SELF HELP
DR . SERGE GREGOIRE , PH . D , CCH Functional Medicine Doctor Mind and Body Solutions
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IS VITAL
The immune system is vital for your body to
ward off harmful bacteria and viruses and control cells that are becoming destructive to the body . It is what helps prevent us from getting the flu when others around us are coughing .
Your immune system depends on the body ’ s thyroiddriven metabolism for the energy to fight off illness and dispose of dead cells . Without the proper fuel , it cannot provide a stable and reliable defense against illness .
Your metabolism is regulated by hormones produced by the thyroid and throughout the body . Iodine is the thyroid ’ s fuel to create these hormones , and without proper amounts of it , the entire body can be negatively affected .
If the thyroid doesn ’ t get the iodine that it needs , it has to work harder to produce thyroid hormones , and it can cause swelling and inflammation that leads to goiter and stoppage of thyroid hormone production .
The body ’ s ability to resist infection and disease is hindered by a long-term deficiency in essential vitamins and minerals . Importantly , a poor immune response is correlated with impaired thyroid function ; a deficiency in iodine can greatly affect the immune system because low levels of iodine lead to problems with the thyroid gland .
Iodine is also great for providing direct immune system support . Iodine can potentially help with healthy cells and potentially keep the body free of toxins . It is thought that an environment rich in iodine is unable to host harmful bacteria , viruses , and fungi that make us sick , and it has been found that these microorganisms cannot adapt to this type of environment
A study in Frontiers in Immunology looked at the role of iodine in human immune system cells .
Specifically , iodine increased the release of substances that fight infection . The authors wrote , “ Overall , our studies reveal the novel network between human immune cells and . . . highlight the importance of iodine in regulating the function of immune cells .”
It is well-known that iodine is needed by every cell in the body and that it is concentrated in the glandular
tissues such as the thyroid , ovaries , uterus , breasts , and prostate .
It is less well-known how iodine affects the immune system . In fact , our white blood cells cannot fight infection without adequate amounts of iodine .
Iodine deficiency is occurring at epidemic rates . The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey ( NHANES ) showed that iodine levels had fallen nearly 60 percent in the U . S . over the last 40 years .
The consequence has been a rapid increase in cancer of the breasts , ovaries , uterus , prostate , and pancreas .
In sufficient amounts , iodine can not only adjust a dysfunctional thyroid , but it can also assist with a host of glandular imbalances as well as a wide assortment of internal as well as external bacteria , fungi , and viruses .
Iodine has many non-endocrine biologic effects , including the role it plays in the physiology of the inflammatory response . Iodine increases the movement of granulocytes into areas of inflammation and improve the phagocytosis of bacteria by granulocytes and the ability of granulocytes to kill bacteria .
While it may be possible to get enough iodine from diet alone , most people the world over are susceptible to iodine deficiency . Recently in history , iodine deficiency has gained awareness , and so it is more widely available . Iodine is commonly added to table salt to provide an easy method of access . In fact , it is estimated that around 70 percent of people around the world have access to iodized table salt . However , the iodine in iodized salt dissipates rather quickly and , if left on shelves too long without using it , the salt loses most of its iodizing benefit .
Iodine is also found in supplements . For those that cannot eat these iodine rich foods , due to ‘ protein ’ allergies as one cannot be allergic to a mineral , or live in a place where the soil does not have iodine , found across most of the landmass of the planet , it is likely that supplementation is necessary .
For more than 15 years , I ’ ve been recommending iodine to the majority of my patients . Most patients require about 12 mg to 25 mg per day .
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