A year ago my doctor informed me that she thought I was
developing hypothyroidism. She went on to tell me that this is the result of a
genetic condition or an autoimmune disorder. After that she wanted to encourage
me because all this would mean is that I need to take a synthetic hormone for
the rest of my life and I will feel better.
I looked at her like she has lost her mind. After much
questioning, 4 blood tests, my mom being tested, and my experimenting with
taking a multivitamin and kelp for three months, I proved to her that it was
the result of an iodine deficiency. She
told me that it is impossible to have iodine deficient people in a first world
country, that this is a third world problem. This is absolutely not true.
the iodine evaporates before you can ingest it |
It should come as no surprise that with the rise in iodine deficiency
there has been a rise in thyroid problems across America.
Iodine is cheap and
easy to add to your food. It is present in anything that comes out of the
ocean, potatoes, carrots, onions and a variety of vegetables that people eat fairly
regularly year round. The most important thing you can do is get the right
amount.
If you are iodine deficient you probably experience the long
list of issues related to hypothyroidism: being tired all the time, restless
sleeping, weight gain, hair loss, dry skin, depression, achy joints, cold hands
and feet, poor circulation, low energy, slow metabolism, tingling extremities,
infertility, and the list goes on. Iodine also calms the body so you can be at
peace and rest. Without it, your body is in fight or flight mode all the time
which accounts for the restless nights, depression and anxiety.
According to “Folks Medicine” by D.C. Jarvis M.D., your
blood goes through our thyroid every 17 minutes. Iodine is also part of a
system that cleans out your blood so that it functions as best as it possibly
can for your body. Without enough iodine, people have lower immune systems and
lack the nutrients needed to ward off disease and illness. Without the right
amount of iodine, the body also cannot absorb all the vitamins and minerals it
needs to function properly.
As you can see, there is a whole host of issues that spring
up when iodine is deficient. The most alarming part is that doctors do not test
for this because there has not been an accurate system created to prove a body has the right levels of iodine. It is also true that people are taught common myth that iodine deficiency is primarily a
third world problem. If you look at that long list of health problems that
result from a lack of iodine, I am sure it takes very little imagination to
think up all the prescription drugs that can be sold to someone experiencing
any of those symptoms. People are prescribed drugs for the better part of their
lives for depression, anxiety, hypothyroidism, sleeplessness, etc. There is a
rise in infertility and it costs thousands of dollars to pay for infertility
treatments. Not to sound morbid, but I don’t think there is any mistake that doctors are not figuring out
iodine levels as a cause for health problems in their patients…
There is an easy way to test yourself for iodine deficiency.
I have to warn you that this example has been tested by a doctor who claims that it is not as reliable as an iodine loading test, but you can judge for yourself. I believe that this is an effective way to test yourself and begin the journey of rebuilding your iodine levels. Alternative medicine practioners and doctors agree that this is a useful and affective method. To test yourself,
purchase iodine tincture (used for cuts and scrapes) from your local pharmacy
(they run around $6). Use the wand to paint a 3 inch by 3inch square on your
thigh or belly. Simply wait to see how long it takes your body to absorb the
square. If the iodine stain remains on your skin for 24 hours or more then you
are not iodine deficient. If the stain disappears, note how long it takes. As
soon as it has faded away, add another square stain and again, take note of how
long it takes for it to absorb. You will repeat this every time it fades until
the stain can last 24 hours on your skin.
The first time I did this, it took my body about 3 hours to
absorb the stain. After reapplying the iodine for a week I got up to 14 hours a
day. You can continue to use this technique for 2-3 weeks to get your iodine
levels back up to where they need to be. Once you reach 24 hours, then you only
need to paint on a stain once a week from then on out. If you can’t get up to
24 hours after 3 weeks then you should look into purchases liquid iodine that
can be added to juice or water for you to take orally. One drop will do for
people 150 pounds or less. If you weigh more than 150 pounds then you’ll take two
drops. You’ll drink this two times a week and should feel better almost right
away. If you are about to get sick or concerned that you were exposed to some
bug then take it three times a week.
I was amazed how quickly energy returned to my life by painting
on the stain. I experienced most of the symptoms of hypothyroidism before I
started taking iodine. Within one day I slept well and felt noticeably more
energized to get through a day and then some.
Please remember that iodine is an extremely important part
of your daily diet and our bodies do not produce it. It is integral for thyroid
function which connects to all the systems in your body that need to function
well for you to be well.
Before you say “yes” to another prescription or accept a
diagnosis whole heartedly, please do your research and be willing to stand up
for your health. God has already given us everything we need…