11 Uses for Iodine: Do Benefits Outweigh the risks?

[Joanna]

What is iodine?

Also called iodide, iodine is a type of mineral that’s naturally found in the earth’s soil and ocean waters. Many salt water and plant-based foods contain iodine, and this mineral is most-widely available in iodized salt.

It’s important to get enough iodine in the diet. It regulates hormones, fetal development, and more.

If your iodine levels are low, your doctor might recommend supplementation. You shouldn’t take supplements without checking with your doctor first.

Read on to learn more about the uses and side effects of iodine, plus recommended daily amounts by age.

11 uses of iodine:

Iodine is considered an essential mineral for our bodies. It’s particularly important during pregnancy, and exposure in the womb may even help prevent certain health conditions later in life.

The following is a list of some of the most important uses and how they benefit the body.

1. Promoting thyroid health

Iodine plays a vital role in thyroid health. Your thyroid gland, which is located at the base of the front of your neck, helps regulate hormone production. These hormones control your metabolism, heart health, and more.

To make thyroid hormones, your thyroid takes up iodine in small amounts. Without iodine, thyroid hormone production can decrease. A “low” or underactive thyroid gland can lead to a condition called hypothyroidism.

Given the wide availability of iodine in western diets, thyroid health isn’t typically impacted by low iodine levels in the United States.

You can get enough iodine from your diet by eating dairy products, fortified foods, and salt water fish. Iodine is also available in plant foods that grow in naturally iodine-rich soil. You also can get the mineral by seasoning your food with iodized salt.

While iodine promotes overall thyroid health, too much iodine can have a negative effect on the thyroid gland. That’s why you shouldn’t take iodine supplements without your doctor’s recommendation.

2. Reducing risk for some goiters

A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland. Your thyroid may become enlarged as a result from either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid gland.

Non-cancerous thyroid nodules (cysts) can also cause thyroid gland enlargement.

Sometimes a goiter develops as a direct response to iodine deficiency. This is the most common cause of goiter worldwide, though it’s not as common a cause in the United States and other countries with access to iodine-rich foods.

Iodine-induced goiters may be reversed by adding iodine-rich foods or supplements in the diet.

3. Managing overactive thyroid gland

Your doctor may recommend a special type of iodine called radioactive iodine to treat an overactive thyroid gland. Also called radioiodine, this medication is taken by mouth. It’s used to destroy extra thyroid cells to help reduce excessive amounts of thyroid hormone.

The risk with radioactive iodine is that it can destroy too many thyroid cells. This can decrease the amount of hormone production, leading to hypothyroidism. For this reason, radioactive iodine is usually only recommended after anti-thyroid drugs have failed.

Radioactive iodine is not the same thing as iodine supplements. You should never take iodine supplements for hyperthyroidism.

4. Treating thyroid cancer

Radioiodine may also be a possible treatment option for thyroid cancer. It works in much the same way as hyperthyroid treatment.

When you take radioactive iodine orally, the medication destroys thyroid cells, including cancerous ones. It may be used as a treatment following thyroid surgery to make sure all cancerous cells have been removed from the body.

According to the American Cancer Society, radioactive iodine treatments significantly improve the chances of survival for people with thyroid cancer.

5. Neurodevelopment during pregnancy

You need more iodine in pregnancy. That’s because iodine intake during pregnancy is linked to brain development in fetuses. One review found that babies whose birth mothers had an iodine deficiency during pregnancy were more likely to grow up with lower IQ’s and other intellectual delays.

The recommended daily intake of iodine during pregnancy is 220 mcg. By comparison, the recommended amount in non-pregnant adults is 150 mcg a day.

If you’re pregnant, ask your doctor about iodine supplementation, especially if your prenatal vitamin doesn’t have iodine (many do not). Iodine supplements may also be necessary if you’re deficient in the mineral.

You’ll also need to continue monitoring your iodine intake if you’re breastfeeding. The recommended daily amount of iodine while nursing is 290 mcg. That’s because the iodine you take up from diet and supplementation is transferred via breast milk to your nursing infant. This is a crucial brain developmental period, so infants need 110 mcg per day until they’ve reached 6 months of age.

6. Improving cognitive function

The same neurological benefits of iodine during pregnancy may extend to healthy brain function during childhood. This also includes a reduced risk of intellectual disability.

It is likely your child gets all the iodine they need through their diet, but if you have any questions about their iodine intake, talk to their pediatrician.

