Sea salt and Iodine deficiency

[lenora]

THE FIRST 15 POSTS IN THIS THREAD WERE MOVED HERE FROM THIS THREAD:
I'm going down hill:

Hi Judee.....Thanks for your input. Yes, I agree that sea salt doesn't have iodine, a very necessary component for human beings. I've upped my salt considerably in the electrolyte drink I'm supposed to be on. I wouldn't even be on it except for the watchful eye of my daughter. I really don't want to return to the hospital, and have also upped my eating, but I do have rib problems thus can't eat after a certain time or I simply can't breathe. Apparently these problems are common among ME patients. Oh, we have so many problems that I can't bear dwelling on them for any length of time. I believe very strongly in the mind/body connection and the fact that I came out of this once again (OK, in the process of), is heartening. We now 2 people who have cardiac events that preceded what occurred to them. In both cases it was diagnosed as Autoimmune Encephalitis, so this isn't particularly rare...or at least as rate as we're led to believe.

 

[IThinkImTurningJapanese]

The levels were fine but it made me realize that because we eat sea salt she is not getting any iodide (a necessary nutrient).

Cut salt - It won’t affect your iodine intake

Iodized salt provides only a small fraction of daily iodine intake.
The surplus of sodium in the American diet contributes to a host of cardiovascular problems, from high blood pressure and stroke to heart attack, heart failure, and more. Cutting back on salt is generally good for the heart and arteries. But could this strategy have the unintended consequence of making some Americans deficient in iodine?
That's not likely, because salt provides only a fraction of daily iodine intake for most Americans.

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

I'm with @IThinkImTurningJapanese .... table salt provides a chemically altered iodine, in very small quantities. Sea Salt, as noted, provides none.

Excess salt, however, provides a rich cornucopia of pretty ugly problems, starting with the heart and moving on through just about every organ you've got., fro your skin to your kidneys.

You're better off taking a small amount of potassium iodide, about 75 to 150 mcgs, with your largest meal of the day. Or any meal.

 

[IThinkImTurningJapanese]

I'm with @IThinkImTurningJapanese .... table salt provides a chemically altered iodine, in very small quantities. Sea Salt, as noted, provides none.

I’m sorry I wasn’t clear, the idea that sea salt is insufficient is ridiculous.

All salt is sea salt, mined reserves are from ancient seas.

Until you process it.

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

I’m sorry I wasn’t clear, the idea that sea salt is insufficient is ridiculous.

If you can find me a genuine, unaltered, unprocessed sea salt that has any meaningful amount of iodine in it, I'd be really grateful C.Cat . Not being snarky. I use sea salt exclusively, and have to take a small amount of iodine in supplement form to make up for the lack in sea, Celtic, or Himalayan salts.

Iodine is a trace element that's found in the earth and in seaweed, but not in any meaningful quantities in sea water. Seaweed is a good source, because it sucks up the very small quantities of iodine in sea water and concentrates it, unfortunately along with a lot of the contaminants in many ocean waters today.

It's not necessarily the processing that takes the iodine out of salt, it's the processing that adds it in.

 

[IThinkImTurningJapanese]

If you can find me a genuine, unaltered, unprocessed sea salt that has any meaningful amount of iodine in it, I'd be really grateful C.Cat . Not being snarky. I use sea salt exclusively, and have to take a small amount of iodine in supplement form to make up for the lack in sea, Celtic, or Himalayan salts.

We have evolved to thrive with available sources of nutrients.

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

We have evolved to thrive with available sources of nutrients.

Then what in the name of all that's holy are we dong here !!!????!!!

 

[lenora]

Cut salt - It won’t affect your iodine intake

May I please be a boor and cut in at the moment. I'm fresh from a Dr.'s appt. that dealt with the salt issue, with regards to an electrolyte imbalance of sodium (sale) b/c of cutting back b/c another Dr. told me I had to because of high blood pressure.

Yes, prior to menopause my BP ran low, very low. Each time I was kidded about being in the morgue, or some such dialogue. After menopause my BP started to run very high in the evening and evened out, was even considered low again by a.m. My weight was very stable, if anything probably underweight. My cholesterol is and always has been high (familial high cholesterol) and no, my diet had nothing to do with it. I have none of the food products considered unsafe and don't even desire them anyway.

