Iodine Deficiency and Thyroid Health

Iodine is one of the most important minerals, especially with regards to thyroid health. Many people with a thyroid condition have an iodine deficiency, and until this deficiency is addressed, there is very little chance of having their health restored through a natural thyroid treatment protocol. The reason for this is because iodine deficiency is necessary for the formation of thyroid hormone. So if someone is deficient in iodine, this frequently will result in a hypothyroid condition.

However, many people with hyperthyroidism also have an iodine deficiency as well. In fact, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune hyperthyroid condition, and I was iodine deficient and therefore had to supplement with iodine. So regardless of what type of thyroid condition you have, it is essential to receive the proper testing to confirm whether or not you are deficient in this extremely important mineral.

Why Are So Many People Iodine Deficient?

There are numerous different reasons why people are deficient in iodine. One of the primary reasons is due to poor farming techniques, which leaves the soil depleted of many different nutrients and minerals, include iodine. Another reason why many people are iodine deficient is because the bread dough conditioners are made with bromide, whereas many years ago they were made with iodine. This is important because bromide competes with iodine, and so by consuming all of these products that contain bromide, it will in turn replace iodine, making people iodine deficient.

Other halogens can also displace iodine, such as fluoride and chloride. And most people are being exposed to these halogens on a regular basis, which is yet another reason why so many people are iodine deficient. So you want to try to do everything you can to minimize your exposure to these toxins.

How To Determine Whether You Have An Iodine Deficiency

As for how you can determine whether you have an iodine deficiency, the most accurate method is through an iodine loading test. This is a urine test that requires you to first take a 50mg iodine/iodide tablet, and then over a 24-hour period it is determined how much iodine is retained. Someone who is iodine deficient will retain a high percentage of the iodine that was consumed. According to those who developed this test, a person who takes this test and has a saturation lower than 90% has an iodine deficiency, and thus is a candidate for iodine supplementation.

Another, less accurate way to determine whether someone has an iodine deficiency is through an Iodine Patch Test. This test requires painting a 2 x 2 inch square patch on the forearm, using a 3% iodine tincture. For someone who isn't iodine deficient, the patch should take over 24 hours to completely disappear. Someone who is mildly deficient will have the patch disappear between 13 and 24 hours. And if someone has the patch disappear in 12 hours or less, they are considered to be iodine deficient.

While I don't recommend the Iodine Patch Test to my patients to diagnose an iodine deficiency, I do advise them to use it as a follow-up procedure. In other words, I'll recommend for someone to begin with both the iodine loading test and at the same time do an Iodine Patch Test, paying more attention to the results of the urine test. But I'll then have them do a follow-up iodine patch test on a monthly basis just to see if there are any significant changes, and then will recommend a follow-up iodine loading test after three months.

Addressing An Iodine Deficiency

For those people with a thyroid condition who have an iodine deficiency, it is not only important to take a quality iodine supplement, but to go about this process slowly. In other words, you don't want to automatically begin taking 25 to 50mg of iodine daily, although some healthcare professionals will recommend this. By the way, for everything you need to know about iodine, I highly recommend reading the book "Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It", which is written by Dr. David Brownstein.

When I was diagnosed with an autoimmune thyroid condition, I began by taking one 3mg tablet of Prolamine Iodine, which is an iodine supplement manufactured by a company called Standard Process. I increased the dosage by one tablet each week, and once I was taking eight tablets per day I switched to a product called Iodoral, which enabled me to take a similar dosage, but this comes in 12.5 mg tablets. Both of these iodine supplements are of high quality, and along with incorporating other components of a natural treatment protocol, taking iodine daily helped to restore my health back to normal.

I realize this probably sounds like a lot of iodine to take, and this isn't to suggest that everyone will need to take this much iodine. On the other hand, some people might need to take 50mg of iodine daily to address a severe deficiency. It all depends on how deficient in iodine you are. The good news is that good quality iodine supplements are relatively inexpensive to purchase.

Autoimmune Thyroid Conditions & Iodine Deficiency

If you have an autoimmune thyroid condition, then you might not be able to address your iodine deficiency right away. If you have Graves' Disease then this shouldn't be a problem, unless if you happen to be allergic to iodine, which is rare. On the other hand, someone with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis will be unable to supplement with iodine right away. Taking iodine will actually increase the destruction of the thyroid gland, which is why anyone who has Hashimoto's Thyroiditis will need to address the autoimmune response first.

Of course most endocrinologists and other medical doctors label these conditions as being incurable. So rather than address the immune system component, they will simply put someone on thyroid medication to manage the symptoms. Because of this, more and more people are turning towards natural thyroid treatment methods to restore their health back to normal.

Restoring Your Health Through A Natural Thyroid Treatment Protocol

While addressing an iodine deficiency is important to restore one's health back to normal, often times other factors need to be addressed as well. This is where a natural thyroid treatment protocol comes into play, as this will help to determine any other problematic areas or additional deficiencies you might have that can be contributing to, or in some cases directly causing your thyroid condition.

What's important to understand is that in many cases, the malfunctioning thyroid gland is not the cause of the thyroid condition. This is why just giving thyroid medication to manage the symptoms is often times a big mistake, as in many cases, the actual cause can be detected and corrected. While some people will attempt to self-treat their condition, this usually doesn't lead to optimal results, which is why I recommend that anyone with a thyroid condition consult with a competent natural endocrine doctor. Such a doctor will be able to determine what is causing your thyroid condition, and if possible, put you on a natural treatment protocol to cure the cause.

