| (NaturalNews) Goiter is the medical name for the | | | | in many lands as a remedy for preventing or treating |
| swelling of the thyroid gland and surrounding tissue The | | | | goiter. However, some practitioners have reportedly |
| root cause of goiter eludes conventional medicine, but | | | | found it to be helpful in normalizing a weak or enlarged |
| most naturopathic nutritionists agree that in many | | | | prostate gland, and certain other male disorders. For |
| cases, it's prompted by a severe imbalance in thyroid | | | | example, Dr. Eric Powell of England says: The action |
| function caused by an iodine deficiency. | | | | of kelp on the prostate is to improve the nutrition of |
| While individual cases may vary from this pattern (be | | | | the organ and the circulation of the blood through the |
| sure to check with a naturopathic physician before | | | | tissues. |
| self-treating any thyroid condition), most cases of | | | | For many years people with iodine deficiency have |
| goiter can be greatly improved or entirely eliminated | | | | used tablets made from the kelp variety of seaweeds. |
| through nutritional therapies involving iodine. One of the | | | | These seaweeds are relatively rich in iodine, deriving it |
| best sources for this important trace mineral is kelp. | | | | from the seawater in which they live. They are also |
| Here's a collection of supporting statements about kelp | | | | rich in minerals and B-group vitamins, providing a nicely |
| and goiter as published in top natural health books: | | | | balanced mineral supplement to the body in a form |
| How help (and iodine) helps prevent goiter | | | | that is easily assimilated. However, it is the iodine |
| Kelp Description: Kelp is a type of sea vegetable that's | | | | content that has been the important component for |
| rich in iron and several minerals. It is used as a | | | | people suffering from goiter, the other valuable |
| supplement to support thyroid function. Indications: | | | | components simply being a bonus. |
| Goiter Hypothyroid Precautions: People with any type | | | | - Health from the Seas: Freedom from Disease by |
| of thyroid disease should check with their doctors | | | | John Croft |
| before supplementing kelp. Dosage: Take 2 to 4 | | | | Excessive quantities of iodized salt, taking too many |
| capsules daily, or take as directed on the label or as | | | | kelp tablets, or overuse of potassium iodide |
| advised by a health-care professional. | | | | expectorants such as SSKI can cause some |
| - Prescription for Natural Cures: A Self-Care Guide for | | | | problems, but regular elevated intake of iodine is |
| Treating Health Problems with Natural Remedies | | | | needed to produce toxicity. Some people have allergic |
| Including Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, | | | | reactions, mainly as skin rashes, to iodine products. |
| Bodywork, and More by James F. Balch, M.D. and | | | | Iodine supplementation may also worsen acne in some |
| Mark Stengler, N.D. | | | | cases. Deficiencies of iodine have been very common, |
| You've heard of kelp and seaweed, but what about | | | | especially in areas where the soil is depleted, as |
| bladder-wrack? That's the name of the kelp most | | | | discussed earlier. Several months of iodine deficiency |
| often used medicinally, a name under which kelp | | | | can lead to goiter and/or hypothyroidism. |
| products are often found. Bladderwrack is a | | | | - Staying Healthy with Nutrition: The Complete Guide to |
| tremendous source of iodine, which is essential for a | | | | Diet and Nutritional Medicine by Elson M. Haas, M.D. |
| healthy body. In children, a lack of iodine can result in | | | | T4 levels often increase slightly with 6 kelp tablets |
| delayed mental development or retardation. In adults, a | | | | once a day at lunch. Other varieties of seaweed are |
| deficiency of iodine can lead to hypothyroidism, a | | | | also natural sources of iodine and can serve as |
| condition resulting when the thyroid operates at too | | | | beneficial dietary additions in cases of hypothyroidism. |
| low a level. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include | | | | It is important to moderate your dietary intake of |
| extreme fatigue and lethargy, weight gain, and | | | | iodine-rich foods, especially when taking prescription |
| development of a goiter. | | | | thyroid medications. An overdose of iodine can |
| Long-term excessive dietary intake of iodine (1,000 to | | | | interfere with thyroid tests and can even lead to |
| 2,000 micrograms daily), while less common than iodine | | | | hyperthyroidism or a goiter. |
