How Much Iodine Per Day For Thyroid: Treating Disorders Like Iodine Deficiency And Hypothyroidism

What you don’t know about thyroid disorders can hurt you, but getting informed can bring serious relief.

Imagine a tiny butterfly hiding in your neck – that’s roughly the shape and size of the thyroid gland, a crucial component of our bodily systems that can sometimes falter, causing thyroid disorders to emerge. Whether it’s spurring metabolism, fueling growth, or directing development, the thyroid gland puts it all in motion by cranking out the essential hormones that make life happen. These hormones, primarily thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) influence almost every cell in the body. A defective thyroid gland can unleash a trio of serious health issues: an underactive thyroid, an overactive one, or the most ominous of all, thyroid cancer. Bad health and diminished well-being can be the unfortunate consequences of these conditions. By getting a handle on what drives them, identifying the red flags, and considering your treatment choices, you can create a plan to mitigate their impact.

Hypothyroidism – a thyroid condition that confuses and frightens many.

Think of your thyroid gland as the body’s engine, responsible for producing hormones that regulate your energy and metabolism. When it slows down, this reduced activity leads to a condition known as hypothyroidism.. This can occur due to various reasons, including iodine deficiency, autoimmune thyroid disease (such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), and radiation therapy. When the thyroid gland fails to produce sufficient hormones, the body’s metabolism slows down, leading to a range of symptoms. When even simple tasks feel exhausting and your scale no longer reflects your efforts, it’s natural to question what’s happening. If you’re also experiencing unusually dry skin and thinning hair, hypothyroidism could be an underlying factor worth considering.t. When hypothyroidism goes untreated, the risks add up: heart disease, infertility, and devastating birth defects that can have a lifelong impact on you and your loved ones. The difference between living with hypothyroidism and living a healthy life lies in prompt medical attention – don’t delay, get treated today.

Did you know that iodine is essential for activating your thyroid gland, driving vital functions like growth, development, and metabolism?”Without this essential element, your body would struggle to function normally.

Thyroid health is closely tied to iodine intake – this vital nutrient is what keeps your thyroid gland in top shape. Thyroid hormones, responsible for regulating metabolism, growth, and development, can’t be produced without iodine – it’s an essential ingredient. Without adequate iodine, the thyroid gland cannot produce enough hormones, leading to hypothyroidism. Conversely, excessive iodine intake can cause hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid produces too much hormone. The recommended daily intake of iodine varies by age and sex, but most adults need 150 micrograms of iodine per day. As fetal and infant development speed along, mothers-to-be and new moms need plenty of iodine to keep pace – which means paying attention to their iodine levels is crucial. Iodine is the unsung hero of thyroid health – make sure you’re getting enough for a balanced lifestyle.

Do you have an iodine gap in your diet?

• If you don’t take high-dose iodine supplements or don’t eat seaweed regularly, it’s likely you are deficient in iodine.
• “Normal” blood tests or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels don’t tell the full story.
• A persistently low iodine level can begin to subtly undermine your vitality, making it tougher to bounce back from illness and stay on top of your game.

Many people are deficient in iodine, often without knowing it. Iodine deficiency can lead to complaints many people suffer from (however, these symptoms can also be caused by various other common deficiencies, as we explain here).

• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Weight gain
• Muscle aches
• Hair loss
• Feeling cold easily
• Having cold hands or feet
• Dry skin
• Lethargy

The most important reason is that very few foods contain iodine.

There is some iodine in iodine-fortified salt, but the iodine evaporates quickly, and people are rightfully advised to cut back on salt. There are small amounts of iodine in eggs and salmon, but these are insufficient.

That’s why governments also make it mandatory to add iodine to bread, but this is still often not enough. More than just a lack of iodine intake, environmental offenders like bromide and fluoride weaken our bodies’ ability to absorb this essential nutrient.

This leads to a situation where most people don’t consume enough iodine, which slowly but steadily undermines their health and quality of life.

“But My Blood Test Is Normal”

To track down iodine deficiency, there is a commonly used but inaccurate test: measuring TSH levels in the blood.

