So, what is the consensus on iodine?

[Mama Soltera]

I have been using sea salt only for years now. Now, reading up on natural ways to help thyroid imbalance, it says to make sure you use salt with iodine. I thought this was bad, but now I'm confused. What did our ancestors do?

[fruitfulmomma]

We use sea salt because table salt is highly processed and demineralized. The iodine in it was added back in through fortification.

There is a list of foods here http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?t...trient&dbid=69 that are naturally higher in iodine if you think you need more or maybe someone else can chime in with a good supplement.

You could also try Real Salt which retains the natural iodine and other minerals in it... http://www.realsalt.com/learn-about-realsalt.html. I used it during one pregnancy when I was having pica-type cravings and it worked well.

[JessicaS]

I use kosher salt because I prefer it, I do take a bit of iodine since kosher salt doesn't have it.

[Mama Soltera]

Can "real salt" be bought at health food stores?

[fruitfulmomma]

Can "real salt" be bought at health food stores?

Probably. I bought it at Super Target last week.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Originally Posted by Mama Soltera

Can "real salt" be bought at health food stores?

I've purchased it at Whole Foods Market and through Azure.

[EdnaMarie]

Originally Posted by Mama Soltera

Can "real salt" be bought at health food stores?

Salt is one of the few foods I'd feel okay ordering by mail from a reputable source, 'cause it's not going to go bad. So there's always that option.

I think I'm supposed to have less iodine as I'm hyperthyroid... is that right?

[ameliabedelia]

We use Celtic Sea Salt. I believe it is very similar to real salt (unrefined).

If you do use sea salt, I do think it is very important to make sure it is completely unrefined.

[kjbrown92]

I use sea salt that has natural iodine in it (can't remember the name of it).

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by Mama Soltera

I have been using sea salt only for years now. Now, reading up on natural ways to help thyroid imbalance, it says to make sure you use salt with iodine. I thought this was bad, but now I'm confused. What did our ancestors do?

sea salt really doesn't contain all that much.

traditional sources of iodine were seafoods and animal foods see Food Sources on this page:
http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-d...ne-debate.html

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by ameliabedelia

We use Celtic Sea Salt. I believe it is very similar to real salt (unrefined).

Celtic is way higher in minerals than Real Salt.

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by JaneS

sea salt really doesn't contain all that much.

ITA. It's also pretty hard to correct an actual deficiency with food alone (IME.)

[JaneS]

Also needs to be considered is an overexposure to common iodine antagonists that are now increasing in our environment that were not there in our ancestors time:

chlorine, bromine/bromide, perchlorate, fluoride,

and eating soy and other common goitrogens such as canola oil.

These all actively block iodine, and the previous list of chemical bad guys are stored in the body instead of iodine.

There are iodine receptors in the brain and spinal fluid, stomach lining, breasts, ovaries, and prostate in addition to the thyroid. It is thought by iodine researchers that cancer of these organs are increasing and can be connected with iodine deficiency/chemical antagonists. See "THE Iodine Thread" for more discussion along these lines.

[Mama Soltera]

Originally Posted by JaneS

sea salt really doesn't contain all that much.

I thought it didn't have any at all. Interesting. Does anyone have a link to the iodine thread? Thanks for all the info.

I do avoid soy but use canola oil.

[JaneS]

http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1091794

[JaneS]

oops, trigger happy....

the above is the link to 'THE Iodine Thread' and brands of sea salt that are not processed do have some iodine. Although like all salt, it evaporates with age.

[Mama Soltera]

Thanks for all the great information and the link. I was a little confused on the kelp being potentially harmful. At the health food store they said kelp is the only supplement you can get idoine from.

[MoonStarFalling]

We use unprocessed sea salt w/ natural iodine and also eat a lot of seafood and sea veggies. I've also taken kelp caps and eventually iodoral because I had a severe deficiency.

[Mama Soltera]

Is Iodoral by perscription only? Also, how do you know if you're taking too much iodine? What would be the symptoms? One of my supplements is in mcg's and I don't know how to convert that to mg's.

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by Mama Soltera

Is Iodoral by perscription only? Also, how do you know if you're taking too much iodine? What would be the symptoms? One of my supplements is in mcg's and I don't know how to convert that to mg's.

No www.optimox.com

1000 mcg = 1 mg