Is kelp good for thyroid : Quick question is kelp... - Thyroid UK

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Is kelp good for thyroid

1072 profile image
1072
37 Replies

Quick question is kelp and levothroxine safe to use at the same time with kelp being natural substance would appreciate any information on this thanks

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1072 profile image
1072
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Clutter profile image
Clutter

1072, kelp is high in iodine. There are mixed views on the forum about supplementing iodine. My view is that someone taking Levothyroxine should be getting all the iodine they need from Levothyroxine. I wouldn't supplement iodine unless I had a blood or urine test showing I was deficient. If you type Iodine into the Search HealthUnlocked box you will get over 2,200 posts on iodine.

1072 profile image
1072 in reply to Clutter

Thanks very much clutter will do

faith63 profile image
faith63 in reply to Clutter

I have not seen that Levo contains iodine..it is not in the manufacturer info.

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to faith63

Faith, around 65% by weight of Levothyroxine is iodine. See Helvella's post 3rd down in this link healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

faith63 profile image
faith63 in reply to Clutter

I wonder then, if this contributes to some doing so unwell on it? The people made ill by it.

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to faith63

Faith63, the iodine content? I don't think it can be because iodine is in T3 too, only 3 molecules instead of the 4 in T4 and its in all thyroxine not just synthetic Levothyroxine.

I don't understand why T4 only affected me very badly but I'm okay on the same dose T4 plus T3 which calms the adverse effects as well as boosting my FT3.

faith63 profile image
faith63 in reply to Clutter

it may be a converting issue, that made you feel bad and t3 added the missing from non conversion..who knows for sure. As long as you are doing better, than that's great!

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to faith63

Faith, no, I was converting on the high doses but on the lower doses my FT3 dropped. I'm one of the few patients who was begging for dose to be reduced :-D

faith63 profile image
faith63 in reply to Clutter

Oh. Interesting. I don't convert well, but do convert. Seems the rt3, stops the t3 meds from working much.

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply to Clutter

Did you want your FT3 to drop, Clutter?

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to Heloise

Heloise, not at that point, it dropped below range. Previously I was over replaced to suppress TSH with FT4 >34 and FT3 >7 for 7 months. After several titrations FT4 dropped into range but FT3 dropped below, so on that dose 125mcg I think, I probably wasn't converting. I didn't understand why I felt just as ill with high, medium and low FT4 and FT3 until I figured it didn't matter and that Levothyroxine only was causing the problems. Fine on T4+T3 now as T3 keeps FT3 good and calms adverse effects I had on T4 only. I've subsequently overmedicated T3 and had FT3 8.4 but had no overstimulation issues although I had massive hair shedding for a weeks until FT3 was back in range.

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to faith63

Faith, the thyroxine a perfectly healthy person makes for themselves contains iodine. So the substitute (levothyroxine) has to contain it too.

Thyroxine itself is a tyrosine molecule with four iodine atoms attached. Without the iodine it isn't thyroxine any more.

faith63 profile image
faith63 in reply to humanbean

But they say with hashi's avoid it..confusing.

If you have hashi...avoid..is my answer. But you may do ok. Everyone's different

As clutter says?

Heloise profile image
Heloise

The little bit of kelp has only 17 mcg. of iodine. I've taken 1 mg. of iodine without a problem. Unfortunately you have to watch out for mercury content as I've read that kelp and other seaweeds are polluted.

I'm not sure why they compare thyroid hormone to iodide or iodine. The controversy is that iodine will throw you into a thyroid storm but I'm not so sure that is true. Our bodies need iodine, breast disease is from a lack of iodine, it acts as a disinfectant in the body, in other words, we need it. Other halides like fluoride, bromine and chlorine are clogging iodine receptors which is a big problem. If you take iodine, it flushes these out.

theiodineproject.webs.com/b...

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Heloise

Iodine may throw you into a thyroid storm, or it may make you more hypo. It can even trigger Hashi's, or cause thyroid cancer if you take too much.

