day for adults and children 4 years and older. This is EXTREMELY low considering iodine has been proven to be safe for human consumption in dosages as high as 6,000mcg or 6mg for women suffering from fibrocystic breast disease https://shorturl.at/lnaP1 and in Japan the daily intake for both healthy men and women is up to as much as 12,000mcg or 12mg. Neither of these demographics display any adverse effects from such high intake. Though it must be taken into consideration that the high amount of iodine given to the women in the study is a therapeutic dose and is going into fighting the disease, it is still an incredibly high dose compared to the RDA standards. Such standards were established when it was found that 150mcg/day of iodine was the minimum amount required to prevent a goiter from forming on the thyroid gland. This is a preventive dose, but it is nowhere near an optimal one. The body does a very good job of excreting excess iodine through the kidneys similarly to how it will with some other electrolytes (potassium & sodium) as well as water soluble vitamins (all b vitamins and vitamin c) assuming sufficient water intake. In other words, these things are incredibly difficult to overdose on making negative side effects unlikely.
I myself use between 2,000 - 3,000mcg of nascent iodine.
RISK OF IODINE DEFICIENCY
A few risks of iodine deficiency have already been highlighted earlier in this post. This section will act as a continuation of that. Risk of iodine deficiency includes the following.
Increased risk of polycystic ovarian syndrome
Increased risk of fibrocystic breast disease
Increased risk of uterine fibroids
Increased risk of goiters
Lowered IQ and increased risk of mental retardation in infants born to iodine deficient mothers and children suffering from iodine deficiency in early life
Increased risk of hypothyroidism
Increased risk of hyperthyroidism
Increased risk of heavy metal toxicity
Increased risk of follicular thyroid cancer
Lowered metabolism
Increased risk of infertility
Suboptimal insulin sensitivity
Suboptimal blood glucose control
FORMS OF IODINE
Nascent/Atomic iodine - This form of iodine is in an atomic form as opposed to a molecular form. This makes it more easily absorbable by the body while still maintaining its structural integrity, especially when used in vegetable glycerin as a carrier.
Potassium iodide - This form is created when a single potassium molecule is attached to a single iodine molecule, helping to stabilize it and make it suitable for consumption. This form of iodine was used heavily when radiation levels were high after the 1986 disaster at Chernobyl due to nuclear plant explosions. There was a high degree of radioactive iodine present after the disaster and adding potassium (K) to iodine (I) made it more stable, which took the place of the radioactive iodine and protected the thyroid (and other tissues) from the harmful effects of the radioactive iodine present in Chernobyl at that time. Very high doses were used during this period as well, with recommended dosages leading up to as much as 65,000mcg for children up to 12 years and under 150lbs. This dose was doubled to 130,000mcg for individuals over 12 years or 150lbs.
Potassium iodide is also the form you will find on the back of most commercial iodized salt brands, think Morton iodized salt.
Sodium iodide - Sodium iodide is not naturally occurring; it is commercially made from a combination of sodium hydroxide and hydroiodic acid. The resulting reaction between these two chemicals gives birth to its final form of sodium iodide. Sodium iodide is also used in veterinary medicine as well.
Povidone iodine - This is a topical solution meant for treatment of minor wounds, cuts, scabs, scrapes, burns and so on. It's an over-the-counter solution which is also used in medical settings for the same aforementioned purposes.
SOURCES OF IODINE
There are several quality sources of iodine that can be found in food. Many of the best sources are from seafoods, though a meaningful amount can be obtained through dairy products and fortified cereals as well. Here are some of your best options when it comes to sourcing your iodine from the natural world!
Seaweed - A 10 gram serving of dried seaweed offers as much as 230mcg of the vital nutrient, exceeding over 1.5 times the amount set by the RDA!
Cod - Just 3 ounces of this nutritional powerhouse are packed with a little over 155mcg of iodine.
Milk - Aside from seafood, dairy is the next richest source of iodine, with nonfat milk offering 85mcg in an 8-ounce serving.
Eggs - One large egg typically contains 26mcg of iodine.
FINAL THOUGHTS
With these things in mind, it is important that iodine be given the attention it deserves as it is crucial to so many functions in the body. Good health relies heavily on micronutrient intake and when it comes to iodine, it's hard to get too much of this superstar mineral!
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