Your life depends on it
People often tell me they have or think they have an iodine allergy. Often the assumption is based on an episode after eating shellfish or fish, they developed a skin rash. Sometimes they will talk about tingling lips which become red, puffy, hot and itchy. Others will remember finding it difficult to breathe, something like an asthma attack. In some instances, medical help had to be found to calm the symptoms. Why do these people relate their reaction to iodine? Most people know that all foods from the sea are rich in iodine. Therefore, they come to the conclusion that their reaction is due to this mineral. They are probably reacting to the protein found in fish and shellfish. Very often these foods can also become quite toxic if not eaten absolutely fresh. There is nothing worse than food poisoning from seafood!
Iodine allergy is very rare. Why? Simply put, iodine is an essential nutrient needed daily for good health. The body hardly ever causes reactions to vital nutrients. 80% of all iodine in the body, is found in the thyroid gland. Hence its importance. The thyroid gland is in control of many body systems and it cannot function well without adequate quantities of iodine. A deficiency in iodine can cause the thyroid gland to become unbalanced creating the well- known swollen look, also known as a Goiter.
As most of the iodine in the body is utilised by the thyroid gland, it stands to reason that excessive intake of iodine will directly affect the gland. This is only possible if 20 times the daily allowance of 120 micrograms is consumed over a period of time. This can happen if people take pure kelp tablets for a long time. Sometimes this is done to help control weight, as the thyroid gland is often blamed for overweight problems. Directly, the gland cannot be held responsible. Over-eating of carbohydrates, sugar and fat is usually the culprit at work! Lack of exercise contributes to a lower metabolic rate, something which the thyroid gland is also blamed for!