The body needs iodine, but not too much. And we Don't need much because it's recycled in the body.

The connection between between thyroid hormone and iodine - I presume you mean the thyroid hormone you take orally - is that if you take T4, it contains 4 atoms of iodine. When the T4 is converted to T3, one atom of iodine is released into the blood and recycled. If your thyroid gland is sick, and not producing as much hormone as it should, you need even less iodine. So, what you get from the T4 you're taking should be sufficient.

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply to greygoose

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

I wish I were a chemist. There is a graph comparing two substances and I looked up iodine which doesn't look like either.

In total, the human body can hold 1,500 mg of iodine

Your thyroid can hold a maximum of 50 mg of iodine

20 percent of the iodine in your body is held in your skin (if your skin is depleted of iodine, you will not be able to sweat)

32 percent of your body's iodine stores are in your muscles (if muscles are depleted, pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms can develop)

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

I've left a comment after the post above as was interested as started to go down hill and just bought a new car which apparently emits bromine. Not come across this before.

Treepie profile image
Treepie in reply to silverfox7

Is it just your new car or all new cars? Petrol or diesel? Which model?

I will be buying this year!

faith63 profile image
faith63 in reply to Treepie

That "new car scent" that they spray in it contains bromine.

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7 in reply to Treepie

I have since Googled why does my new car produce bromine and there was a lot of info saying cars give fluoride, chlorine and bromine and its from various sources, plastics, adhesives, leather, steering wheel etc and are not good for the thyroid, can trigger cancer, etc so a bit scary. There was also a chart of good cars and bad cars, my brand, Toyota was among the safer cars but not the model ie Avensis and also the readings were up to 2012 so no idea whether the problem is still there, been reduced or what. But until I found this was thinking going downhill the last month and bought a brand new car 1 March so coincidence or what? Apparently it blocks Iodine but I have stopped taking Kelp so is that now catching up on me? I have no idea! The new car, same as before but a Tourer rather than a hatchback has other differences, no handbrake or ignition key and although I've hired a similar car in France I coped with that but I've found it difficult to come to grips with it this time so is stress a factor that is giving me the thyroid tiredness? Its confusing as to what is happening and why. So any thoughts, experiences etc are welcomed out of interest if nothing else.

Treepie profile image
Treepie in reply to silverfox7

I will have to google before buying,maybe second hand would be better after the first owner has " benefited" from exposure .Alo less depreciation.

New technology goes too far. No hand brake! Keyless systems are more prone to theft but maybe not a Toyota more the luxury cars.

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7 in reply to Treepie

I should certainly try to find out all you can. One bit I read said one aspect of it but can't remember which said it didn't stop giving so a secondhand car would necessarily solve it but I'm hoping that the fact that I found no data after 2012 is that things are now within normal guidelines and that my dip is just coincidence. We are bombarded with lots of things that we probably don't know about but as it was something I hadnt heard about before I wondered whether anyone else had any comments. One thing it said as a reason was it wasn't necessarily the type of car but where it is built as things like adhesives are a local thing and different countries have different guidelines so although my Toyota is thought of as Japanese I know mine was built in Derby! I wasn't wanting to scare anyone but wondered if anyone had come across this and whether I should take my 'dip' seriously or it's just coincidental. I've normally hated the new car smell and didn't notice one this time other than the smell of leather but my kids say there is one so again different opinions! I had my last car 8 years but updated the warranty and really got my monies worth. If I keep this the same length of time then it could be my last car I have! Thankfully I now feel in charge of the car and not the other way around and so great-I am now enjoying the experience! As you get older it becomes more difficult to embrace change but now more in tune with it. I'm sure we are also bombarded with many harmful chemicals that we don't even know about and the car article I found said the harmful effects build up when left in the sun so leave the window open to get the air circulating which I tend to do anyway.

