Natural Iodine Supplement

Natural Iodine is an extract of Ascophyllum nodosum delivered in vegetarian capsules, to provide a healthy intake of iodine without consuming excess salt.

Iodine Supplement Benefits

Are you aware of just how important iodine is for our health? This trace element is integral to the healthy functioning of the human body. It plays a role in regulating:

• Body temperature;
• Reproduction;
• Growth;
• General metabolism;
• Heart function;
• The formation of blood cells;
• The development of the nervous system.

That being said, with its high content of Ascophyllum nodosum, there is one additional benefit of Natural Iodine that you won’t find in all iodine supplements: salt intake regulation.

If your doctor has recommended you reduce your salt intake, you could use Natural Iodine to do it.

Supplementing with iodine extracted from seaweed helps limit salt intake because it contains only a tenth of the sodium found in other iodine sources. This is a significant advantage in combating conditions associated with high salt intake as it won’t adversely affect your iodine levels.

Until very recently, this product had been recommended sparingly by doctors and naturopaths, but its credibility has been boosted with the identification of in-depth scientific research identifying a number of benefits, including metabolic effects, efficacy at detoxing/draining in the case of sluggish digestion, and the potential to inhibit certain enzymes that contribute to high blood glucose levels.

Why is it Important to Supplement with Iodine?

Too little iodine can lead to enlargement of the thyroid gland and impaired thyroid function, which can result in heart problems and weight gain. That is why it is essential to ensure a balanced intake of iodine, taking care to check its provenance in order to ensure an adequate amount.

It is worth noting that up to 5% of the general population suffers from hypothyroidism, the main effects of which are weight gain, fatigue, muscle weakness, brittle hair and nails, and increased sensitivity to cold weather. These individuals may be iodine deficient, or have poor pituitary gland function, or may suffer from an auto-immune condition.

That being said, iodine deficiency is relatively rare, the reason being that some years ago, health authorities decided to take steps to prevent such deficiency by adding iodine to table salt. In other words, most people depend on table salt and salted foods for their iodine intake.

Yet salt is known to have a particularly adverse effect on blood pressure and vascular health. What is more, the average salt intake in Western countries is much higher than that recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) – a maximum of 5 g a day – regularly exceeding as much as 20 g a day.

What are the Best Sources of Iodine?

While lowering salt consumption is essential, it is nonetheless important to maintain your intake of iodine. To do so, you need to eat naturally iodine-rich foods – which are not that plentiful. Among the best sources are seafood, fish – anchovies, sardines, mackerel, etc. – and certain types of seaweed, such as Ascophyllum nodosum – also known as knotted wrack or kelp in North America.

This is a particularly useful source of iodine as it also contains specific polysaccharides called fucans, which offer a number of health benefits. It is widely used as a replacement for salt, an aid to slimming diets, and for its nutritional properties. When ingested in sufficient amounts, it contributes to:

• Normal child growth;
• Healthy metabolic function;
• Cognitive function;
• A balanced nervous system;
• Production of thyroid hormones.

Given that the WHO also recommends restricting fish consumption due to methylmercury exposure, which is toxic to the human central nervous system, seaweed constitutes by far the best food option for ensuring a healthy iodine intake. There are also other algae that are highly beneficial to overall health, such as spirulina – the best extract being, without doubt, Spirulina 498.5 mg.

Where is Ascophyllum Nodosum Seaweed Found?

The best source of this beneficial seaweed is found in the clear, uncontaminated waters along the west coast of Scotland – the famous Outer Hebrides. Once harvested, it is turned into powder and microencapsulated to ensure maximum activity and increased bioavailability.

The result? A high-quality Ascophyllum nodosum supplement.

Depending on the state of your health, Natural Iodine can be combined with other supplements available to buy at SuperSmart, such as Natural Thyro Formula, an enhanced formulation for promoting thyroid balance, and Coleus Forskohlii, a plant extract that stimulates thyroid function.

Iodine Supplement Side Effects

When taking iodine supplements for thyroid issues, it is important to do your research first. Before adding an iodine supplement to your daily routine, there are several boxes you need to check.

First, do you have any existing health conditions? The human body requires a careful chemical balance to function optimally. Natural iodine supplements for thyroid problems can be highly beneficial, but if you are already taking medications for other conditions, you must tread carefully.

Speak to your physician about Ascophyllum nodosum health benefits and whether your existing medications could lead to side effects. An iodine supplement for low thyroid issues may not have any side effects by itself, but it could interfere and interact with other medications.

You should also go out of your way to perform your own research. While countless studies indicate that Ascophyllum nodosum capsules are healthy and provide several benefits for overall health, you must never rely on any one resource to form conclusions. You should always check multiple sources.

Remember to consider your existing health conditions, talk to you doctor about any existing medications you are taking and do your own research before you start a supplement regimen.