7. Improving birth weight

As with brain development, iodine during pregnancy is associated with a healthy birth weight. One study of pregnant women with goiters found that 400 mg of iodine taken daily for six to eight weeks was helpful in correcting goiters related to iodine deficiency. In turn, there was an overall improvement in birth weight in newborns.

While iodine intake can impact a baby’s birth weight and overall development, it’s important to note that the above study focused on women in developing areas who were already deficient in iron.

Unless your doctor has determined you are iodine deficient, taking supplements aren’t likely to impact your baby’s weight at birth. In fact, taking iodine unnecessarily can cause health issues.

8. May help treat fibrocystic breast disease

It’s possible that iodine supplements or medications can help treat fibrocystic breast disease. This non-cancerous condition is most common in women of reproductive age, and it can cause painful breast lumps.

Although there is some promise that iodine might help with fibrocystic breast cysts, you shouldn’t attempt self-treatment. Only take iodine for this condition if your doctor specifically recommends it. Otherwise, you could be at risk of side effects from iodine toxicity.

9. Disinfecting water

Iodine is just one method of water disinfection. This may be especially helpful if you don’t have access to potable water due to traveling or effects from a natural disaster.

Two percent liquid iodine tincture may be added to water in five-drop increments per one quart of clear water. If the water is cloudy, add ten drops per quart.

Iodine tablets may also be used, but the instructions can vary by manufacturer.

Despite the role iodine can play in disinfecting drinking water, there’s also some concerns that it can increase total iodine intake in humans and lead to adverse health effects. Total iodine intake shouldn’t exceed 2 mg per day.

10. Protection from nuclear fallout

In the case of nuclear emergencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of potassium iodide (KI) to protect the thyroid gland from radiation injuries. These are available in tablet and liquid formulas.

While not completely foolproof, the sooner KI is taken, the better the thyroid is thought to be protected in the event of this kind of emergency.

There are serious risks associated with KI, including gastrointestinal upset, inflammation, and allergic reaction. You’re also at increased risk for thyroid disease. Your risk for complications is higher if you already have thyroid disease.

11. Treating infections

Iodine can be used topically in a liquid form to help treat and prevent infections. It works by killing bacteria in and around mild cuts and scrapes.

Topical iodine should not be used on newborn babies. It should also not be used for deep cuts, animal bites, or burns.

Follow directions on the packaging for dosage information, and do not use for more than 10 days unless directed by your doctor.

Source and full article:
Iodine Uses: Benefits, Side Effects, Recommendations, and More

 

[PloughBoy]

I was talking about "Iodine to my oldest daughter a few days ago and the reason they applied it to table salt.

 

[Br. Bear]

here is a bit more about Iodine, Iodine Rich Foods and a couple of recipes

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you can listen to the following article here: (opens in new tab, so you can read along if you want to)

https://instaread.co/player?article=are-you-eating-enough-iodine-rich-foods&publication=dr-axe

Are You Eating Enough Iodine-Rich Foods?
By Jillian Levy, CHHC

October 23, 2018

Iodine-rich foods
Iodine is considered one of the body’s vital nutrients, responsible for regulating thyroid function, supporting a healthy metabolism, aiding in growth and development, and preventing certain chronic diseases like cancer. Unfortunately, many adults don’t consume enough iodine-rich foods and suffer from an iodine deficiency. Therefore, many suffer a range of negative health consequences as a result, known as iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).

Iodine is present throughout the body in just about every organ and tissue, needed by almost every bodily system to keep us alive and energized. For this reason, iodine deficiency poses many risks — an alarming thought considering that some sources suggest around 50 percent or more of the adult population in Western developed nations are iodine-deficient. (1)

One of the most widespread symptoms of iodine deficiency? Thyroid disorders. Thyroid function relies on proper levels of iodine, so too much (or too little) can cause many serious health problems. The thyroid is one of the body’s master glands responsible for balancing hormones, and thyroid disruption caused partially by a diet low in iodine-rich foods can create such negative reactions as fatigue, weight gain or loss, hormone imbalances, mood changes, and much more.

A Lack of Iodine-Rich Foods Can Cause Iodine Deficiency

Worldwide around 2 billion people have insufficient iodine intake. Populations in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are particularly affected and at risk for the symptoms related to iodine deficiency. (2) In the U.S. and Europe, iodine deficiency is believed to be one the rise, as are instances of iodine deficiency disorders.