Treepie profile image
Treepie in reply to silverfox7

Yikes, my Mazda is 6 and my wife's 7 .Next move at our age is to one car but not till the wife's packs in. As cars have a planned obsolescence of 7 years that may not be long.

You may well be right that cheaper countries may use cheaper and dodgy materials. The White Dacia Dusters were made in India and the doors quickly rusted so production was shifted to Romania.

I am interested in a Honda due this summer but it is made in Mexico .

With all the plastics in a car and the glues it is not surprising if you give it thought . - which I had not.

That your last info. Was 2012 more likely means it's not been looked at since rather than its improved!

1072 profile image
1072

Thanks greygoose yes I bought kelp which is 200mg per tablet but I haven't taken any yet because I wanted to find out what way it effects you, after reading the feedbacks I will be throwing it in the bin more bad reviews Than good, just heard it would help to lose weight with thyroid, I just think I will stick to healthy eating and see what happens

Petronella profile image
Petronella in reply to 1072

Don't throw the kelp away! I am hypothyroid and on 125 mcg levothyroxine, and my sister-in-law, who is a doctor and on even more levo because of damage done to her thyroid gland by chemo following breast cancer, recommends kelp (just one tablet a day) to "jump-start" the thyroid into action! But consult your GP as others have said here.

1072 profile image
1072 in reply to Petronella

Thanks petronella I haven't thrown it away yet, I am on 100 levo, I got 200mg kelp I have to go to my gp soon and I will ask him, from what am reading it seems to be if you have hassi it seems to be a no go but I don't know if I have it, I haven't been tested for it yet, thanks for getting back to me

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7 in reply to Petronella

It was suggested I did that to jump start as well but didn't take as much as suggested as was a bit nervous about if but took it for yeas until about 18 months ago so is that's what is making me dip now? I've no idea!

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply to 1072

How much elemental iodine is in it? That is the key element.

ruthalem profile image
ruthalem

I started taking Kelp tablets about a year ago after my GP did tests and told me that my thyroid reading was fine and had no idea why I was losing so much hair. It was so bad I was looking at web sites to find the best place to purchase a wig. Then a nurse at the surgery suggested I try kelp tablets. After about three months my hair stopped falling out and after six months it stared to thicken up again. My hair is now back to a normal thickness and looking very healthy and shiny. It took a year to get it back to normal but a lot better than having to wear a wig. Please check with your GP before taking kelp tablets, I didn`t but the recommendation did come from the nurse at my surgery so I felt ok about trying it out.

Ruthalem.

joyce59 profile image
joyce59

when my last gp took me of levo after saying my thyroid was fine i asked if it was ok to take kelp in order to keep thyroid healthy. she said no as it would be harmful. that was before i found out it is hashis ive got.

Heloise profile image
Heloise

In total, the human body can hold 1,500 mg of iodine

Your thyroid can hold a maximum of 50 mg of iodine

20 percent of the iodine in your body is held in your skin (if your skin is depleted of iodine, you will not be able to sweat)

32 percent of your body's iodine stores are in your muscles (if muscles are depleted, pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms can develop)

Interesting facts anyway.

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7 in reply to Heloise

That's interesting! I dont sweat at all.

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply to silverfox7

Hi silver, Yes, I don't sweat enough myself. I really have to find a way to get iodine without disrupting the Hashimoto. The article said the thyroid preferred "iodide" so I wonder if iodine would really be a problem. I haven't read of any incidents where this actually happened so I wonder if it is still just a theory. Dr. Brownstein says not to worry about that. We don't want to be a guinae pig though, do we?

1072 profile image
1072

Yes thankyou everyone for your help I will see my gp b4 I try it and take it from there 😊

Elsa profile image
Elsa

Some useful information on kelp/iodine thyroid on Napiers website. napiers.net/healthy-thyroid...

1072 profile image
1072 in reply to Elsa

Thankyou Elsa for your help appreciate it

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