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Iodine Sources
29 Jul 2021
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What are good sources of iodine when we follow Whole Food Plant-Based guidelines? But why do we care? Because vegans may be iodine deficient!

Fruits & vegetables: Iodine is found in natural plant foods — foods like cranberries and even potatoes can be iron rich. However, iodine content is highly variable. Why? This research paper explains:

The iodine content of plant foods depends on the iodine levels in soil and in groundwater used in irrigation, in crop fertilizers, and in livestock feed. Iodine concentrations of plants grown in soils of iodine-deficient regions may be as low as 10 µg/kg of dry weight, in contrast to that of plants grown in iodine-rich areas, which may be as high as 1000 µg/kg dry weight. [9] Most foods contain 3—75 µg of iodine per serving [10]

So what are reliable sources of iodine other than supplements?

Iodized salt: A reliable source of iodine is iodized salt! History of U.S. Iodine Fortification and Supplementation by Leung et al, Nutrients, 2012 Nov; 4(11): 1740-1746 explains:

In some regions of the world where salt iodization is impractical, iodization of other common foods (bread and others) is targeted, or individuals receive administered oral or intramuscular iodized oil supplements.

Processed foods: But what happens if we eat processed foods? NIH: Iodine (Fact Sheet for Consumers) explains:

Processed foods, such as canned soups, almost never contain iodized salt. In addition, specialty salts, such as sea salt, kosher salt, Himalayan salt, and fleur de sel, are not usually iodized. Product labels will indicate if the salt is 'iodized' or provides iodide.

That's why vegans who consume lots of processed foods may be at risk for developing iodine deficiency.

SOS-Free Lifestyle: What should those who adopt an SOS-Free Lifestyle (in which we remove all three: sugar, oil, salt) do? For such individuals, iodized salt is no longer an option.

Sea vegetables: A reliable source of iodine is sea vegetables. In the videos below, Dr Greger explains that 1 tsp arame or 1 tbsp seaweed salad or 2 sheets of nori or 1 tsp dulse flakes suffice for daily iodine requirements.

… but avoid kelp and hijiki: Why? But we must avoid kelp (too rich in iodine) and hidziki (too much arsenic). In In this video, Dr Greger explains:

"Too much iodine can cause hyperthyroidism, a hyperactive thyroid gland."

"The recommended average daily intake is 150 mcg/day for non-pregnant, non-breastfeeding adults, and we may want to stay below 600 mcg/day on a day-to-day basis, whereas a tablespoon of kelp may contain 2,000 mcg. I’d stay away from kelp because it has too much, and stay away from hijiki because it contains too much arsenic."

… how about kelp in tiny amounts? That's okay. For example, Eden Organic beans have tiny amounts of kelp, which makes them a good source of iodine. Eden Organic FAQ for Beans explains:

Question: Does Kombu [kelp] in Eden Beans contribute iodine?

Answer: Yes. Based on our third party independent laboratory analysis, the Kombu in Eden Beans contributes, on average, 48.4 mcg of iodine per 1/2 cup serving, or 32% Daily Value (DV).

Dr Greger

The video below is an excellent summary by Dr Greger on the matter.

(2021) The Healthiest Natural Source of Iodine

(5 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "How much nori, dulse, or arame approximate the recommended daily allowance for iodine?"

Source: The Healthiest Natural Sources of Iodine by Dr Greger. 1 tsp arame or 1 tbsp seaweed salad or 2 sheets of nori or 1 tsp dulse flakes suffice for daily iodine requirements.

Older Videos by Dr Greger
(2007) Avoiding Iodine Deficiency

(4 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "With a few caveats, the best source of iodine is sea vegetables."

(2011) Too Much Iodine Can Be as Bad as Too Little

(2 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "Excessive intake of kelp (kombu) or thyroid-containing sausages can lead to iodine toxicity."

(2013) Can Gargling Prevent the Common Cold?

(3 mins) Transcript. This video focuses on gargling. How is it relevant to iodine? Towards the end, Dr Greger says,

"But, I would stay away from iodine solutions (such as Betadine), since one can run into the same kind of iodine overload thyroid dysfunction you can get by eating too much kelp."

Dr Des Harrington
(6 mins, 2019) IODINE: Should VEGANS be worried? (Why you may want to supplement)

A good video summarizing iodine sources, how iodine deficiency may be triggered and how vegans may consume sufficient iodine daily.

Thyroid Conditions & Goitrogens

Iodine discussions pop up when we discuss thyroid conditions and goitrogens. What do Whole Food Plant-Based doctors have to say? What to eat when we have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism? What are goitrogens? Where are they found? How do they affect iodine absorption? Should we avoid goitrogenic foods? For a discussion, see Thyroid Conditions & WFPB and Goitrogens.

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