Human tissues naturally contain small amounts of certain nonmetallic and metallic elements. These trace minerals, while required in minute amounts, are extremely important to human health because they help drive biochemical reactions that allow cells, tissues and organs to thrive and function optimally. [1]
For example, the metallic trace mineral zinc serves as a catalyst in more than a hundred different enzymatic reactions. [2] Some metallic elements, like iron and copper in their ionic forms, are also known to participate in redox reactions that facilitate energy metabolism.
Meanwhile, the nonmetallic trace mineral selenium is an integral component of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, and plays a major role in the enzyme’s protective function against oxidative stress. [3][4]
Because of their manifold functions inside the human body and their invaluable contributions to human health and wellness, you need to ensure that you get enough of these trace minerals from your daily diet. Remember that while your body naturally contains these nutrients, it cannot produce them to meet all your cells’ needs.
Among the essential trace minerals your diet should provide in ample amounts, iodine is one of the most important ones to watch out for. This is especially true for vegans and some vegetarians whose diets strictly exclude the most abundant sources of iodine. These sources include fish, shrimp and other seafood, as well as dairy products like milk and cheese, and eggs. [5]
According to a 2022 study by researchers at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency is on the rise in the U.S. despite the implementation of salt-iodization policies. [6] In Europe, countries that lack such policies are also seeing a high incidence of iodine deficiency and related disorders.
Fortunately for people with limited dietary sources of iodine who prefer to use non-iodized salt, iodine supplements provide an easy and reliable way of meeting your daily iodine needs. Maintaining healthy iodine levels not only ensures that important cellular and bodily processes take place, it also provides a wide range of health benefits.
The role of Iodine inside the human body
Iodine is one of the few nonmetallic elements your body needs, along with selenium, fluorine, phosphorus, sulfur and chlorine. [7] Unlike most minerals, which tend to be widely distributed throughout the body, iodine is mostly concentrated in one place: the thyroid gland. In fact, a healthy adult body typically contains around 15 to 20 milligrams (mg) of iodine, 70 to 80 percent of which is stored in the thyroid. [8]
The thyroid gland harbors most of your iodine because it needs this crucial element to create thyroid hormones. Research suggests that the thyroid gland normally uses about 120 micrograms (mcg) of iodine when synthesizing the inactive hormone thyroxine (T4) and the active hormone triiodothyronine (T3).
Being deficient in iodine spells trouble not just for your thyroid but also for your whole body because T3 and T4, which cannot be produced without iodine, play crucial roles in the regulation of your body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, as well as the growth of your hair, skin and nails. [9] These hormones also help regulate your metabolism and control the rate at which you burn calories and use energy, meaning they have a huge influence on your weight as well.
People with iodine deficiency develop goiter, a condition marked by the enlargement of the thyroid gland. This can cause difficulties with swallowing and breathing and could even cause choking. [10]
Iodine deficiency can also lead to hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), which slows down your metabolism and causes fatigue, weight gain and intolerance to cold. Other symptoms of iodine deficiency include:
- Confusion
- Coarse, thinning hair
- Dysphonia (hoarse or raspy voice)
- Infertility
- Puffy skin
- Scaly, dry skin
Being an important nutrient for normal growth and development, adequate iodine intake is also crucial for humans. Numerous studies have shown that iodine deficiency leads to stunted growth and impaired cognitive development or intellectual disabilities in children. [11] Iodine deficiency in pregnant women can also cause birth defects, miscarriages or stillbirths.
In addition to its role in thyroid hormone synthesis, research suggests that iodine can also act as an antioxidant and neutralize free radicals. A study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences reported that the molecular form of iodine (I2), in particular, can help protect the organs that absorb it from oxidative damage. [12]
Meanwhile, a study by Italian researchers found that iodine can also provide additional support to your immune system. Dietary iodine can be converted to hypoiodite by the enzymes present in the membranes of salivary cells and the surfaces of intestinal cells. This negatively charged molecule is said to support healthy immune function. [13]
To enjoy these benefits, researchers suggest supplementing with 1 to 3 mg of molecular iodine daily. [14]
Health benefits of Nascent Iodine
Iodine supplements are available in various forms, such as potassium iodide, sodium iodide, molecular iodine and nascent iodine. Potassium iodide and sodium iodide are both salts of stable iodine, while nascent iodine differs from molecular iodine because it is iodine in its atomic form.
Nascent iodine is obtained by separating molecular iodine (I2), which exists as two iodine atoms joined together. Dietary iodine is first converted into iodide ions (I-) – the same form as nascent iodine – before being absorbed in the small intestine. [15] The fact that nascent iodine comes in this absorbable form gives it a definite advantage over other iodine supplements.
According to studies, maintaining healthy levels of iodine through proper diet and supplementation can give you the following benefits:
- Supports healthy immune function – As mentioned earlier, iodine in the form of hypoiodite has beneficial properties that can help protect the body against threats. A recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology also reported that iodide can support healthy immune responses through its positive influence on the activities of various immune cells. [16]
- Supports healthy thyroid function – Iodine is required by the thyroid gland to make the thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, which help regulate metabolism and support the healthy functions of various organs. [17] Adequate daily intake of iodine ensures optimal thyroid health and function, while excessive or insufficient intakes can lead to thyroid disease. While about 80 percent of iodine in your body can be found in your thyroid gland, the remaining nonhormonal iodine can be found in other tissues of the body, such as the eyes, mammary glands, cervix, gastric mucosa and salivary glands.