Measuring TSH levels is not a good way to track down iodine deficiency. TSH levels can be normal while one still can be iodine deficient ( R). Also, for iodine screening in the population, TSH levels are preferably not used ( R).

Another approach involves administering a high dose of iodine and then measuring iodine excretion over a 24-hour period through urine analysis, though few medical doctors are familiar with this method. However, it’s important to note that even this test has its limitations.

Also, TSH levels can fluctuate considerably over the day. So in the morning your TSH can be normal, while in the evening it can be 30% lower and abnormal.

TSH levels can be normal even when there is inadequate thyroid hormone production due to iodine deficiency. Thyroid troubles can brew during pregnancy and early childhood, leading to hypothyroidism – a condition that wildly throws off metabolism and lands kids at risk of cognitive struggles and growth hurdles.

So the question is: how do you find out if you have enough iodine?

Well, as we just mentioned, if you don’t take high-dose iodine supplements or don’t eat seaweed regularly, it’s very likely you don’t take in enough iodine.

How Iodine Deficiency Can Cause Both Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism

When the thyroid doesn’t get enough iodine, it starts to malfunction and get damaged.

Neurological development takes a hit when iodine levels dip, leaving pregnant women and young children exposed to a heightened risk of ADHD and lower cognitive function – a serious concern that can have long-term consequences. When adults are running low, the consequences can be as unpleasant as they are unexpected: impaired mental performance, goiter, and a host of issues that cut across age groups, presenting a sobering reality check.

The damaged thyroid tissue attracts the immune system, which will attack this tissue and the whole thyroid, which leads to hypothyroidism (a “slow thyroid”). This is also sometimes called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism are tiredness, lethargy, sluggishness, difficulty concentrating, brain fog, having cold hands or feet, often feeling cold or being sensitive to cold, dry skin, hair loss, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, constipation, a puffy face, brittle nails, slow heart rate, and muscle weakness.

Not all these symptoms need to be present. However, typical symptoms are brain fog, fatigue, and feeling cold.

Sometimes the body attacks the malfunctioning, damaged thyroid in such a way that it actually stimulates the thyroid. This is because the immune system forms antibodies against a specific component of the thyroid gland: the thyroid receptor.

When these antibodies latch onto the thyroid receptor, they inadvertently activate this receptor, which switches on the thyroid.

This leads to hyperthyroidism: an overactive thyroid. This overactive thyroid will produce too much thyroid hormone, which revs up our metabolism.

This can lead to feeling restless, being agitated, having difficulty falling asleep, increased body temperature, excess sweating, excess hunger, hyperactivity, restlessness, a fast heart rate or palpitations, nervousness, panic attacks, abnormal protrusion of the eyes, weight loss, diarrhea, or tremor. Sometimes no symptoms are present.

Most people suffer from hypothyroidism (a too-slow thyroid gland), not hyperthyroidism.

So it’s interesting to see that a shortage of iodine can cause both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is our focus here, and for good reason – it’s a topic that warrants further investigation.

Behind every case of iodine deficiency lies a complex interplay of factors – so what exactly contributes to this imbalance?

Geographic variations in soil quality give rise to a pervasive issue: iodine deficiency, a major public health concern that stubbornly persists in regions bereft of this vital micronutrient. An iodine deficiency can creep up on you from multiple angles. If you’re not eating enough iodine-rich foods, that’s a problem. Add to that the fact that many people lack access to iodized salt, and it creates a double challenge for maintaining proper iodine levels.Then there are those tricky medical conditions that can dash any hopes of getting the iodine you need. In regions where the soil is low in iodine, crops and livestock may also be deficient, leading to lower iodine levels in the local diet. Iodine deficiency becomes a bigger concern when you have a medical condition like autoimmune thyroid disease. Pregnant and lactating women are also at higher risk due to their increased iodine requirements. The reason iodine deficiency remains a concern is that several significant risk factors need to be addressed – otherwise, a host of serious health issues can arise.

What Causes Iodine Deficiency?

