Iodine Supp while Nursing?

[Lauren]

So, I did the iodine skin test (finally) at night (after a rec from Elizabeth long ago here: http://heal-thyself.ning.com/forum/topics/healing-leaky-gut-with-food?page=3&commentId=2814160%3AComment%3A1451&x=1#2814160Comment1451), and the square was gone by the next morning. I will re-do during the day to see how long it really takes to disappear totally (I'm thinking 8 hours or less).

I'm interested in doing supplemental iodine since reading a/b it both here and on MDC. I recall reading a/b supping mag when adding iodine (and have been finding this specific link super helpful from Pat: http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showpost.php?p=13227979&po...)

I'd like to learn a/b nursing and the safety of iodine supplementation as well (in terms of detoxing into the milk, etc)--and a/b supping iodine directly to ds (who is 2 and has mild congenital hypothyroidism)...And are there any supps I absolutely should be taking (either in whole food form, or in supplemental form) while taking iodine, for detoxing purposes? And any that ds should take directly if he is taking iodine directly?

I'm thinking to use the Main Coast Sea Seasonings, a teaspoon a day of kelp (12 mgs) for each of us, as I have it in my kitchen and saw it mentioned in Pat's MDC post. I think if I cook it into some kind of granola bar, ds will eat it up...(we add it to lots of things, but not sure we've been getting 12 mg a day...) Would you all rec. starting w/ more or less, or is that an average amount needed by most people??

I also checked out Pat's "Thyroid 101"--should I consider cutting back on the broccoli and collards? We eat cooked brocolli 3 x a week, and cooked collard greens probably 2 x's a week...

Any advice or ideas are appreciated!!! TIA!!!

Lauren :)

[Lauren]

Excuse me--1 tsp of kelp a day would be about 12.5 mgs. Just wanted to clarify!

[Shannon]

I just looked at the site, because that seems like hardly any kelp! I think they're off by a decimal point - if you compare the iodine in grams of kelp granules to grams of kelp up above. That would make for about 9 tsp or 3 Tbsp kelp to get about 12.5mg iodine.

this thread can probably answer other questions for you:
http://mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=1091794

Lauren said:

Excuse me--1 tsp of kelp a day would be about 12.5 mgs. Just wanted to clarify!

[Lauren]

Thank you for the link Shannon--that is a doozy of a thread that looks PACKED w/ info! Goodie!

The Main Coast Kelp Granules say on the bottle "A serving of 1/4 teaspoon will provide approximately 3mg of iodine, or 20 times the RDA." Maybe I'll write to them just to check--if I do, I'll report back!!

Thank you!

Lauren :)

[Pat Robinson]

From my reading, the kelp does NOT provide anywhere near the equivalent in "mg" of iodine as the liquid or tablet. I've seen more along the lines of 1.5-12 mg per teaspoon. More often in the 1-3mg per teaspoon range.

However, I totally don't believe that it is comparing apples to apples. For instance, (and I can't locate the study), I'd heard that "they" did a study on measurable amounts of vit C when subjects ate an apple (about 20mg of Vit C- varies by apple cultivar even), vs. subjects who consumed 1000mg of supplemental vit C. The blood levels of "measurable vit C" were higher with the bio-available, natural sourced vit C from the apple than from the supplement of 50x more "mg" of vit C.

Our ability to quantify a "measurable" amount of vit C in an apple, in a supplement, or in blood, is an arbitrary presumption of measuring bio-available nutrient xyz.

For instance, we used to only recognize vit A, then we found vit B. Then we realized there are variations of vit B, which we identify as B1, B2, B3, etc. And same with vit D, now D1, D2, D3. Vit C supplementation is different even. Let me find the short list of the chemical combinations we call "vit C". Here is the "Sodium Ascorbate" thread: http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=353318&hi...

So, take all of the comparisons of iodine sources with a grain of sea salt. ;-)

My comfort is 1/2 teaspoon organic, heavy-metal tested kelp daily, increasing by 1/2 teaspoon each week. Stop or skip a few days if you have headachy symptoms and resume at lower dose, gradually increase. Be sure you are getting adequate magnesium, vit C, and selenium from whole food sources to support the detox pathways. One can do a "sea salt flush" to help with the detox symptoms, apparently. http://www.breastcancerchoices.org/iprotocol.html Although, I'm not trying to detox, sea salt is a beneficial food nutrient, in general, I believe.

Maximum 1 tablespoon kelp a day, imo. Mix it in some tomato juice and drink quickly as it becomes sludgy as kelp absorbs a lot of liquid. Kelp also absorbs heavy metals from the body, including mercury. So take it separately from mineral supplements, if you take any.

I'm not taking the kelp for detox, rather as a whole food nutrient source. I'm including it in foods for flavor and nutrients and I love sushi rolls. I'm using Milk Thistle for supporting my liver and other whole foods for nutrients for liver support.

Regarding the goitrogenic vegetables, from my reading steaming or cooking gently lowers that effect and still provides significant nutrient benefits. "cooking seems to help to inactivate the goitrogenic compounds found in food" www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=47

I'm not informed enough to respond about your son since he is taking a prescribed thyroid supplement. That is out of my league. I do recall that children will get iodine from breastmilk also. Therefore, any supplementing directly or indirectly could lower his need for medicinal supplementation and needs to be followed by testing, imo. Although, I'm not convinced that the blood testing for thyroid is full informed or accurate. The saliva testing of the interconnected hormones is indicated, perhaps as the other hormones affect the "measurable" thyroid levels, as do the concurrent nutrients.


HTH,
Pat



Foods just provide more bio-available nutrients. So, "I wouldn't compare apples with supplements" to twist an old phrase.

[Pat Robinson]

JaneS. posted this some time back on MDC about "Nutrition and Hypothyroidism". http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showpost.php?p=8402241&pos...


Pat

[Lauren]

Pat,

Thanks for all the info!!! And the link to the hypothyroidism thread.

I MUCH prefer to use whole food supplements, so all this input is greatly appreciated!!! I'm glad to read about the apple vs. the vitamin supp as well! (Really makes sense to me! ;)


Lauren :)