Japan Tsunami Causes Spike in Iodine for Thyroid Protection

March 30, 2011 - PRLog -- Last month’s tsunami in Japan caused severe damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, prompting a surge in sales of iodine for thyroid protection against nuclear radiation. While iodine is only effective against radioactive iodine, which is not an immediate danger from the Fukushima plant, it is still worth investigating long term iodine therapy for regulating thyroid function.

The prevalence of thyroid disease is much more widespread than previously thought. There is also a very significant percentage of people with thyroid disease that are undiagnosed. Even if you have had blood tests done by your doctor and they said your thyroid is functioning properly, you may still benefit from natural thyroid support, which may include iodine for thyroid support.

The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate many bodily functions. Their effect on the body is so diverse, symptoms of an over or underactive thyroid can range from dry skin, to hair loss, inability to regulate body temperature, weight gain or loss and much more.

The hormones that the thyroid gland produces go through a metabolic process as they interact with all the organs of your body. This is why your blood test may show no abnormality yet you may still experience the symptoms of an incorrectly regulated thyroid. The blood test is normally only done on the TSH level, not on T4 or T3, and there is no test for the thyroids’ effect on bodily functions. That has to be observed clinically. This is also why an improperly calibrated thyroid has such an impact on metabolism.

Iodine is critically important to healthy thyroid function as the thyroid contains the only cells in the body that can absorb iodine. Iodine for thyroid is so important it has been added to table salt since for over 80 years. Now that fewer people are consuming table salt in an effort to lower their blood pressure, their intake of iodine may have decreased as well.

It is possible to have too much iodine, so more is not always better. The proper type and the proper amount of iodine for thyroid function is very important. The thyroid gland is very small and it secretes only about a teaspoon of thyroid hormones in an entire year! Because of this, just increasing your iodine for thyroid protection from nuclear radiation that may not be effective is most likely not the best course of action.

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About Health Wellness Connection - Author Mary Ann MacKay has spent years researching and promoting natural health through diet, nutrition, exercise and living a healthy lifestyle, and she shares this information with you on her website at http://www.healthwellnessconnection.com

For more information on how to maintain the health of your thyroid naturally, visit http://healthwellnessconnection.com/reviews/natural-thyroid/, where author Mary Ann MacKay reviews "The Natural Thyroid Diet" - a book that will help you regulate your thyroid, and therefore, your entire body, naturally and effectively.

For more information on the effect of your thyroid on your metabolism, please visit http://healthwellnessconnection.com/metabolism/ for a book Mary Ann MacKay has written - "Metabolism: How Controlling Your Metabolism Improves Your Weight And Your Health" to teach you how to regulate your metabolism naturally to control your weight and promote optimal natural health.