Esther Lerch wrote:
> However, about a week ago I read on this list that such iodine-rich
> foods [hijiki (Japanese seaweed)] are not a good idea for hypos. I
> still don't understand why. Maybe someone can explain it to me again,
> or direct me to an explanation.
This one depends on how you're approaching and what kind of hypo. If you
have had your thyroid removed, and are hypo due to that, iodine rich
foods have no effect on anything. It's only if you have Hashimoto's
thyroiditis, (which if I remember correctly, you do, right Esther?) or
you're hypo and still have a thyroid.
The thyroid gland is the principal user of iodine in the body. In fact,
iodine is the one key ingredient your thyroid needs for "production." In
a normal person, dietary iodine is absorded into the blood, and then
into the thyroid, where it is incorporated into compounds Thyroxine/T4
(a compound which contains 4 atoms of iodine) and Triiodothyronine/T3 (
a compound which contains three atoms of iodine) which are secreted into
the system.
The thyroid is very sensitive to iodine. Too little dietary iodine is a
cause for goiter in certain geographic areas. And as you know, they use
radioactive iodine as a treatment because it it particularly effective
in guaranteeing that the radioactive part goes to the thyroid.
And in Hashimoto's, the thyroid is not responding to its normal signals,
and is intead being ruled by antibodies, sort of the "false gods" of the
system. That is why we swing up and down in TSH and wellness -- being
hypo with the autoimmune antibodies does not mean stability in terms of
thyroid function. Illness can cause it to work even more poorly than
usual, taking vitamins/acupuncture and enhancing immune system etc. can
cause it to work better, and then in general, over time, it usually gets
less and less effective as hypo progresses.
We, however, tend to get one static dose to take every day, and this is
not responsive to changes in thyroid function. And, since taking iodine
can for some people cause the thyroid to rev up production of thyroid
hormones, but not predictably, if you're on a regular dose of thyroid
hormone, the iodine can make you go hyper. One doctor told me that
excess iodine also irritates/inflames an autoimmune thyroid, and can
aggravate thyroiditis.
That said, I take an herbal supplement that has a small amount of
iodine, but I don't take a separate iodine supplement.
But Esther, I'm also a firm believer in listening to your cravings,
because I believe they often have biological bases. There are times I
crave protein/red meat, I crave citrus, even sushi! I usually try to
satisfy the cravings, cause I think they have a reason.
Unless you're eating seaweed all the time, every day, I can't imagine a
seaweed binge's all that bad in the grand scheme. Now an ice cream
binge, that's another story!! :D
Mary
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