Losing weight and keeping a healthy lifestyle can be easier with a few simple supporting strategies. One of them is taking supplements to keep your metabolism on the right track. Since iodine deficiency can sabotage your weight and overall health, using iodine for weight loss can be an excellent way to go.

Iodine is crucial for our bodies to function correctly, especially for thyroid functions. The problem is we can only get it from external sources. Usually, a balanced diet would ensure the necessary amount, as there are many iodine high foods. However, if you discover that’s not enough, you can increase your daily iodine intake with supplements.

Iodine Benefits

When we think of iodine, table salt is probably the first image that comes to mind. However, taking iodine for weight loss is not a very well-known concept. We know people take iodine for thyroid and about using iodine for radiation.

 But let’s see the rest of the iodine effects and why it’s a good idea to make sure we keep it at the right level.

What is iodine good for?

  • It ensures proper thyroid function, meaning it keeps the production of thyroid hormones under control
  • Enhancing  iodine in diet sustains the neurodevelopment of babies during the pregnancy
  • Iodine develops cognitive function in children
  • It can treat thyroid cancer
  • It can enhance the treatment of fibrocystic breast disease
  • Iodine helps with the symptoms of vaginitis
  • Used in mouthwash, it can reduce post-chemotherapy inflammation
  • Iodine is used to disinfect water
  • It protects from the effect of nuclear radiation
  • It can treat and even prevent infections
  • The benefits of iodine on the skin include faster cell regeneration, regulating moisture levels, keeping your hair and nails healthy

On top of all that, iodine and weight loss are also connected. That’s not surprising because the best way to keep fit and healthy is to have balanced levels of minerals and vitamins.

How Do I Know I Have Iodine Deficiency?

Before you figure out if there’s a connection between your iodine deficiency and weight loss issues you may experience, you need to take one crucial step: ensuring you actually have that deficiency.

Iodine is essential, and since you can only get it from external sources, you may be tempted to take supplements just to be sure. That would be a mistake.

Yellow and white warning sign - symptoms of iodine deficiency
Photo by Monstera: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cutout-paper-composition-of-yellow-signboard-with-exclamation-mark-5849597/

Too much iodine in your body can cause serious health problems, especially with your thyroid. If your body cannot adapt to the high iodine levels, there’s the risk of iodine-induced hypothyroidism. Thyroid cancer is another significant risk of an iodine overdose. So before trying to use iodine for weight loss, check with your doctor to see what your iodine levels are and if you need to intervene.

Even without medical tests, your body will send signals showing your iodine level is low. If you learn to spot them, you can get to the doctor faster and find out what to do next.

Here are the main signs that you may be experiencing an iodine deficiency:

  • A sudden and inexplicable weight gain
  • General weakness and lack of energy
  • Feeling more tired than usual
  • Iodine brain fog
  • Hair loss
  • Your skin becomes dry or flaky
  • Feeling cold without a reason
  • Decreased heart rate
  • Memory and learning issues
  • Pregnancy problems
  • Unusual periods – heavier or irregular
  • Your neck is swollen, indicating a thyroid issue

Not everyone needs to worry about their iodine levels, especially if they have a healthy lifestyle. So who is at risk when it comes to developing an iodine deficiency?

  • Pregnant women are the main category who needs to be extra careful about monitoring their iodine level. If they don’t, it can seriously affect the baby’s development and can cause brain issues
  • People in South and Southeast Asia, New Zealand, and Europe. That’s because these are areas where the iodine levels in the soil are insufficient
  • Vegetarians and vegans
  • Those who don’t use iodized salt in their diet

Will Iodine Help me Lose Weight?

Iodine isn’t meant to get your scale to show more appealing numbers. Instead, its’ purpose is to keep your immune system and your thyroid functioning properly.

So how does iodine help weight loss? It’s actually a secondary effect of regulating your thyroid. If your thyroid is working well again, your metabolism will improve as well.

Getting rid of your iodine deficiency will help you get the expected results. For example, if you weren’t losing weight despite following the rules and iodine was the culprit, iodine capsules can fix that.

Basically, the answer to the question ‘does iodine increase weight loss?’ is yes, if the reason for your stagnant weight was a thyroid issue or a low iodine level in your body.

Use Natural Sources of Iodine for Weight Loss

Tuna with lemon and green salad - a good way to use iodine for weight loss.
Photo by Wesual Click on Unsplash

If your iodine deficiency isn’t that serious, you may not have to turn to iodine pills. Instead, the doctor may advise you to improve your daily iodine intake by changing your diet.

In that case, it helps to know where iodine is found. And the good news is there are plenty of iodine-containing foods you can use.

Iodine rich foods:

  • Seaweed
  • Iodized salt
  • Fish: cod, tuna, halibut, pollock
  • Dairy: milk, yogurt, cheese
  • Eggs
  • Beef liver
  • Chicken
  • Shrimp
  • Crab
  • Scallops
  • Squid
  • Lima beans
  • Dried prunes

Since I mentioned yogurt, it’s good to know it has many benefits for your health and is used in many weight loss plans. You can check out the Potato and Yogurt Diet article to read more about it.

