The Aesthetics Advisor

The thyroid gland is a vital hormone gland: It plays a major role in the metabolism, growth and development of the human body. It helps to regulate many body functions by constantly releasing a steady amount of thyroid hormones into the bloodstream. If the body needs more energy in certain situations – for instance, if it is growing or cold, or during pregnancy – the thyroid gland produces more hormones. Your Thyroid Is a Master Regulator Of the many hormones in your body, thyroid hormones are perhaps the most important, as they regulate your metabolism and are required for nearly every physiological process in your body. When your thyroid levels are unbalanced, it can spell serious trouble. An imbalance can lead to significant health issues, including fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, gum disease and autoimmune disorders, just to name a few. This is because the thyroid impacts var...

Your body cannot produce iodine, so you must get it from your food. Although iodine deficiency is reemerging as a public health threat,1 it is completely preventable in the Western world. It is a critically important trace mineral, which means that your body needs it in very small doses. Although many cells use iodine, your thyroid gland uses what’s available first to produce the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). According to Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, 2  most people in the U.S. get their dietary iodine from iodized salt and milk. If a person chooses to follow a low-fat, low-salt diet recommended by the American Heart Association, 3  it drastically reduces the amount of iodine they absorb each day. This may help explain how iodine deficiency and thyroid conditions have become serious public health concerns. According to the American Thyroid Association, 4  roughly 30% of the world's population is thought to be at risk of deficiency a...

Although it’s well established that iodine is necessary for thyroid hormone production, its therapeutic benefits extend far beyond that. Iodine is present in every cell of our bodies and has  antibacterial, antiviral , anti-parasitic, and anti-cancer properties and is required for  proper immune function . It’s also vital for the normal architecture of essential glandular tissues such as the breasts, ovaries, uterus, pancreas, and prostate. Testing for and treating iodine deficiency should, therefore, be a top priority to avoid serious complications, according to Dr. David Brownstein, a family physician and the medical director of the Center for Holistic Medicine in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Related: Iodine vs Iodide, Deficiency, Supplementation and Iodine Rich Foods Why We Need Adequate Iodine for Thyroid Health “If you don’t have enough iodine, you can’t produce vital hormones the body needs, so having an iodine deficiency can lead to a diagnosis of hypothyroidism...