Seaweed contains iodine, a micronutrient critical to thyroid function.
The thyroid gland regulates metabolism by regulating the consumption of energy by the body. It also makes proteins and is responsible for regulating the body's sensitivity to hormones. The thyroid accomplishes this by producing its own hormones called thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The thyroid requires tyrosine and iodine to create these hormones, according to Endocrine Web. Seaweed contains a large amount of naturally occurring iodine.
Iodine in the Body
While iodine is essential for the thyroid gland, most people in the United States get plenty of it in their diet. Iodine is added to salt in many countries, which provides an adequate amount to otherwise healthy individuals, according to the American Thyroid Association. However, the body does not make iodine, so without it in your diet, you may become deficient.
Iodine in Seaweed
According to the Institute for Traditional Medicine, seaweed contains a large amount of macronutrients, including sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, chlorine, phosphorus and sulfur. Micronutrients in seaweed include: cobalt, boron, nickel, manganese, fluoride, molybdenum, selenium, zinc, copper, iron and iodine. The iodine content in dry kelp ranges from 1,500 to 8,000 ppm.
Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency
Without enough iodine, the thyroid enlarges, eventually becoming a goiter as it works ever harder to create adequate hormones for the body. Goiters are especially common in countries that do not add iodine to their table salt. Hypothyroidism is another condition that develops without sufficient iodine. According to the American Thyroid Association, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
Treatment
In countries where large numbers of people suffer from an iodine deficiency (such as India and China), the best mass-market treatment is to add iodine to a commonly consumed foodstuff like salt. The World Health Organization has been running a long-standing campaign to do this worldwide. Doctors in the United States often recommend their hypothyroid patients supplement their diets with seaweed to boost their iodine levels, according to Endocrine Web.
When Seaweed Isn't Enough
For many people suffering from thyroid disorders, a lack of iodine is not the problem. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 20 million Americans currently have some form of thyroid disease. These diseases include hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis (an inflammation of the thyroid gland), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (inflammation, usually occurring after a woman gives birth) and a non-functioning thyroid gland. Roughly 4,000 babies are born each year with a non-functioning thyroid. In these cases, iodine supplementation in the form of seaweed, vitamin supplements or as a food additive, will not affect symptoms. Usually sufferers from these conditions will be treated with synthetic thyroid hormones.
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