Did you know that there are more than 3 million cases of insulin resistance in the U.S. alone each year? Most people suffering from insulin resistance are unaware, and this can also be tied to specific conditions. In women, very often conditions that involve estrogen dominance, including fibroids, endometriosis and especially PCOS, deal with insulin resistance and cravings for sweets, refined carbs and sugar in general. Because an increased intake of sugar can increase estrogen levels, this leads to worsening of those conditions and a continuous downward spiral of sugar addition, fatigue, irritability, horrible periods, growth of cysts and more. These are issues that plague many of my clients.
Iodine is a trace mineral not readily discussed as a solution to these issues because it is thought of as being essential only for thyroid health, but it also can regulate the amount of sex hormones in the body. When it comes to the health of the female reproductive system, iodine is essential as there are receptors for it in the salivary glands, breasts, eyes, stomach, brain, cervix, and even the arteries. When dealing with fibrocystic breasts, ovarian cysts, and cancers of those regions, iodine is usually deficient. Radiation, smoking, stress, liver damage, endocrine disruptors (like pesticides or insecticides), and high levels of estrogen from birth control pills or excessive hormone consumption in diet can all block absorption of iodine.
It’s ideal to take iodine with a blend of other trace minerals or from a whole food source like sea kelp or seaweeds. Beware of where you source your sea vegetables to avoid heavy metals. Using a tincture or supplement can also work. The RDA for iodine is 150 mcg per day, which some practitioners consider too low, especially when treating long term deficiencies. However, when supplementing iodine balance is key as too much can cause toxicity symptoms, so be sure to supplement under the supervision of a health practitioner. -XO