How to Supplement Iodine for health benefits - Nutrient Support
Nutrient support for iodine supplementation
If you are iodine - loading
(taking high dose iodine) or taking
iodine long-term then ensure
a complete nutritional program
Magnesium ,
vitamin C
and
selenium
are commonly
deficient - Dr. David
Brownstein says it is best to correct magnesium
and Vitamin C before beginning
iodine supplementation.
If
an acidic condition is present, you should correct the pH imbalance - by eating whole foods and eliminating refined foods.
Iodine itself is also an alkalinizing agent
for the body.
Nutrients that should be in your diet
Vitamin C (2500 -5000 mg/day) -supports sodium/iodide
pumps to get
Iodine into cells; however,
do not take within 2
hours of taking an iodine supplement (or it will neutralize
Iodine );
Selenium (200-400 mcg/day) - needed to facilitate the
conversion of T4 to T3 thyroid hormones; also major
anti-oxidant support.
•
NOTE: If you increase your
iodine intake you must also CONCURRENTLY
supplement
Selenium (and vice versa) - With an
iodine deficiency, any attempts to
increase iodine
intake will magnify any selenium deficiency causing it to become worse .
The reverse is also the case.
• Highest levels of Selenium found in: Brazil nuts
(1 nut fresh from shell =
~100 mcg), wheat germ, seafood /shellfish, beef liver and kidney, eggs,
sunflower/sesame seeds, mushrooms, garlic, onions, and kelp.
Selenium for Thyroid
Magnesium (400-600mg/day)
- needed to minimize detoxification reactions.
Magnesium - The Missing Miracle Mineral
Sufficient protein - in particular the amino acid tyrosine
(known as the
anti-depressant amino acid) - a
co-ingredient with iodine to make thyroid
hormones;
- Can be obtained directly
in high protein foods -
E.g. chicken, turkey, fish, peanuts, almonds, avocadoes, milk, cheese, yogurt,
cottage cheese, lima beans, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, soy products, also bananas;
- Can be synthesized in body
from the essential amino acid phenylalanine - also found
in meat and dairy in highest amounts, and in lower amounts in oats and
wheatgerm. To make use of phenylalanine, the body requires vitamins
B3,
B6, and C, also copper and iron.
Sufficient
essential fatty acids - Omega-3
(flax seed /krill oil) and
Omega-6 ; iodine is carried from the intestines
into the blood via EFAs . Also the liver needs to produce bile (eat beets) to
metabolize fats.
Krill Oil
(1000mg/day)
How to Get the Fats of Life
Adequate manganese (2.5 - 5mg /day)
-antioxidant-support in
liver (for T4 to T3 conversion);
• Excellent food sources of manganese: Nuts, seeds, whole-grain cereals and green
leafy vegetables - mustard grees,kale,
chard, raspberries, pineapple,romaine lettuce, collard/turnip greens, maple
syrup, spinach, molasses, garlic, grapes, summer squash, strawberries,
oats,spelt, green beans, brown rice, garbanzo beans, ground cloves, cinnamon,
thyme, peppermint, turmeric.
Mn Food Source
Serving
(mg)
Mn Food Source
Serving
(mg)
Mn Food Source
Serving
(mg)
Cooked whole-grain oats
1 C=1.37
Raw sunflower/sesame seeds
¼C=0.7
Boiled Spinach
½C=0.8
Raspberries
½C=0.6
Brown Rice, cooked
½C=0.88
Pineapple
½C=1.25
Cooked Chick peas
½C=0.8
Boiled Peas
½C=0.4
Raw pumpkin seeds
¼C = 1.04
Whole wheat bread
1slice=.6
Green Tea
1 C=0.4-1.6
Black tea
1 C=0.2-0.8
Walnuts, Almonds
¼C=.85
Pineapple juice (unsweetened)
Chunks (fresh)
1 C=1.26
1 C=1.5
Maple Syrup
2tsp=0.44
Manganese for Thyroid
Vitamin A
(25,000 IU/day)
- for thyroxin production; helps
the thyroid absorb iodine ;
Individuals with low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) have a reduced ability to
convert
beta-carotene
into
vitamin A.
Zinc
(50 mgs/day) - improves thyroid function;
assists in the conversion of T4 to active T3 form of thyroid hormone. You can
use liquid
zinc to test for
zinc deficiency -
if you can taste the zinc then you are not
deficient . If you taste nothing then you need to
supplement.
- Zinc supplement should be combined with 2 mg Copper
- since they are antagonists and increasing
zinc levels will lower
copper levels)
Vitamin E (400 IU/day) -
assists in the absorption of iodine;
Niacin (B3) (Inositol
Hexanicotinate 500 mg 2xdaily) - B3 is needed to increase
ATP functionality to
help with energy and organification of
iodine (thyroid's incorporation of
iodine
into thyroglobulin to produce thyroid hormones) . If you are taking it.
B3 may be
in your wholefood green drink supplement () in lesser amounts but more
bioavailable.