As you can see, with just a few tweaks to your diet, you can get the iodine in the body at normal levels again. For example, the iodine in milk alone can make quite a difference. According to experts, milk and dairy can cover 13 to 64% of the recommended iodine daily intake.

The level of iodine in seaweed is even more impressive. This is probably the best source of iodine you can use. In fact, when it comes to iodine, the Japanese diet is the best example of boosting your iodine levels through food.

Japanese people eat a lot of seaweed, like Nori, Wakame, or Kombu. Some experts have even suggested that the iodine levels in the Japanese diet may be too high, but the jury is still not out on that one. 

Anyway, this iodine-rich foods list can surely help you get back on track if your deficiency isn’t severe. In this case, taking iodine for weight loss is extremely easy – just adjust your menu. All these foods are very healthy in general and crucial to your diet.

If natural iodine sources aren’t enough, supplements can be the answer.

Very important! Before taking iodine, check with your doctor to ensure you need it; it’s the same rule that applies to any supplements.

You Can Try Selenium and Iodine for Weight Loss

Iodine as a supplement could help you slim down if an iodine deficiency causes your stagnant weight. But you may need to pair it with selenium to get the best results. This is because the thyroid hormones managing your metabolism need selenium.

Studies show that for an efficient thyroid hormone metabolism, you need both iodine and selenium at proper levels. And even if you don’t have any thyroid issues, it seems selenium can help you lose fat faster.

If you’re wondering how much iodine you need to lose weight, the answer comes from your doctor. But to get an idea of the dosage, you can check the WHO iodine intake recommendation here.

Even the use of iodine over the counter must be supervised, so your iodine weight loss dosage needs to be approved by your physician.

Once you get the recommendation, you’ll see that iodine capsules aren’t the only option; you can also use the liquid form.

Iodine drops have the same purpose as pills, but, in general, drops are absorbed by your organism faster.

What Are the Signs of too Much Iodine?

Iodine is essential, but it’s not something to mess with. So if you are taking supplements, you must be very careful to avoid an iodine overload. Take your iodine tablets exactly how your doctor told you.

To avoid any problems, it’s best to know what signs to look for. So here are the symptoms of too much iodine:

  • A burning sensation in your mouth
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Fever
  • Stomach ache

It can get to weak pulse, swelling of the airways, cyanosis, and even coma in severe cases.

Since we’re on the subject of using iodine for weight loss, it’s also essential to know how excess can affect your progress.

Does too much iodine cause weight gain? It can. Even if it’s not a severe overdose, if you take more iodine than prescribed, especially for an extended period, it will affect your thyroid. And you will end up with the same problem that led you to try iodine in the first place.

An iodine deficiency must be corrected, but too much is also a bad thing. That’s why you must not exaggerate with those iodine tablets, or you can do a lot of damage.

Conclusion on Using Iodine for Weight Loss

Does iodine help weight loss? Yes, if an iodine deficiency causes your weight loss problem. It’s particularly helpful if you pair it with selenium. You can either make changes to your diet to include iodine-rich foods or use supplements.

Woman holding a sushi roll - seaweed is an excellent source of iodine for weight loss
Photo by Crystal Jo on Unsplash

However, if your iodine level was not the problem, taking pills is not a good idea.

As for iodine weight loss results, don’t expect something drastic. But if you get your thyroid working properly again, your waist will soon benefit from it.

The central aspect to take away from all this is that lovely list of foods that can keep your iodine level balanced. They are great additions to your diet, and you will get more nutritional elements from them than just the iodine.

See also How to Come to Terms with Forever Controlling Your Diet

FAQ

How long does it take for iodine to work?

It takes about a month to get your iodine pills working and for the benefits to become evident. But your doctor may advise you to do a three months treatment so that the effect would be complete and durable.

Is 300 mcg of iodine too much?

300 mcg of iodine can be too much, but you will get the exact dose from your doctor. According to the WHO, the recommended dose for adults is 150 mcg. However, the amount will be higher for pregnant women because they need it for their baby’s healthy development.

Does iodine boost your metabolism?

If your metabolism was slow due to thyroid issues, taking iodine can correct that. Iodine is closely connected to your thyroid, and if your thyroid doesn’t function properly, it will slow your metabolism down.

When you bring your iodine back to normal, your metabolism will boost, and you will be on the right track again.

Should iodine and selenium be taken together?

Iodine and selenium work great together. Your thyroid needs them both to be at optimal levels to function correctly. Adding selenium is crucial because it can help you avoid iodine-induced autoimmune thyroiditis.

Should I take iodine at night or morning?

Iodine is usually taken in the morning, before or during breakfast. However, if you notice it upsets your stomach, take your iodine pills after a meal.

It’s best to avoid taking iodine in the evening because it may disrupt your sleep due to the extra energy it will give you.

What is nascent iodine?

Nascent iodine is a liquid iodine supplement. Also known as atomic iodine or atomidine, many consumers prefer it because it gives them the ideal dose of iodine and is easily absorbed.

What is the best iodine for weight loss?

When your doctor considers you need more iodine, they will also advise you on what type of supplement to use. For example, you can use a multivitamin supplement, which will most likely contain iodine. Or at least make sure you also take selenium along with your iodine pills to give your thyroid the best assistance.