You may think of iodine as the powerful, natural antiseptic found in first-aid kits, but did you know that it’s actually vital to supporting your overall health and well-being? Though the body doesn’t produce iodine, it requires it to create thyroid hormones that ensure healthy thyroid function. In fact, the American Thyroid Association recommends adding iodine to your diet to prevent iodine deficiency. Nascent iodine supplementation is an excellent way to introduce this substance into your daily routine to naturally and safely improve thyroid function.
With regular iodine, digestive enzymes must metabolize the extra components, turning them into iodate, in order to reap the full benefits of the compound. This means that approximately 80 percent of the iodine is excreted, leaving only about 20 percent for use by the body. On the other hand, nascent iodine is more pure, so the body can take full advantage of it without the need to discard a good majority. This form of iodine is demonstrated to be a safe and effective way to obtain optimal iodine levels in the body.
Why Does Thyroid Function Matter?
The American Thyroid Association says that if your body doesn’t have enough iodine, it cannot produce enough thyroid hormone. When the body doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone (causing a condition known as hypothyroidism), it is unable to properly regulate the body’s metabolism. This causes a wide range of frustrating symptoms, including:- Fatigue and weakness
- Weight gain and difficulty losing weight
- Dry skin and hair
- Hair loss
- Constipation
- Irritability and depression
- Memory loss
- Decreased libido
- Cramps and muscle aches
- A lower tolerance to cold temperatures
What is Nascent Iodine?
Traditionally, doctors recommend adding iodized salt into the diet to introduce more iodine into the body. This presents several obstacles, especially for people trying to lower their salt intake. A better option is to add a nascent iodine supplement to your diet. Nascent iodine is simply iodine in its atomic form rather than its molecular form—in other words, it’s the simpler, easier to digest form of iodine. Additionally, it has an electromagnetic charge that naturally attracts bacteria, viruses and parasites.
With regular iodine, digestive enzymes must metabolize the extra components, turning them into iodate, in order to reap the full benefits of the compound. This means that approximately 80 percent of the iodine is excreted, leaving only about 20 percent for use by the body. On the other hand, nascent iodine is more pure, so the body can take full advantage of it without the need to discard a good majority. This form of iodine is demonstrated to be a safe and effective way to obtain optimal iodine levels in the body.
Iodine and Pregnancy
Iodine is also incredibly important for the development of the fetus and young child, so it’s important that pregnant and breastfeeding women take iodine supplements. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pregnant women should increase iodine intake through supplementation in order to prevent issues associated with iodine deficiency in pregnant women. With that being said, proper dosage is extremely important during pregnancy and breastfeeding—finding the right balance of not too much and not too little iodine is key—so take iodine pregnancy supplements in dosages we recommend or as adjusted by a nutritionally-oriented doctor.