Iodine deficiency occurs when the body does not get enough iodine from the diet. This can happen due to various reasons, including:

• Inadequate dietary intake: Iodine is found in limited amounts in many foods, and a diet lacking in iodine-rich foods can lead to deficiency. Foods like dairy products, seafood, and eggs contain iodine, but if these are not regularly consumed, deficiency can occur.
• Lack of access to iodized salt: Iodized salt is a common source of iodine, but in some regions, access to iodized salt is limited. Unfortunately, economic hardship, a knwoledge gap, and ineffective public health policies often separate people from quality healthcare.
• Certain medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as autoimmune thyroid disease, can increase the risk of iodine deficiency. Iodine absorption and utilization by the thyroid gland can be severely impaired by specific conditions that mess with its normal functioning.
• Pregnancy and lactation: Pregnant and lactating women require higher amounts of iodine to support fetal and infant development, and inadequate intake can lead to deficiency. The fate of a child’s health hangs in the balance of their mother’s iodine levels – making every mili-liter count in those critical early years.

If you’re iodine-deficient, beware: you might be setting yourself up for hypothyroidism, goiter, or even cretinism – all serious conditions that require attention. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure adequate iodine intake through a balanced diet and, if necessary, supplements. The first step in promoting thyroid health is to identify and address the risk factors behind iodine deficiency – this sets the stage for a healthier, happier life.

Seaweed, Seaweed Supplements, Iodine Supplements, or Iodine Food Sources?

It’s well known that not getting enough iodine over many years can cause various thyroid problems. How about getting more iodine into your system without sacrificing flavor or breaking the bank? Some people use seaweed supplements or regularly eat seaweed, but we don’t recommend this. The iodine levels in seaweed and seaweed products can be extremely high and vary significantly, which can disrupt thyroid function. The thyroid doesn’t respond well to sudden spikes in iodine, especially after being iodine-deficient for a long time.

A better approach is to take a daily iodine supplement, which provides a steady iodine level. Common supplements, such as potassium iodide, sodium iodide, or kelp-based products, are often included in multivitamins. At a time when their bodies are already undergoing significant changes, pregnant and breastfeeding women need a reliable source of iodine to stay healthy and strong.

How Much Iodine Do I Actually Need?

It’s important that your daily dose of iodine is several times higher than the recommended daily allowance (RDA).

The RDA for iodine in most countries is 150 ug (micrograms) per day.

However, this is the minimum amount needed to prevent serious health problems, like goiter (an enlarged thyroid gland), children born with severe mental retardation (when the mother is iodine deficient), and so on.

This is very likely not the amount you need for optimal, long-term health. In our Best Food Supplements To Take article, we cover the topic of government recommendations and longevity.

To keep your thyroid functioning optimally, iodine is essential. Without enough of it, your overall health may begin to sufferTherefore, various medical doctors and scientists advise taking a dose of iodine at least eight times higher, around 1,000 micrograms (1 mg) of iodine daily.

Often, only at this dose do people start to notice significant differences, like more energy, less brain fog, warm hands and feet, better sleep, less fibrous cysts in the breast in women, and so on.

Some other experts advise taking even more, 10 to 50 mg of iodine daily, but we do not advise taking so much iodine.

We prefer to use a little bit less than the amounts of iodine consumed in specific regions in Japan, where the average daily intake of iodine is 1,000 to 3,000 ug (1 to 3 mg) (), but amounts that are much higher than most governments recommend.

How to Properly Increase Iodine Levels

Make sure your iodine supplement contains both iodine and iodide. Most iodine supplements only contain iodine, but you also need iodide.

Imagine restarting your system with a fresh dose of iodine – but do it wisely, by gradually increasing your intake to sidestep potential pitfalls and safeguard against iodine deficiency, goiter, and thyroid-related problems. Proper iodine supplementation is crucial because the thyroid is sensitive to sudden high increases in iodine, especially when it has been deficient in iodine for many years or decades.

Start with 100-150 micrograms (0.1-0.15 mg) of iodine per day, and double the dose every two weeks until you reach around 1,000-1,200 micrograms (1 mg) per day.

For this, iodine drops are ideal to start because you can easily dose these. If your daily dose increases, you can switch to iodine pills to avoid using too many drops.

If the pill contains too much iodine (e.g., 4 mg of iodine), get a pill cutter and cut the pill into four smaller parts.

