It wasn’t until after I was diagnosed with cancer, hypothyroidism and Hashimotos that I realized what a huge impact outside toxins make on our overall health. Most of these toxins we ingest are in things that we can’t control––you’re not going to stop eating or stop breathing, because the air we breathe and foods we eat contain toxic elements and heavy metals. However, when these toxic substances do make their way into our body they can lead to poor health and diseases, like cancer.
While you may not be able control all the toxins that make their way into your body on the day-to-day, you can find ways to remove them from your system and ensure that you don’t fall victim to the health issues that they bring.
Here’s where iodine comes in. This often overlooked mineral is essential to health and can even help you in your journey to cleanse your body. Below, I’m giving you just a few of the ways that iodine can serve as a detoxifying agent and improve your health. Plus, I’m going over the best ways to get more iodine, because there are better options than just sprinkling some iodized salt on all your meals.
Removes toxins from the body
We take in so many toxins and heavy metals from the outside world, whether it be in the air we’re breathing the water we’re drinking or the food we’re eating. Things like pesticides, chlorine, fluoride, bromine and so many more harmful toxins can work their way into our bodies. These are all known as endocrine disruptors, because they interfere with the body’s endocrine system––which can result in so many of your body’s hormones and hormonal processes going completely haywire.
The good news is, getting enough iodine can help to remove some of these toxins from the body. Iodine, along with things like bromine and chlorine are all part of the halogen family of elements and essentially when iodine levels are low many of these other halogens can “crowd out” iodine and flood receptor sites, so little iodine is actually absorbed and utilized. But, when you are getting enough iodine, the opposite happens and the iodine gets absorbed and “crowds out” the unwanted halogens so that they are not absorbed and are excreted from the body.
Iodine is also great for the removal of heavy metals, because it can bind to metals like aluminum and mercury, and remove them from your system.
Provides thyroid support
Iodine is essential for proper thyroid function, because it is needed to produce vital thyroid hormones. It is an essential micronutrient––meaning your body can’t produce it on its own, so it needs to be taken in from the diet. Someone who is deficient in iodine might show signs through an enlarged thyroid (goiter) or through the onset of hypothyroidism. In someone with low thyroid hormones, supplementing extra iodine through your diet may be helpful in improving thyroid function. Meeting your daily requirement for iodine can also help improve thyroid function by removing toxins from the thyroid. Though, most of our bodies can tolerate higher levels of iodine in our diets, those with hyperthyroidism should watch out for foods with too high of an iodine content.
Boosts kidney and liver functions
Because of iodine’s ability to improve thyroid function, through encouraging the production of important thyroid hormones, it can also have somewhat of an indirect effect on improving the functions of both the liver and kidneys, two super vital organs when it comes to detoxification. Low amounts of thyroid hormones, which may occur if you are deficient in iodine can lead to various diseases of the liver. Similarly, low amounts of T3, a thyroid hormone made partially out of iodine, can lead to chronic kidney disease.
How to get more iodine
Because of the risks that come with getting too much iodine, I usually recommend adding it in into your routine through your diet. Start eating organic sea vegetables, like dulse, kelp, seaweed and algae, leafy greens, eggs and certain kinds of berries (organic strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries) and see how you feel.
If that doesn’t help, I have a high quality supplement that I recommend called, Global Healing Detoxadine Nascent Iodine. (start very slow and build up)
If you are concerned about being iodine deficient, get your levels tested! You can even do this at home with a skin test or an iodine loading test. Also, I would suggest testing your levels of fluoride and bromide as well.
Please consult with your doctor before dietary supplementation, especially if you have a pre-existing health condition.
If you want to take your detox to the next level, try my 21-Day program! My program incorporates aspects of mind, body, and spirit cleansing. You can choose to just focus on the food, or you can add in components like mindfulness, journaling and physical exertion. Learn more about my DIY program here: http://da6.beb.myftpupload.com/the-program/
