Proper nutrition can be deceptively complex, because straightforward steps individuals may take to improve their dietary intake may create imbalances that undermine the effort to improve health. The rise of vegetarianism and vegan diets have many health benefits, for example, but can lead to deficiencies in the intake of some essential elements, from protein, to micronutrients such as iodine. Iodine is particularly susceptible to being forgotten mix of other vitamins and minerals, which is why many choose to take an iodine supplement sure no loss of this substance.

The thyroid gland contains 75% of the 20 to 30 mg of iodine that is within the body at any given time. Although 15 to 30 mg of iodine is often stated to be more than sufficient for daily intake, this does not count factors that cause a loss or removal of iodine from the system, nor for unique medical conditions that may result in iodine deficiency. An iodine supplement can make up for this absence or loss of availability, and therefore head off the development of serious deficiency problems that may result in hypothyroidism, poor concentration, depression, low energy, blood sugar fluctuations and a host of other symptoms.

A moderate dose of iodine of 3 mg a day is sometimes recommended, in order to slowly saturate body tissue and avoid the “flood the system” approach that results in the body excreting most of what it does not use. For more chronic cases of deficiency a higher daily dose of an iodine supplement may be required to best restore thyroid function. It is recommended to always take selenium, another important trace element, along with the iodine, since selenium also supports thyroid gland health and is useful for hundreds of other important functions throughout the different metabolisms of the body.

The third national health and nutrition examination survey, also called NHANES III, reported that iodine levels in the population dropped by more than 50% of the last generation. Clearly, iodized salt (instituted in the 1920s) is not resolving the problem of an iodine deficiency. The increasingly nutrient depleted soils from which manufactured foods are created have led to multiple deficiencies in the nutrients we are supposed to receive naturally from the food supply. Iodine supplement, and dietary choices are designed to deal with the problem of augmenting the body’s requirements regard to iodine, and are recommended for anyone desiring optimal thyroid system.