So back to the sale issue. I've been diagnosed with Autoimmune Encephalitis. This is the 5th time I've been hospitalized for it, once for a bowel blockage that I've now been told could be brought on by the electrolyte imbalance. I had none of the markers for a blockage....I've never had any female or intestinal surgery of any kind, but did b/c of this problem. Anyway, it seems that one of the causes of AE is possibly an electrolyte imbalance and the no salt diet can be dangerous for many of us. It's also true that many of us should cut way back on the amount of salt used. Sea salt doesn't contain iodine and iodine is necessary for proper functioning of the body...it's not found in many foods that we commonly eat. I feel that each of us has to look at our body's and determine what's right for us; talk to our Dr.'s, and reach as much of an agreement as possible.

We don't know the final outcome of ME and the body. We're the first pioneers on the battlefield and, at 73, more than a few of us are developing Autoimmune Encephalitis. I'm seeing top specialists, reading all the research and there is no way anyone can say what to do at this point. Like this whole affair has been, you simply have to wait for others to go through it in order to foretell what's ahead. I've been at it for so long that it doesn't matter any longer. I do worry about having a cardiac event(s) that could lead to having 5 round-the-clock nurses like a friend of mine has had for the past 6 yrs. I'd hate to inflict that punishment on my family; but I've long realized that there are many, many events that we have no control over in life.

I'm fortunate in that I have great hospitals and medical care minutes away from my home. The next time one of these "events" occur, I'll be given a different and new treatment. In the meantime, I've been advised to eat salt, to stop the electrolytes and drink something called Smart Water (apparently it has a base say like cucumber water, which I make in the summertime). Really, one Dr. tells me to drink 64 oz./day; another says 32 oz/day. Too much input is just as bad as too little !! These are top specialists and it's driving both of us a little crazy. I'm turning 73 within just weeks now. I'm realistic...I don't expect to live forever, if I'm honest I'd have to say that I'm stunned that I've lived this long with the illnesses I have. All are serious and ME appeared as 3rd on the list. I've had it for probably 34 yrs. now...when we were considered one of the true untouchables b/c we came along right at the time of the AIDS epidemic. I was too ill to be aware of the seriousness of it. I do feel that I'm taking steps backwards and would like to get back on my regimen of vitamins/supplements....but am afraid to b/c of this electrolyte problem. Any input would be appreciated. I wouldn't have cut in on this conversation but did only b/c of my recent experiences. Yours, Lenora.

 

[IThinkImTurningJapanese]

I do feel that I'm taking steps backwards and would like to get back on my regimen of vitamins/supplements....but am afraid to b/c of this electrolyte problem. Any input would be appreciated. I wouldn't have cut in on this conversation but did only b/c of my recent experiences.

Electrolytes

Substances in your blood called electrolytes — such as potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium — help trigger and conduct the electrical impulses in your heart. Electrolytelevels that are too high or too low can affect your heart's electrical impulses and contribute to arrhythmia development

Sea salt contains roughly 67% sodium chloride, followed by calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and then a host of trace minerals, including iodine.

 

[Wolfcub]

I use sea salt exclusively, and have to take a small amount of iodine in supplement form to make up for the lack in sea, Celtic, or Himalayan salts.

I have recently been wondering that same thing myself. Is there any iodine in sea salt?? I do take a multivitamin /mineral every day which does contain some iodine, but was wondering which salt might contain it naturally, apart from iodised table salt. I know (or think I know ) foods like seaweed do contain it.

 

[lenora]

Electrolytes



Sea salt contains roughly 67% sodium chloride, followed by calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and then a host of trace minerals, including iodine.

Thanks, I Think I'm Turning Japanese, but I'm still at a loss as to what I should be doing to restore a proper electrolyte balance. I'm still fuzzy headed from the entire affair, and find it difficult to say "aha, this is the magic thing that I need." I'm still afraid to try my vitamins/supplements with all of this left hanging. Perhaps I did it to myself, but I have to say that I've been on the same things for at least 15 yrs. I know you don't have all the answers either, but it's complicated to figure out. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Yours, Lenora

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

I have recently been wondering that same thing myself. Is there any iodine in sea salt?? I do take a multivitamin /mineral every day which does contain some iodine, but was wondering which salt might contain it naturally, apart from iodised table salt. I know (or think I know ) foods like seaweed do contain it.

See my post above to @IThinkImTurningJapanese .... thre is virtually NO iodine in sea salt, and very little in sea water itself. The reason that seaweeds are high in iodine is that over time, they concentrate the small amounts in sea water and act as storage houses.

I've started using Potassium Iodide, about 10 months ago, to supplement iodine and it seems to hvae helped my thyroid, among other systems. It's cheap and effective. I use about 150 mcgs a day. including the small amounts in my multi.

