Iodine

Iodine is an important nutrient that is essential for a healthy thyroid and immune system.

Iodine Food Sources

Most people get their iodine from iodized table salt or vitamin supplements. I have found that the best natural source of iodine is found in sea vegetables such as kelp and dulse. You can add kelp powder or dulse flakes to your green smoothies, or simply use them as a salt replacement. Just one tablespoon of dulse contains 173% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of iodine! 1/4 cup of kelp contains around 276% RDA and one cup of strawberries contains about 8%.

Dulse is salty, so it will cut the sweetness of your smoothie. I do not recommend adding any more than one tablespoon, otherwise you will alter the flavor of the smoothie in a way that you might not find appealing. Try adding half a tablespoon of dulse to a sweet smoothie and then sprinkle some later on a salad or in avocado sushi rolls.

Iodine Deficiency

Iodine deficiency causes hypothyroidism with symptoms including fatigue, weakness, goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland), mental slowing, depression, weight gain and low body temperature.

Iodine Toxicity

Overdose of iodine is highly unlikely from food sources since it is not found in large amounts in most foods.

The Effects of Cooking On Iodine

Cooking, processing and storage is not known to affect iodine availability in food.

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Tags: iodine, nutrients, sea vegetables