What is IODINE from KELP and what are its benefits?

Iodine from Kelp contains natural iodine from Varec (Ascophyllum nodosum) extract. Iodine is an essential mineral for healthy thyroid function. The pristine marine environment in which Kelp is found enriches this family of algae with iodine and other essential minerals needed to maintain human health. Clinically used by naturopathic doctors to treat hypothyroidism, kelp contains a complete complex of trace elements, B vitamins, enzymes, fibre and more.

Iodine, this trace element, is integral to the healthy functioning of the human body, playing a major role in balancing the body and providing key benefits:

• It plays a role in the production of thyroid hormones and regulation of the thyroid gland;
• Helps maintain cognitive function;
• Ensures a balanced nervous system;
• Helps in the formation of blood cells;
• Regulates body temperature;
• Strengthens heart function;
• Has metabolic benefits, with effectiveness in detoxifying and draining slow digestion and the ability to inhibit enzymes responsible for blood glucose levels.
• Supports efforts to reduce salt consumption. Due to its low sodium content, it is an excellent support in reducing salt intake. If your doctor has advised you to reduce your salt intake, you may want to use natural iodine to maintain healthy iodine levels. Supplementing with iodine extracted from seaweed is consistent with following these preventive health measures, as its sodium content is one tenth that of salt for the same amount of iodine. This is a significant advantage in fighting hypertension – the ‘silent killer’ – without adversely affecting your iodine levels.
• Helps with weight control. Until recently, this product was prescribed rather experimentally by doctors and naturopaths, but its credibility has been enhanced with the identification through extensive scientific research of several benefits: metabolic effects, effectiveness at “detoxifying/draining” slow digestion, and the ability to inhibit certain enzymes that promote the maintenance of high blood glucose levels. This last problem is responsible for sugars remaining longer in the body and, as an undesirable result, leads to persistent overweight.

Why is it important to supplement with iodine?

Too little iodine can lead to an enlarged thyroid gland and impaired thyroid function, which in turn can lead to heart problems (palpitations) and weight problems. It is essential to ensure that the body has a balanced intake of iodine, taking care to check its source to ensure adequate levels. It is worth noting that 2-3% of the population suffer from hypothyroidism, the main symptoms of which are weight gain, fatigue, muscle weakness, brittle hair and nails and increased sensitivity to cold. Such people are normally iodine deficient, have poor pituitary gland function or suffer from autoimmune diseases.

Also, in hypothyroidism, the body’s metabolic rate is low. This is why most people with low thyroid experience weight gain. Secondly, low levels of thyroid hormones can affect the production of neurotransmitters and how well they are used in the brain and other parts of the body – this can lead to common symptoms of hypothyroidism such as depression, anxiety, poor memory, and insomnia. In this respect, it can also affect digestion because enzymes, like neurotransmitters, don’t work as th