Iodine Deficiency linked with Hypothyroidism and Heart Health

Iodine deficiency has increased nearly 4x in the past 40 years and according to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition 74% of Americans are deficient in iodine. Iodine deficiency can cause direct issues with the thyroid gland but can also severely effect ovarian, heart, and immune health as well. In fact, the ovaries hold the 2nd highest concentration of iodine in the body after the thyroid gland.

Iodine used to be used in bread products however due to national laws, bread companies have been required to use bromine instead of iodine in bread. Bromine is supposed to assist yeast in allowing bread to rise, however it is highly toxic to your body and can actually interfere with iodine absorption in the body and lead to thyroid issues. Iodine deficiency has been linked to a number of health conditions including hypothyroidism, goiter, atrial fibrillation of the heart, mercury toxicity of the heart leading to heart disease, insulin resistance associated with diabetes, prediabetics, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Traditional medicine often uses sythetic thyroid hormones that already have iodine bound to them to treat hypothyroidism. For treatment of atrial fibrillation, many doctors utilize the medication Amiodarone which is a toxic sustained release form of iodine that can stabilize the heartbeat after 1500mg of iodine has been released by the medication with dangerous long term effects with continued use.

According to Dr. Michael Donaldson, "Iodine stabilizes the heart rhythm, lowers serum cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, and is known to make the blood thinner as well, judging by longer clotting times seen by clinicians. Iodine is not only good for the cardiovascular system, it is vital." 

What are the symptoms of iodine deficiency?

Moderate to high deficiency: brittle nails and thinning hair, cold hands and feet, depression, difficulty swallowing, dry skin or hair loss, fatigue, hoarseness, lethargy, menstrual irregularities, poor memory or concentration, slower heartbeat, throat pain, or weight gain. Children can also exhibit signs of mental retardation, developmental delays, and even some complications of Down's Syndrome.

Severe deficiency: infertility, thyroid dysfunction, fibrocystic breast disease or breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, prostate cancer, 

How can you be tested?

AlignLife offers a simple skin test to check for rapid iodine deficiency through the skin and also offers laboratory testing for hormone and thyroid imbalances and panels for heart, liver, and cholesterol dysfunction. If you'd like to setup a free consultation with Dr. Andrea Schnowske to find out if iodine is contributing or causing your health issues, call AlignLife today at 689-6200.