Iodine & Thyroid Health
Bethel Wagner
January – February 2021 • Vol 3, No 113
Dear Bethel,
I’ve read and heard lots of conflicting information on iodine and thyroid health. What are the safe limits, and what are the results of getting too much or too little?
Thanks,
Laura
Dear Laura,
Iodine is a “Goldilocks” nutrient. Having too little or too much can cause or exacerbate issues like goiter, hypothyroidism, or Hashimoto’s. Ideally, our intake should be between 50 and 200 micrograms per day. Consuming more than that can actually slow thyroid function. In fact, after the introduction of iodized salt, the number of goiters dropped, but the rates of Hashimoto’s skyrocketed!