The only salts that contain iodine have had it added during processing, and the type of iodine added isnt always the best for your body. Keep using sea salt, which is free fro the chemicals used in processing table salts, and just supplement with a bit of iodine.

 

[lenora]

Yes, that's a good idea, Yippee. I'm feeling parched from using regular table salt. The Dr. said I may have to go on salt tablets and most people dislike them b/c of the very parched feeling. Great! I'm taking a multi-vitamin...it's certainly a lot easier than doling them out yourself, but I feel something is severely lacking. I/we did get the go-ahead to add Ubiquinol to our diets. That's good as it does protect the heart, and she even wants to up the amount I'm given. The Smart Water is much better than Gatorade and the like. Rod bought watermelon and cucumber, as we have a lot of them in the summer months. Sometimes I think our bodies naturally lead us to what we're deficient in and we just have to follow. 'Til next time. Yours, Lenora

 

[Judee]

@IThinkImTurningJapanese, @YippeeKi YOW !! We actually have the opposite problem of not getting enough salt in our diets because our diets are so plain on a account of all our food allergies. Many times we test hypo-natremia.

Too little salt also is dangerous. You should never completely cut out the salt. As this site says:

One study found that less than 3,000 milligrams of sodium per day is linked to an increased risk of dying from heart disease, including from heart attacks and strokes (14).
Disturbingly, another study reported a higher risk of dying from heart disease at the lower sodium levels that many guidelines currently recommend (15).
However, other studies have reported conflicting results, so this matter is far from settled (16, 17, 18).
In a 2011 review of controlled trials, reducing sodium didn’t reduce the risk of dying from heart attacks or strokes, and it increased the risk of death from heart failure (19).

We actually barely get 1,200 milligrams per day which is bad. I am always trying to find healthy ways to increase this but it's not easy.

 

[IThinkImTurningJapanese]

Then what in the name of all that's holy are we dong here !!!????!!!

That is brilliant, and hilarious.

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

You beat me to it !!! Was going to open this thread later today .... will let @Mary know that it's good to go whenever she wants to do the transfer. I'm thinking everything we posted, and maybe that first post from a member about taking on a lot more salt that started all this off ???

(And now it's a big pink grin, rolling on the floor laughing at me .... I'm outraged I tells 'ya, just outraged .... or outaged .... one of those )

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

That is brilliant, and hilarious.

Thank you, C. Cat .... praise from Sir Hubert .....

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

@IThinkImTurningJapanese
Wow!!!

Fast work C. Cat. Impressive !!!

There's a couple of posts missing, will check in with @Mary later if you're not available.

I really really love your new avatar. It seems to have an almost hypnotically calming effect on me, which is nice because I'm pretty cranky and not just a little pissy today.

Tomorrow will be better. Or maybe I'll be even crankier and pissier. It's a fun ride, like The Matterhorn without guardrails or brakes.

Trotting off now. Lates, homes. That's for all the Wire fans. They'll know what I mean.

And then they'll explain it to me.

 

[Wolfcub]

I use about 150 mcgs a day. including the small amounts in my multi.

My multivit/mineral has 150mcg. That is supposed to be (for ordinary people, not specific illnesses etc) 100% RDA.

I also eat fish about 3 times a week, eggs, and butter (though don't use milk)
Am wondering if that's enough...
I don't have thyroid issues, so the doctor informs me, but I still wonder if 150 is enough. But I don't want to just go and take too much of it....

 

[Timaca]

I cook most of my meals from scratch and use very little salt. I was using sea salt, until I noticed my eyebrows shortening....a lot. I realized that was a sign of iodine deficiency so I bought some liquid iodine drops and started taking one drop a day (the recommended daily amount). My eyebrows grew back.

Then I recently saw Dr. Chheda. After examining me, she recommended I increase my sodium intake. I've just recently started doing that (by about 1/4 - 3/8 tsp a day of iodized salt) and I do feel better.

My blood pressure has always been on the low side, but I am monitoring it to make sure it stays low. Dr. Kim Williams, one of the authors of the hypertension guidelines has a talk here about high blood pressure and sodium guidelines. If you have hypertension he recommends less than 2400 mg of sodium a day and less than 1500 mg is optimal. He discusses this about 39 minutes into the talk.

Now that I'm increasing my iodine intake via iodized salt, I will cut back some on my supplemental iodine. And it looks like some extra salt is helping me feel better so I will continue along that course and keep monitoring how it makes me feel.

I'm also trying some compression exercise leggings and some compression stockings to see how they affect me.
Best,