Iodine is a chemical element which the body can’t make so it must be obtained come from the diet. Most foods contain very little iodine unless it has been added during processing, which is the case with salt.
The thyroid gland needs iodine to function properly and make hormones. Your thyroid gland creates triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)‚ which are hormones that are responsible for managing how your body utilizes fats and carbohydrates. These hormones may also work to support mental health and fertility‚ as well as growth and development in children.
Insufficient iodine can cause the thyroid to work harder, resulting in an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), which becomes evident as a swollen neck.
Other consequences of iodine deficiency can also be serious: low levels of thyroid hormone can cause women to stop ovulating, leading to infertility; deficiency can also lead to an autoimmune disease of the thyroid and may increase the risk of thyroid cancer; some evidence suggests that iodine deficiency might also increase the risk of other cancers such as prostate, breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer.
While problems with your thyroid can be due to a number of factors‚ an iodine deficiency is one cause that can be easily fixed. Your thyroid gland needs iodine to produce hormones‚ making the element extremely important to your overall health. Most whole foods lack significant levels of iodine‚ so you may want to consider enhancing your diet with a supplement.
Organo Iodine Drops™ by Progressive Labs promotes healthy thyroid functioning with 200 mcg of iodine per serving (5 drops). The iodine in this liquid supplement is derived from potassium iodide‚ which is a good source of the element.