The Most Misunderstood Nutrient

Dr. David Brownstein, MD says that iodine deficiency is epidemic and he is finding low iodine levels in up to 96% of his patients that he tests. I learned about Dr. David Brownstein during the Thyroid Sessions, put on be Sean Croxton. All I can say is WOW, it was very enlightening. I learned a lot about thyroid and all the different issues that people suffer from including, weight gain, fatigue, cancer and much more.

Iodine was added to table salt many years ago, in an effort to prevent goiter. Problem is everybody is on a low salt diet these days. Add to that, there are many things in our environment now that compete with iodine within our bodies, namely; chlorine and fluoride (found in most municipal water supplies) and bromine (baked goods and many other sources).

So I decided to add seaweed to my diet more often. One of the best sources of iodine, along with seafood like shrimp, tuna, salmon, lobster and more. Himalayan sea salt also contains some iodine. It is a better choice than regular table salt, because it contains lots of trace minerals.

 Thyroid Booster Paleo Dinner

The important thing is to make sure your seaweed comes from a good source. You don’t want to consume seaweed from polluted waters. I would also avoid any seaweed from anywhere near Japan. Maybe even the entire Pacific ocean, in light of the Fukishima event, that released radiation into the ocean.

I did a little exploring on the internet for seaweed products being sold in health food stores. Many where harvested from the Atlantic Ocean.  There was also mention of the care that was taken when harvesting.

So the bottom line for me when it comes to seaweed, – Know where it comes from, and the quality, before it goes into my body.

Thyroid Helper Paleo Dinner Recipe

The seaweed I got called for soaking in pure water for about 10 minutes, then drain the water.

I made up a nice salad from locally grown, chemical free leafy greens. It is important to get a full range of nutrients, not just iodine. I topped it off with a hot pepper that I cut up into small pieces. Also added a tomato. To that I added sesame oil, sea salt. You can also add fresh or dried herbs to taste.

I melted some coconut oil in my frying pan and turned the heat to medium-low. I added the seaweed to warm it up.

Then I put in my piece of kidney. I am very fond of organ meats. They are a good source of nutrition. The kidney is from grass fed cows. I like my kidney cooked rare. I sliced it up some as it was cooking for just a short time.

Then pile it all on top of the salad and dinner is served! Wow this was delicious.

Fresh Pina Colada Drink

Along with my meal I had a Pina Colada, that I made in the blender. I used real fresh pineapple, unsweetened coconut, coconut oil and coconut milk. Rum is optional, if you prefer the non-alcoholic version.