In summary, an iodine deficiency can directly cause or contribute to the development of a thyroid condition. Taking iodine is obviously important to address such a deficiency, but just remember that other factors can play a role in the development of a thyroid condition, which is why consulting with a competent natural endocrine doctor is usually a good idea, as many thyroid conditions can be cured through a natural treatment protocol. Finally, don't forget that there is an excellent book which discusses iodine deficiency in detail, and while the title might sound boring (Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It), the book is actually very interesting and easy to read.

Dr. Eric Osansky is a licensed healthcare professional who personally used natural treatment methods to restore his health when he was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder. For more information on how to use Natural Thyroid Treatment methods to restore your health back to normal, including a free video and 46-page guide that shows you how to treat your thyroid disorder naturally, please visit his website at www.NaturalEndocrineSolutions.com.

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Breast Cancer in Women With Type 2 Diabetes - Iodine and Breast Health!

As you know, breast cancer is considered to be epidemic among women over fifty whether or not they have Type 2 diabetes. It's still not clear whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases your risk of breast cancer but there is actually more consensus in the medical research community over this issue than many others. That could be because the incidence of breast cancer in Western countries dramatically rises anyway after menopause... whether you are on HRT or not.

Scientists have found a clear connection between Type 2 diabetes and estrogen-stimulated breast cancer in women. Fortunately, one of the easiest ways to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer is simply to consume adequate amounts of iodine.

Iodine keeps the immune system healthy. It stimulates the growth of protective cells in the mucosa of the mouth, stomach, vagina, and nipples. It also keeps the breast healthy. The cells lining the milk ducts of the breast, where most breast cancers originate, actually have an 'iodine pump' in them, allowing them to take in this nutrient as it is available and when it is needed.

The importance of iodine in breast health is not just strengthening the immune system. It's also important for keeping the linings of the ducts of the breasts from responding to estrogen. Estrogen stimulates the growth of breast tissue, both healthy and cancerous. When the effects of estrogen are blocked, the body's self-defense systems have more opportunities to stop cancer even before it is diagnosed.

Physiologist James Wilson estimated that about 30 per cent of women have at least microscopic breast cell carcinomas at any given time, and that over 99 per cent of women will never know they have the disease... because various immune defense and DNA repair mechanisms stop the cancer before it spreads.

How can women be sure they are getting enough iodides for breast health? There are two basic ways. One is take a supplement called Iodoral. A 12.5 mg tablet every other day is enough.

The other way to be sure of getting enough of this vital element for breast health is to eat kelp, dulse, and other sea vegetables. A single serving four or five days a week provides the body with all the iodides it needs.

Often women with Type 2 diabetes take other medications including thyroid replacement hormones (Synthroid or Armour Thyroid), or if you have high blood pressure or you take medication for arrhythmia, see your physician before adding iodine to your diet. But know that iodine is often the missing element in successful nutritional programs for maintaining breast health.

And now I would like you to claim your Free E-Book when you visit Answers to Your Questions

You will then have access to information diabetics have requested over recent months.

Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
http://drugfreetype2diabetes.com/blog
Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

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Type 2 Diabetes and Breast and Thyroid Health in Women - Increase Your Intake of Iodine!

Over the past 40 years, millions of North American women have experienced a nutritional condition once completely wiped out... iodine deficiency. Women who have Type 2 diabetes in particular, but many women in general, suffer painful fibrocystic changes in the breasts that simple iodine supplementation usually takes away.

The reason iodine consumption in the USA and Canada has fallen precipitously since the middle of the twentieth century is bakeries that once used iodine compounds to bleach flour now use bromine compounds. This greatly reduces the amount of iodine in the diet, and, even worse, it adds an anti-iodine compound to everyday eating. Bromine attaches to receptor sites in the thyroid that otherwise would be receiving the iodides it needs to make thyroid hormone.

When thyroid hormone levels are reduced, all the problems associated with Type 2 diabetes get that much worse. There can be inexplicable weight gain, inexplicable high blood sugar levels, and a general feeling of being tired all the time. And in women, there can also be inexplicable breast pain followed by fibrocystic changes in the breast.

When breast pain is caused by deficiency in the iodides provided by food, there is a distinctive rhythm with the menstrual cycle, (in women who have not experienced age-related or surgical menopause). This deficiency causes estrogen to latch on to more receptors in the breast, causing fibrous tissues to grow during the first half of the period, before ovulation. In women who have experienced menopause, the pain may occur all the time.

Two studies have found a keen role of this overlooked nutrient in women's breast health. One study found that women who take it overcome fibrocystic breast pain in 70% of cases. Another study found that the dosage needed for this is just 6 mg a day. That's a great deal more than is needed to prevent goiter, but it's still not a lot of iodine. That's just a 12.5 mg Iodoral tablet every other day, or a single serving of kelp or other sea vegetables every day. It's very easy to use iodine to control breast pain.

And it is very important for women who have Type 2 diabetes to take their Iodoral or to eat their sea veggies. Especially as they cut out white flour and carbohydrates, and as they make their diets more adventurous by using exotic salts, women just don't get the iodides they need. There's just one caveat.

Once in a great while women experience a condition known as iodism. This is really a reaction to the release of bromides that had been occupying receptor sites in thyroid tissue. All you need to do is to reduce your dosage of iodine.

And women who are on thyroid replacement hormone may need less Synthroid or Armour Thyroid, or both. Women who don't know that extra iodides are causing symptoms such as heart palpitations can become quite alarmed... if you take thyroid replacement hormones, speak with your doctor before taking the supplement.

And now I would like you to claim your Free E-Book when you visit Answers to Your Questions.

You will then have access to information diabetics have requested over recent months.

Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
http://drugfreetype2diabetes.com/blog
Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active.
Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

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