Common signs of an iodine deficiency include:

Trouble producing saliva and properly digesting food
Swollen salivary glands and dry mouth
Skin problems, including dry skin
Poor concentration and difficulty retaining information
Muscle pains and weakness
Increased risk for thyroid disease
Increased risk for fibrosis and fibromyalgia
A higher risk for developmental problems in babies and children
Iodine deficiency and diets low in iodine-rich foods are associated with an increased risk for thyroid disease, but there are also potential thyroid and hormonal risks associated with taking too much iodine, especially from supplements that contain iodine in the form of iodide. Although it seems counterintuitive, research suggests that consuming more than the suggested amount per day is even associated with an increased risk for thyroid disorders as opposed to preventing them. (3)

Although too much iodine is a potential risk for thyroid disruptions, it’s much less common and considered a relatively small risk compared to the substantial risks of iodine deficiency. Plus, consuming very high levels from iodine-rich foods alone is very unlikely. Due to the high prevalence of iodine deficiencies globally, plus the serious health concerns as a consequence, there is much more emphasis in the health community on adding more iodine into the average person’s diet than worrying about removing it.

Why are more people experiencing iodine deficiency?

Several reasons might be to blame: a reduction in the amount of naturally iodine-rich foods in people’s diets (wild-caught fish, green vegetables and sea vegetables, for example), a higher exposure rate to certain chemicals found in processed foods that reduce iodine absorption (especially the compound called bromine, found in many plastic containers and baked goods, for example), and a depletion in the amount of iodine found in soils.

Bromine, found in lots of industrial-produced packaged food products, is of particular interest to researchers, since it’s known to block iodine-rich foods from being useful and absorbable to some degree. Bromine is able to displace iodine and might lead to higher rates of iodine deficiency.

When it comes to soil depletion, research points to the fact that around the world, soils contain varying amounts of iodine, which in turn affects the quantity of iodine within crops. In some areas, iodine-deficient soils are more common, which makes it more likely that people will develop deficiencies.

Efforts to reduce deficiencies, known as “salt iodization programs,” help reduce the rate of iodine deficiency in some parts of the impoverished world that experience high rates of ill health effects. But the surest way to prevent deficiencies (and the safest) is to increase your intake of iodine-rich foods.

What Happens When We Eat Plenty of Iodine-Rich Foods?

Iodine enters the body through iodine-rich foods, including certain salts (“iodized salt”), eggs, sea vegetables and fish. We rely on iodine to create thyroxine (T4 hormone) and triiodothyronine (T3), two of the main hormones produced by the thyroid that control numerous important functions.

An iodine deficiency can cause an abnormally enlarged thyroid gland (called a goiter), which happens in response to the body trying to “trap” as much iodine within the bloodstream as it can. Iodine is also absorbed and stored within tissue in many other organs, including the stomach, brain, spinal fluid, skin and certain glands. (4)

Iodine present in foods and iodized salt contains several chemical forms of iodine, including sodium and potassium salts, inorganic iodine (I2), iodate, and iodide. Iodine usually occurs as a salt and is called iodide when it does (not iodine).

Iodide is absorbed in the stomach and enters the bloodstream, circulating to the thyroid gland, where it uses appropriate amounts for thyroid hormone synthesis. The unused iodine that we get from iodine-rich foods is then excreted in the urine. A healthy adult usually has about 15–20 milligrams of iodine present within her body at one time — 70 percent to 80 percent of which is stored in the thyroid.

Recommended Daily Amount of Iodine
Iodine recommendations are given in terms of “dietary reference intakes” (DRIs). DRIs were developed by the Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies as a set of values used for planning and assessing nutrient intakes of healthy people. According to the USDA, the recommended amount of iodine depends on your age and gender, and are as follows: (5)

Birth to 6 months: 110 micrograms
7–12 months: 130 micrograms
1–8 years: 90 micrograms
9–13 years: 120 micrograms
14 years and older: 150 micrograms
Pregnant women: 220 micrograms
Breastfeeding women: 290 micrograms
How can you best meet these recommended amounts?

Eat more iodine-rich foods, especially the kind that naturally contain this mineral and aren’t fortified. Including algae in your diet is one of the best ways, considering their high iodine content along with other important minerals and antioxidants they contain. Various forms of seaweed (such as kelp, nori, kombu and wakame) are some of the best, natural sources of iodine. But like all crops, the exact content depends on the specific food and where it came from.