- Supports healthy brain function – Iodine is a crucial nutrient throughout life, but most especially during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood. This is because thyroid hormones regulate growth in the developing brain. [18] Iodine deficiency in pregnant women has been shown to impair the neurological development of the fetus, while iodine deficiency in children has been linked to lower-than-average IQ. [19] According to a study published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, this link could be explained by the fact that iodine deficiency affects not just the production of important brain chemicals, but also various brain regions like the hippocampus, which is responsible for learning and memory. [20]
- Supports healthy metabolism – As mentioned above, the thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, are involved in the regulation of metabolism – that is, the chemical reactions that allow your body to convert food into energy for your cells. [21] Without sufficient iodine, your thyroid gland won’t be able to make these critically important hormones, resulting in slow metabolism and lack of energy – two classic symptoms of an underactive thyroid. To maintain healthy metabolism, make sure you’re meeting your daily iodine requirement to support the optimal functions of your thyroid.
- Supports healthy skin, teeth and hair – An imbalance of thyroid hormones due to iodine deficiency can result in hair loss. [22] At the same time, it could also cause dry, flaky skin because iodine is needed for normal, skin health. [23] Additionally, iodine deficiency leads to endocrine dysfunction, which can cause dental problems, according to experts. [24] To maintain healthy skin, teeth and hair, you need to support optimal thyroid hormone levels by ensuring you get enough iodine daily.
- Supports healthy energy levels – Because iodine is important for maintaining healthy metabolism, poor iodine intake can negatively affect your energy levels. But you can easily remedy this by following a nutritious diet and supplementing with nascent iodine. Because nascent iodine is easily absorbed in the intestine, it can support healthy energy levels by helping you maintain healthy thyroid hormone levels that are already within the normal range.
- Protects the thyroid during nuclear emergencies – Your thyroid gland can and does store a certain amount of iodine. In the event of a nuclear disaster, you can take advantage of this fact and protect yourself from radioactive iodine from nuclear fallout by taking nascent iodine. [25] The idea behind this is that by saturating your thyroid gland with nonradioactive iodine, you can prevent it from storing radioactive iodine, which has been linked to thyroid cancer, especially in children. [26] Your thyroid can only store iodine for a limited amount of time, so if you wish to maximize the protective benefit of nascent iodine, take it just before or during initial contact with radioactive iodine. Note that iodine supplements like nascent iodine can only protect against radioactive iodine.
Where to get high-quality, lab-verified Nascent Iodine
Iodine, although required only in small amounts, is one of the most important nutrients for supporting optimal health. Maintaining healthy levels of this essential trace mineral provides a wide range of benefits, which include supporting optimal brain, immune and thyroid functions and even protecting against radioactive iodine from nuclear fallout.
If you’re looking for clean, high-quality, non-China and non-GMO iodine supplements, then the Health Ranger Store has the right products for you: Health Ranger Select Nascent Iodine and Groovy Bee® Nascent Atomic Iodine are both lab-verified liquid dietary supplements that are specially formulated for optimal absorption.
Health Ranger Select Nascent Iodine is made using the divinely inspired Edgar Cayce method of adding energy to separate diatomic iodine into monoatomic nascent iodine. Instead of a glycerin solution, this 2% strength stable iodine tincture uses a solution of pure, USP-grade ethanol distilled from fermented grain to give it an incredibly long shelf life.
With roughly a third of the surface tension of water, Health Ranger Select Nascent Iodine has one of the lowest surface tensions of any iodine produce we’ve tested so far. Because of this low surface tension, nascent iodine is very easy for your body absorb. Each drop of our nascent iodine provides roughly 350 mcg of elemental iodine. To use, simply add 1 to 3 drops to ½ ounce of water. Take twice daily on an empty stomach.
Likewise, our Groovy Bee® Nascent Atomic Iodine provides high-quality iodine to support the optimal health and function of your thyroid, healthy energy levels and even your body’s natural ability to eliminate toxins. To use, simply take 3 drops in some purified water, and swallow. Use once daily or as recommended by your healthcare provider.
Both Health Ranger Select Nascent Iodine and Groovy Bee® Nascent Atomic Iodine are extensively lab tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology, so you can be sure of your cleanliness, potency and safety.
Support healthy thyroid function and hormone levels by supplementing with easy-to-absorb nascent iodine!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose any diseases.
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[2] https://www.hsph.harvard.edu
[3] https://phmd.pl
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[7] http://www.dcnutrition.com
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[10] https://my.clevelandclinic.org
[11] https://www.mdpi.com
[12] https://www.mdpi.com
[13] https://www.mdpi.com
[14] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[15] https://www.dsm.com
[16] https://www.frontiersin.org
[17] https://www.verywellhealth.com
[19] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
[20] https://www.tandfonline.com
[21] https://www.hsph.harvard.edu
[23] https://www.healthline.com
[24] https://www.enclavedental.com
[25] https://www.dw.com
[26] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
