Iodine is an essential mineral that keeps your body working properly, as it feeds your thyroid gland and aids its hormone production. In return, this helps control your weight and repair damaged cells in your body. But did you know about a third of the population is susceptible to iodine deficiency? Iodine does not occur naturally in your body, but it can be obtained by eating seafood and other ingredients.
The deficiency comes as a result of an incorrect diet and leads to a series of symptoms that not only cause discomfort but can also damage your self-esteem. This blog will guide you through the iodine deficiency symptoms to see if you suffer from this condition or not.
Where Do People Get Iodine From?
Iodine is an earth mineral, so naturally, it is produced outside the human body. That being said, people need iodine to produce thyroid hormones, and it can be acquired from the following sources:
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Food
Iodine is naturally occurring in seawater, which means that the creatures dwelling in it are rich in this substance. The foods that have the highest quantities of iodine are shrimp, seaweed, crabs, oysters, and other types of seafood.
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Table Salt
Iodine deficiency used to be very common in areas where seafood was not common. However, in 1924, iodine was first added to table salt and made available at grocery stores. So, with a healthy addition of table salt to their diet, people may be able to bypass iodine deficiency better than if salt wasn’t around.
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Dietary Supplements
There are also men and women who cannot consume seafood or salt, so they use iodine supplements to get their daily recommended dose of iodine. It is best to talk matters with a specialist so that you can get a safe and effective supplement that is specific to your needs.
For example, EvexiPEL Iodine Supplements can be used in case of iodine deficiency to balance the thyroid hormone. The recommended dose is 25 to 50 mg per day. Artistry Skin & Laser is an EvexiPEL provider, so you can rest assured that you are in good hands.
We will conduct the necessary tests to decide how much of this supplement you should take per day to prevent conditions like hormone imbalances, fatigue, weight gain, goiter, thyroid disorders, and many more.
Signs of Iodine Deficiency
If you don’t have enough iodine in your body, then your body will begin to let you know. Some of the most common symptoms include:
1. Weight Gain
Iodine helps your thyroid produce the necessary hormones to speed up your metabolism. When those hormones are not present, your body will have difficulties converting food into heat. Since those calories are left to rest, they will eventually be stored in your body as fat. Because of this process, iodine deficiency can lead to stubborn pockets of fat that may not budge despite your weight-loss efforts.
2. Neck Swelling
Neck swelling, especially in the frontal area, is a very common sign of iodine deficiency. Since your thyroid is not able to make as many thyroid hormones as it should, it will try to compensate by attempting to make more. This can cause your thyroid glands to become too big, leading to a condition called goiter.
3. Fatigue
Fatigue is also a sign of iodine deficiency and it’s usually one of the most common symptoms to look for. That’s because about 80 percent of people with lower thyroid hormones feel sluggish and tired.
4. Hair Loss
Your thyroid hormones can also help your hair grow. Therefore, when your body no longer produces these hormones as it should, your hair follicles may not be able to regenerate. This means that hair loss may also be a symptom of iodine deficiency.
The Bottom Line
Iodine deficiency can lead to a wide array of symptoms that can become quite worrisome in time. To prevent this type of deficiency, you should make sure to follow a proper diet or take the right supplements. To help you, please set up an appointment with our specialists at Artistry Skin & Laser so that we can create a personalized treatment plan to get more iodine into your system.
To find out more about iodine and how it affects your body, you can contact Artistry Skin & Laser at 720-593-1816. We are more than happy to answer your questions. You may also use our online contact form to get in touch with us.
