The Impact of Iodine on Your Thyroid (and Why Testing First is Key)
Iodine is the mineral that everyone should know about, but no one does. It was demonized several years ago and basically people are afraid of it, which was very misleading (there’s a whole history lesson on it). It’s time now to understand how iodine really works and how it could be the missing link to your best health. There is a strategy to is so be sure to read all the way through before jumping into any type of supplement.
What Does Iodine Do for the Thyroid?
Your thyroid is like the command center of your metabolism, and iodine is one of its MVPs. Your thyroid gland needs iodine to make thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which control things like energy levels, metabolism, body temp and ovulation. Without enough iodine, your thyroid can't do its job, leading to symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, painful periods and brain fog.
Side note: Your thyroid labs like TSH can come back normal even if you’re not making enough thyroid hormone. In other words, your doc may have said your thyroid was fine, but you still have symptoms. That is a sign to dig deeper into things like iodine!
Sounds simple enough, right? Just take some iodine and you're good to go! But here's the thing...
Too Much of a Good Thing?
While iodine deficiency can absolutely contribute to thyroid issues, too much iodine can also cause problems. Your thyroid is sensitive, and an overload of iodine can actually slow it down, leading to hypothyroid symptoms or even triggering autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto's.
Your thyroid also needs more than just iodine (you have probably heard me say that no nutrient works alone). You need to make sure you’re getting other nutrients like vitamin C, selenium and magnesium as well.
This is why it's so important to test before diving into iodine supplements. Guessing and supplementing blindly can backfire and make things worse instead of better.
How Do You Know if You Need Iodine?
Testing your iodine levels is the only way to know if you're truly deficient or if your thyroid issues might be caused by something else like stress, nutrient imbalances, or even gut health issues… or both :) Functional lab testing can give you a full picture of your thyroid function and whether iodine is something your body actually needs.
If you're feeling off—whether it's stubborn weight, low energy, or just feeling blah no matter what you do—it's worth digging deeper. Here are some other signs you may have low iodine:
feel worse with thyroid medication
hair loss
wired but tired
extremely anxious
chronic fatigue
difficulties getting pregnant
struggling in menopause
fibroids
If you’re ready to finally get to the bottom of your thyroid health and see if iodine (or something else) is the missing piece, apply to work with me today. Let’s get you feeling your best without the guesswork!
