Copyright (c) 2010 George Plaza

The thyroid and iodine are connected because the body produces two natural thyroid hormones very important to its function, T3 and T4. When these hormones are produced sufficiently, your thyroid functions well, but if you don't produce enough, you may begin to suffer from hypothyroidism.

What's the connection between the thyroid and iodine?

The thyroid and iodine are connected because the body produces two natural thyroid hormones very important to its function, T3 and T4. When these hormones are produced sufficiently, your thyroid functions well, but if you don't produce enough, you may begin to suffer from hypothyroidism.

Iodine is crucial in the production and release of T3 and T4, so if you have a deficiency in iodine, you'll also naturally have a deficiency in these thyroid hormones. This is where the connection comes in. You can often certainly control hypothyroidism symptoms by utilizing hypothyroidism iodine treatments that give your body the iodine it needs.

With hypothyroidism iodine supplementation, though, you have to be really careful because while you need to have enough iodine your system consistently to have the effect you want, you can take too much iodine; excessive iodine can also give you serious health consequences.

It can be tricky to balance the thyroid and iodine, so you may want to talk to your doctor about any hypothyroidism iodine supplements before you take them without direction.

Do You Have an Iodine Deficiency?

You may indeed have iodine deficiency causing your hypothyroidism, but in fact, iodine deficiency is pretty uncommon these days. Most people have hypothyroidism because of other factors; including factors related to your lifestyle that you can change easily on your own. Even if you do discover that you need hypothyroidism iodine supplementation, a highly nutritious low-calorie diet can also often help with hypothyroidism, in addition to utilizing green tea extract. Herbalife's tea concentrate is good for this, as are its Total Control tablets, which combine black, green, and oolong teas for a good, natural boost in energy.

If you do think you might have an iodine deficiency such that is linked, then you'll need medical attention. Your doctor can test you to determine whether or not you have hypothyroidism, since there are other conditions that mimic hypothyroidism symptoms. If you do have hypothyroidism, your doctor can then determine whether or not it's from iodine deficiency.

Natural Iodine Sources

You can also use natural iodine sources if you want to undertake hypothyroidism iodine treatments of your own accord. You can do this without supplementing, and one way is to consume seafood, which is rich in iodine, as well as organic fruits and vegetables, also often rich in iodine.

You can also decide to supplement iodine through natural supplements, although it's a good idea to check with your doctor. If you've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, ask your doctor about hypothyroidism and iodine treatments. Usually, you'll want to use natural supplement options, instead of using thyroid hormone medications long-term.

Although there is a very real connection between the thyroid and iodine, it often is not the cause of hypothyroidism in today's world. There are lots of other factors that can cause hypothyroidism, and that's why it's so important to make healthy lifestyle choices, including what you eat and the amount of exercise you get.

When you begin to live a healthier lifestyle, your body, too, will be better for it; it'll be easier to control your hypothyroidism symptoms, too.