Health info- Thyroid imbalance

UNTREATED THYROID IMBALANCE? YOUR LIFE COULD BE AT RISK
Find out why iodine deficiency is on the rise and whether you may have hypothyroidism.

‘New Zealanders have about 50% of the daily requirments for iodine'
Like other countries iodine deficiency has led to health problems in New Zealand.  In the late 1800's and early 1900's goitre was very common and in 1924.  Iodine was added to table salt to increase iodine in people diets.Yet, now iodine deficiency is re-emerging with estimations that most New Zealanders have about 50% of the daily requirments for iodine and a presence of mild iodine deficiency in 5 - 14 year olds (28% of children studied had low iodine levels)  Deficiency can lead to significant health related issues from cardiovascular, neurological, fertility and pregnancy risks to neurological, mental and emotional, arthritis and inflammation, diabetes and obesity.

Read on to find out if iodine deficiency is affecting the health of you or your Family.

Why are more New Zealanders becoming iodine deficient?
Iodine is naturally found in fish, seaweed, shellfish and to some extent eggs, dairy, meat and iodised salt. But iodine deficiency is on the rise due to the increased consumption of commercially prepared foods, reduced dietary salts and the reduced use of iodine in sanatisers in the dairy industry.

What is the issue with iodine deficiency?
Iodine is an essential ingredient in all thyroid hormones and the thyroid cannot function in an iodine deficient state. The sole function of the thyroid is to make thyroid hormone. This hormone has an effect on nearly all tissues of the body where it increases cellular activity. The function of the thyroid is to regulate the body's metabolism.

It is widely known that iodine deficiency causes goiter and may lead to hypothyroidism but because the thyroid has a major part to play in the body, and the adrenal and thyroid glands interact to regulate weight, energy, blood sugars, neurotransmitters, sex hormones, inflammation and immune functions low iodine leading to thyroid disorders may play a part in autoimmune disorders including Graves and Hashimotos disease, has been linked to fibrocystic breasts and breast cancer and other hormone sensitive cancers such as ovarian and prostate cancers. Additionally hypothryroidism can lead to increased cardiovascular and diabetes risks, fertility and pregnancy issues, neurological risks, mental and emotional problems such as anxiety and depression and an increased risk of Alzheimer's. The decreased metabolic rate in people with hypothyroidism is associated with weight gain and obesity.

How do you know if you have Hypothyroidism?
Do you suffer from any of the following?
Rate each of the symptoms below from a scale of 0-3 (o-none, 1-mild, 2-moderate, 3-severe)

If your score is over 8 then you may have hypothyroidism

What now?
Contact elementa 09 520 4105 or info@elementa.co.nz and a naturopath or nutritionist can advise you what to do next. Depending on the severity of symptoms and further discussion we will be able to suggest next steps - from further tests to prescribing supportive nutrients for a healthy thyroid gland. Remember it may not be enough to just take iodine supplements as we may need to work on adrenal stress and other health issues