Other good iodine-rich foods include seafood, raw/unpasteurized dairy products, certain whole-grain products and cage-free eggs. It’s believed that dairy products and grains are the major contributors of iodine in the average American’s diet, although chances are people can afford to consume more raw, unpasteurized dairy and ancient, whole grains rather than conventional dairy and packaged foods.

To some extent, fruits and vegetables also contain iodine. The amount depends a lot on the soil, fertilizer and irrigation practices used to crow the crops. Because high-quality meat and dairy products come from animals raised on grass and given healthy diets, the amount of iodine in animal foods also varies depending on the quality of their diet and where they were free to graze.

Are Iodine Salts and Iodine Supplements Healthy?
According to the USDA, more than 70 countries, including the United States and Canada, have salt iodization programs, and 70 percent of households worldwide use iodized salt. The intentions of iodizing salt originally was to prevent deficiencies, so in the U.S. manufacturers started adding iodine to table salt in the 1920s.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves potassium iodide and cuprous iodide for salt iodization, and the World Health Organization recommends the use of potassium iodate due to its greater stability. On average, about 45 micrograms of iodine can be found in each eighth of a teaspoon of iodized salt in the U.S. By law, food manufacturers almost always use noniodized salt in processed foods and list salt as iodized in the ingredient list on foods that use iodized salt. The reason is to prevent very high intakes of iodine, considering the majority of salt intake in the United States comes from processed foods.


I always recommend consuming real salt, either Himalayan or Celtic sea salt, as opposed to iodized table salt. Sea salt contains more than 60 trace minerals and doesn’t pose a risk for overconsuming iodine like table salt does. It’s also much more natural, beneficial and tastes better.

Many supplements also contain iodine in the forms of potassium iodide or sodium iodide, including many multivitamins. Kelp capsules also contain iodine. These usually aren’t necessary when someone consumes enough iodine-rich foods and may even be dangerous if taken in high doses. Taking supplements within the recommended daily amount can be helpful and is considered safe, but it’s also best to follow dosages carefully and aim to get nutrients from food whenever possible.

6 Benefits of Iodine-Rich Foods
1. Supports Thyroid Health
The thyroid must have high enough levels of iodine present in order to make key hormones, including thyroxine. Thyroid hormones regulate many important biochemical reactions every day — some of the most significant include the synthesis of amino acids from proteins, digestive enzyme activity, and proper skeletal and central nervous system development.

Healthy, normal thyroid function is primarily regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH), also known as thyrotropin. This hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland and works to control thyroid hormone production and secretion throughout the body — it’s what allows our bodies to protect us from hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism (too much or too little thyroid hormones production). TSH secretion increases uptake of iodine in the thyroid and stimulates the synthesis and release of hormones T3 and T4, so in the absence of iodine, TSH levels remains dangerously elevated. (6)

When thyroid disorders occur because of a diet low in iodine-rich foods, symptoms can range from a sluggish metabolism, heart complications, changes in appetite and body temperature, changes in thirst and perspiration, weight fluctuations, and mood changes.

2. Helps Prevent Cancer
Iodine improves immunity and helps induce apoptosis — the self-destruction of dangerous, cancerous cells. While iodine can help destroy mutated cancer cells, it doesn’t destroy healthy cells in the process.

For example, evidence shows the ability of iodine-rich seaweed to inhibit breast tumor development. This is supported by the relatively low rate of breast cancer in parts of the world like Japan, where women consume a diet high in iodine-rich seaweed. (7)

3. Prevents Impaired Growth and Development in Children
Research shows that an iodine deficiency during pregnancy and infancy can disturb healthy growth and brain development. Infants with iodine deficiency are more susceptible to mortality and at a higher risk for neuro-degenerative problems like a form of mental disability known as cretinism, low growth rate, motor-function problems and learning disabilities. (8)

Although doctors commonly test women during pregnancy for iodine deficiency, it’s difficult to get an accurate reading of iodine levels. Thus, many health experts now encourage women to increase their intake of iodine-rich foods in their pregnancy diet and supplement with iodine considering how common deficiencies are.

4. Maintains Healthy Brain Function
Iodine plays a big role in healthy brain development and ongoing cognitive abilities, therefore iodine deficiency is believed to be one of the most common preventable causes of mental disorders in the world. (9)


5. Preserves Skin Health
A common sign of iodine deficiency is dry, rough and irritated skin that becomes flaky and inflamed. Iodine also helps regulate perspiration, so people might experience changes in how much they sweat if their iodine levels become imbalanced.