| deficiency, can occur in people who eat large amounts | | | | - The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook: Everything You |
| of kelp and other sea vegetable and can also cause | | | | Need to Know About Chinese, Western, and |
| goiter. A number of commonly eaten foods have been | | | | Ayurvedic Herbal Treatments by Alan Keith Tillotson, |
| shown to interfere with the use of iodine by the | | | | Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay. |
| thyroid, thus reducing production of thyroid hormone | | | | Foods rich in iodine include seaweeds such as kelp, |
| and causing goiter. These foods, known as goitrogens, | | | | fish, shrimp, lobster, clams, oysters, some other animals |
| include vegetables in the Brassica family such as | | | | (thyroid gland) and iodized salt. Those restricting their |
| broccoli, cabbage, kale and mustard, millet, soybeans, | | | | salt intake and at the same time not eating any of the |
| pine nuts and some seed meals used in animal feeds. | | | | above foods are vulnerable to iodine deficiency. |
| - The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to | | | | Cruciferous foods such as cabbage, brussels sprouts, |
| Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions by | | | | broccoli, cauliflower, rutabaga and others may confer |
| Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest | | | | protection against certain types of cancer and so it is |
| Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. | | | | good to include them in our diets. However, these |
| George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, | | | | vegetables contain goitrogens, substances which may |
| Pharm.D., N.D. | | | | cause goiters and hypothyroidism. |
| However, eating iodine-rich foods, such as dulse and | | | | - The Doctor's Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia by |
| kelp (sea vegetation), is a more indirect and safe way | | | | Sheldon Saul Hendler |
| to increase iodine and shrink goiters. Detoxified iodine is | | | | Iodine was first discovered in 1812 in kelp. Elemental |
| certainly a better choice, since it has not shown to | | | | iodine was extracted from the seaweed and was |
| produce hypothyroidism. The famous Edgar Cayce | | | | named iodine because of its color, which means violet |
| used to treat goiter and other thyroid conditions very | | | | in Greek. Iodine occurs naturally as iodide or iodate |
| successfully by giving his patients detoxified iodine. | | | | salts. It is a crucial part of the thyroid hormones, which, |
| There are three products that meet his requirements: | | | | in turn, play a vital role in the production of energy. |
| Magnascent, Atomic Iodine, and Atomidine. The latter | | | | Iodine deficiency is still the major cause of |
| two seem to be nearly identical. | | | | hypothyroidism in the world. Deficiency of thyroid |
| - Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation: | | | | hormones really slows you down. Symptoms include |
| Unleash The Natural Healing Power That Lies Dormant | | | | chronic fatigue, apathy, dry skin, intolerance to cold, |
| Within You by Andreas Moritz | | | | weight gain and enlargement of the thyroid (goiter). |
| Kelp, either fresh or powdered, is the richest source of | | | | - The Doctor's Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia by |
| organic iodine. It helps correct mineral deficiencies and | | | | Sheldon Saul Hendler |
| is a good protective food, valuable in overcoming poor | | | | It is found in many vegetables, such as kelp. These |
| digestion, preventing and overcoming goiter, and | | | | hormones are necessary for normal cell metabolism to |
| rebuilding and maintaining the proper function of all the | | | | be carried on. The shame about iodine is that it has |
| glands. Kelp has been reported to be an aid in brain | | | | proven again and again to be an effective fighter |
| development; it offsets deficiencies of an inferior diet; it | | | | against viral infections, yet nothing has been done to |
| is beneficial for those suffering from impotency, | | | | test whether it will have any devitalizing effects on HIV. |
| anemia and emaciation. | | | | Let me note some of the many benefits that have |
| - Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts and Seeds | | | | been found from iodine treatment. Iodine has been |
| for Healthful Living by Dr. Joseph M. Kadans, N.D. | | | | used in the treatment of goiter, hypothyroidism, |
| Because of its rich content of iodine, kelp is well-known | | | | fibrocystic breast disease, and other diseases. |