How about kelp?

[Guest guest]

Hi and everyone,

Hypothyroidics should definitely take kelp to supply iodine. To avoid

possible abrupt acceleration of your thyroid, start with one kelp tablet a

day, and then increase the amount depending upon how you feel.

I would say to keep increasing the kelp gradually (adding one every 3 to 7

days) up to at least 10 a day. Many people take alot more. Kelp and other

seaweeds are staples in many Asian diets and people there may consume the

equivalent of 50 tablets a day.

Here are some quotes from the Nutrition Almanac:

" Seaweed is rich in all necessary minerals. There are several varieties,

including brown kelp (laminaria), nori, dulse wakame, and Irish moss, all of

which have a salty flavor. "

" Kelp is one of the best natural sources of iodine; it is also rich in the B-

complex vitamins, vitamins D, E, and K, calcium, and magnesium. "

" It can be used fresh in salads, but it should be soaked several times in

water first. Seaweed is beneficial in maintaining the health of the mucous

membranes and in treating arthritis, constipation, nervous disorders,

rheumatism, colds, and skin irritations. "

" All seaweeds have cancer-fighting properties. Brown or laminaria, also

known as kelp, is anit-bacterial and antiviral; it kills the herpes virus, and

lowers blood and cholesterol levels. Wakami boosts immunity and nori helps

heal ulcers, disperses blood clots, and kills bacteria. "

Kelp is a food, which not only supplies iodine and trace minerals, but which

benefits the body in a variety of other ways. It is not a refined vitamin or

minerals, but a whole food. If you put 10 kelp tablets in a spoon, you will

see that it is a very small quantity of food. I have never heard of anyone

getting too much kelp.

Kelp for hyperthyroidism is a different story. Until you start taking

copper, you should avoid kelp and other iodine sources. Many doctors tell

hyperthyroidics to avoid kelp and other iodine sources as a method to reduce

the thyroid output. This appears to be sound advice and in fact this is what

I tried to do when I was sick. Now, however, I see it as a futile and

unnecessary effort. Our bodies store iodine and if you stop taking any iodine

the body's supply will probably last for many months. The Nutrition Almanac

states that the body contains an estimated 20 to 50 milligrams of iodine. We

need about 150 micrograms of iodine daily, so 20 to 50 milligrams will last

about 120 to 300 days.

The real problem in hyperthyroidism is a copper deficiency and once you get

your copper stores up you can consume all the iodine you want and you won't

have any problems. But if your copper is low and you take kelp it may cause

your heart to race or set off a thyroid storm. The same thing is true if you

take a multiple vitamin & mineral which is low in copper--the iodine and the

manganese can set your heart off.

As described above, kelp is beneficial for alot of reasons besides supplying

iodine. One kelp tablet a day will supply all the iodine you need (unless you

have an absorption problem--which is a very real possibility). The rest of

the kelp you take supplies many minerals and other health promoting

substances.

Kelp is a wonderful supplement to anyone's diet, particularly those with

thyroid diseases. The important thing to remember is that you have to be

careful at the very beginning. Hypothyroidics can get a very fast increase in

thyroid production which can create problems because they are taking hormone

replacement. Hyperthyroidics can experience worse hyperthyroidism unless they

take copper first.

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