There are numerous diet options available, and some of them come with serious risks. A low Iodine diet is one of them. While this diet can be very necessary for certain situations, this is not a diet to start unless it has come recommended by a doctor.
Find out all about the low Iodine diet, and learn if it might be right for you.
What Is The Low Iodine Diet?
A low Iodine diet is exactly what the name implies: a diet plan with a low Iodine intake. Iodine is a mineral found in a variety of foods and drinks, so being on this diet limits your intake to things that have a very low Iodine content.
Here are some foods that contain high levels of Iodine:
- Iodized salt: Non-iodized salt and kosher salt are fine, but any food with iodized salt on it is not allowed
- Dairy: Including milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, sour cream, and yogurt
- Anything from the ocean: This includes fish, kelp, and shellfish
- Egg yolks
- Soy products: No soybeans, tofu, or anything with soy ingredients
- Maraschino cherries
- Beans: Particularly high in Iodine are navy beans, red kidney beans, lima beans, cowpeas, and pinto beans
Eating out on this diet is almost impossible. Even the most health-conscious restaurants use some ingredients that contain Iodine; any processed food can contain it. So, eating out can lead to you consuming Iodine-rich foods, which ruins the diet. On this diet, you need to prepare most of your own meals.
And while the list of foods that aren’t allowed might seem overwhelming, there are plenty of dining options. Fresh meats, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables are welcomed. You can also eat canned fruits.
Vegetable oils are allowed, as well as unsalted peanut butter and unsalted nuts. For some flavor, you can season your food with dried herbs (or fresh ones, for that matter) and pepper. Honey, maple syrup, and jam can also give your food some added flavor. And even soda is allowed, as long as it doesn’t contain red dye #3.
If you’re willing to make your own baked goods and skip the restaurant, this diet is certainly manageable. You can find many different cookbooks that teach you how to eat well on this diet. However, it’s not a diet intended for weight loss.
Who Should Be On The Low Iodine Diet?
This diet is recommended by doctors to individuals undergoing Radioactive Iodine scans and Radioactive Iodine treatments. Those processes bombard the body with Iodine, and using this diet can prevent some severe reactions to it.
A low iodine diet plagues people in many countries of the world. In fact, Israel experiences incredibly high rates of Iodine deficiency in school children and in pregnant women.
Some people inadvertently start their own low Iodine diet when they participate in fad diets. Sometimes, fad diets cut out many of the foods that contain high levels of Iodine, and as a result, they may suffer from Iodine deficiency.
Common culprits of this include low-calorie diets, low-fat diets, and Alkaline or pH diets. They cut out important foods that provide the body with enough Iodine. Even diets that restrict dairy can lead to Iodine deficiency because there is so much Iodine in dairy products.
There are many ways to end up on a low Iodine diet without even realizing it. The effects of such a diet when it is not medically necessary can be severe.
What Are The Possible Side Effects?
Iodine is used by the thyroid gland to create hormones which regulate your body. With those hormones, your body can regulate your production of fat and breakdown of carbohydrates. It can also ensure that your cardiovascular system is working well; your heart rate maintains a normal rate and your blood vessels dilate as they are expected.
Furthermore, Iodine keeps both your reproductive and nervous systems working well. And so, it should come as no surprise that an Iodine deficiency can wreak havoc on your body.
One of the side effects of low Iodine is hypothyroidism. This is a direct reaction from Iodine not being available to your body. Your body can no longer produce the thyroid hormones that keep everything in balance.
The symptoms of hypothyroidism vary. You may experience fatigue, weight gain, achiness in your muscles, and dry skin. Some people notice that their hair and nails become brittle. You may also suffer from high cholesterol because your metabolism doesn’t work as it should.
Another symptom of too little Iodine in your body is a goiter. Essentially, a goiter occurs when your thyroid enlarges to the point that it becomes easily visible. In addition to being noticeable, a goiter is also uncomfortable.
It places pressure on your throat and esophagus, making everyday activities (like eating) uncomfortable. Goiters can cause you to be hoarse, cough often, or have a hard time swallowing.
Oddly enough, goiters can also cause you to experience the symptoms of having too much Iodine. They can produce their own Iodine, which can cause Hyperthyroidism.
What Are The Benefits of the Low Iodine Diet?
When this diet is used by people who need Radioactive Iodine scans and treatment, it prepares them for what is to come. They starve their bodies of Iodine while they are on the diet. When they take radioactive Iodine, the thyroid cells quickly absorb the much-needed mineral.
The radioactive quality makes the thyroid cells easier to find, and they can be destroyed by the treatment.
Low Iodine Diet Final Thoughts
This diet has a very specific use, and it’s very effective for that use. For people about to undergo Radioactive Iodine Treatment, a low Iodine diet can be the piece of the puzzle that makes the treatment work. When it’s not used for this purpose, the diet can have dangerous effects. Every diet is capable of changing your body. It’s important to know that whatever diet you choose isn’t changing it for the worse.
People throughout the world suffer from Iodine deficiency, and there are some serious consequences for that. Some people don’t have enough access to Iodine-rich foods, while others choose to cut them out of their diet.
In any case, a low Iodine diet should only be used when it’s been recommended by a doctor.