Examples of iodine supplements are (not sponsored):

• Iodine + iodide droplets: link
• Iodine + iodide pills, 6.25 mg (cut into four to five pieces): link

It is also important to take extra supplements when taking iodine. Taking in extra iodine makes the thyroid work harder, thereby increasing the production of free radicals in the thyroid, which can damage the thyroid.

Therefore, take the following antioxidants, which help to protect the thyroid cells:

• Vitamin C: 2 x 500 mg per day
• Selenium: 1 to 2 Brazil nuts per day, or 100 ug of selenium yeast (not selenium methionine) per day
• Take vitamin E via almonds, hazelnuts, and sunflower seeds (a few handfuls per day)

Iodine Deficiency, Often Underdiagnosed

Keep in mind this is not medical advice. Struggling with iodine deficiency?Talk to a doctor who’s spent years studying and treating iodine-related problems – they can create a personalized plan to get you back on track.

Experience with iodine deficiency diagnosis and treatment is disturbingly rare among physicians, with serious consequences for patients who don’t receive proper care. They often believe that if TSH levels are normal, you are not iodine deficient. A diet without sufficient iodine can trigger a ticking time bomb of health issues for kids, from retardation to crippled cognitive abilities, that can’t be reversed later on.

There is also still discussion between medical doctors as to what TSH values are ideal.

TSH levels above 5 mIU/L (milli-international units per liter) are considered indicative of hypothyroidism.

However, the American Society of Clinical Endocrinologists believes that TSH should be lower than 3 mIU/L, while other scientists believe that optimally TSH should be below 2 mIU/L.

Even then, TSH levels are not accurate and should not be solely relied upon to diagnose iodine deficiency.

What About Taking Thyroid Hormone (T3 and/or T4) to Treat Hypothyroidism?

Often, for hypothyroidism (a slow thyroid), thyroid hormone is prescribed (T3 or T4).

Thyroid hormone is the hormone that the thyroid gland produces by using iodine. To function properly, our thyroids need a steady supply of iodine, which is then converted into T4 and T3 hormones that orchestrate our body’s energy production, growth, and repair.

However, this does not solve the underlying root cause. After all, in many cases, hypothyroidism is the result of a lack of iodine, often for years or decades. So instead of giving people more iodine (treating the cause), patients are prescribed thyroid hormone.

There’s a real chance this approach will boomerang, leaving patients in a worse spot than when they started.

After all, giving thyroid hormone increases metabolism of many tissues (including breast tissue, which is the most iodine-rich tissue in the body, after the thyroid). This increases their need for iodine. However, given iodine is not provided, this further hinders the proper functioning of these tissues that need iodine.

What if My TSH Increases When I Start to Take Iodine?

Sometimes, when people who are iodine deficient are given iodine, their TSH levels actually increase, which is interpreted as a bad sign, worsening the hypothyroidism (the higher TSH levels, the worse the hypothyroidism).

However, often such an increase in TSH is a natural reaction of the body and short-lived. The sudden increase in iodine (taken as a supplement) causes TSH levels to rise, given TSH stimulates the thyroid and other tissues to take up and process the extra iodine. Millions of women deal with the discomfort of fibrocystic breast disease every day. Now, a possible solution has emerged in the form of iodine supplements. Can they really bring relief? Only more research will tell.

Don’t overlook iodine for treating thyroid disorders

It’s important that your daily dose of iodine is several times higher than the recommended daily allowance (RDA).

If iodine is scarce, the effects can be catastrophic – and permanent. Babies in the womb and young children are especially at risk, and may suffer from intellectual disabilities that might have been avoided.

We recommend starting with 100-150 micrograms (0.1 – 0.15 mg) of iodine per day, and double the dose every two weeks until you reach around 1,000-1,200 micrograms (1 mg) per day.

My Throat Starts to Hurt When Taking Iodine

In some people, when they start to take high doses of iodine, their throat hurts. This is likely because the thyroid gland starts to work harder again. Sometimes this can be because of increased free radical production in the thyroid gland. Avoid throat pain and other unwanted side effects by getting enough iodine in your system.

To shield your thyroid from harm, feed it a diet rich in antioxidants. Vitamins C and E, plus selenium, are like a superhero team, working together to keep your thyroid strong.