6. Helps Control Sweating and Body Temperature
Sweating is an important detoxification method that the body uses to discard toxins and even excess calories. Iodine deficiency can disturb the natural way we flush waste from the body through our pores and control our body temperature.

Similar to an ability to produce enough sweat, a lack of iodine also can cause dry mouth due to an abnormally low production of saliva. This makes it difficult to enjoy eating and can impair digestion to some degree.

The Best Iodine-Rich Foods
Keep in mind that iodine levels vary greatly within a type of food depending on the conditions in which it was grown or produced. For example, because soil depletion is a concern for lowering iodine counts in foods, crops grown in depleted soils have lower levels of iodine than organically grown crops. Similarly, wild-caught seafood and cage-free, organic eggs are more likely to contain a higher level of nutrients than farm-raised fish or conventionally produced versions.

Here are 12 of the best iodine foods, with percentages below based on the recommended dietary allowance for the average adult: (10)

Seaweed/Dried Kelp — 1 whole sheet dried: 19 to 2,984 micrograms (amounts vary widely — anywhere from 11 percent to 1,989 percent)
Cod (wild-caught) — 3 ounces: 99 micrograms (66 percent DV)
Yogurt (organic, grass-fed and ideally raw) — 1 cup: 75 micrograms (50 percent DV)
Raw Milk — 1 cup: 56 micrograms (37 percent DV)
Eggs — 1 large: 24 micrograms (16 percent DV)
Tuna — 1 can in oil/3 ounces: 17 micrograms (11 percent DV)
Lima beans — 1 cup cooked: 16 micrograms (10 percent DV)
Corn (organic) — 1/2 cup: 14 micrograms (9 percent DV)
Prunes — 5 prunes: 13 micrograms (9 percent DV)
Cheese (look for raw, unpasteurized) — 1 ounce: 12 micrograms (8 percent DV)
Green peas — 1 cup cooked: 6 micrograms (4 percent DV)
Bananas — 1 medium: 3 micrograms (2 percent DV)

Recipes Using Iodine-Rich Foods

Egg Salad Recipe
Eggs are one of the most versatile iodine-rich foods there is. This recipe is good in many ways, on its own or thrown on a sandwich. Try this high-protein and iodine-rich recipe today.
Total Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 2–4
INGREDIENTS:
5 hard boiled eggs
1/2 cup vegenaise
1/4 cup celery
1/4 cup sprouted pecans
1/4 cup raisins
sea salt and black pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Chop eggs, celery and pecans.
Combine all ingredients together.
Serve chilled.

Savory Baked Fish Recipe
This recipe is delicious, easy to make and healthy. Try it with tuna fish, one of the most loved and popular iodine-rich foods available.

Total Time: 40 minutes

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS:
6 white fish fillets, such as mahi mahi, grouper or snapper
Sea salt and pepper to taste
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 cup finely minced onion
3 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 (8-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
4 tablespoons parsley
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons grated raw cheese
3 tablespoons almond flour

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Sauté the onions and garlic in coconut oil in small skillet over medium low heat until onion is transparent and soft.
Purée fire-roasted tomatoes in blender. Add garlic/onion mix to blender with tomatoes and other herbs.
Place fish in baking pan that has been coated with coconut oil. Generously brush fish with tomato sauce mixture.
In a small bowl, mix flour and cheese together. Sprinkle cheese mixture over fish and bake for approximately 30 minutes.

Yogurt Berry Smoothie Recipe
This recipe is what I recommend you start the day with. In addition to iodine, it’s loaded with healthy fats to support hormones and also antioxidants. Kids love this recipe as well.
Total Time: 2 minutes
Serves: 1
INGREDIENTS:
6 ounces kefir or goat’s milk yogurt
1 cup raspberries
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Stevia to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Blend all ingredients until smooth.


Potential Interactions and Concerns with Iodine
As mentioned earlier, too much iodine can lead to thyroid disorders because it has the potential for causing goiters on the thyroid just like an iron deficiency does. People who have Hashimotos, thyroiditis or certain cases of hypothyroidism should speak with their doctor to discuss how much, if any, iodine should be taken through supplements carefully.

Iodine-Rich Foods & the Key Health Benefits They Provide - Dr. Axe