Iodine Deficiency- Is it impacting your fertility and pregnancy?

Nutrient Deficiencies can impact your ability to fall pregnant as well as long term health outcomes of your baby

We know that being pregnant significant­ly increases the demands on the thyroid to create more hormones. This naturally increases your need for Iodine to ensure proper thyroid function.

Without enough iodine your thyroid may not be able to maintain a pregnancy and there have been studies showing that poor iodine levels can result in cognitive development delays in babies, when tested years down the track.

Lets jump in and take a closer look at what you need to know about Iodine and having a healthy baby.

A study conducted in England found that two thirds of pregnant women were deficient in Iodine.

Even more important they found that children of deficient mothers were more likely to struggle with reading, verbal development and IQ.

The lower the Iodine in these pregnant mums the lower the IQ scores in their children.

Despite just how common this deficiency is not many prenatal supplements actually contain this mineral.

Important to note before you rush out to get your Iodine is that too much of this mineral can also be problematic causing damage to your thyroid cells.

This is why comprehensive functional testing can be very helpful. We can check Iodine levels through a simple urine test, and should be done as part of your pre-conception care program.

Please note that information contained here is not medical advise, you should seek the guidance of a qualified health care practitioner.

some of the most common dietary sources of Iodine

Seaweeds such as, kelp, Kombu, wakame. However it’s difficult to ensure exact amounts as it can vary significantly from seaweed farm to seaweed farm.

If you have an existing autoimmune thyroid condition like Graves disease you want to avoid too much iodine as it can make thyroid issues worse. This is where getting the right professional and individualised support is important!

Other foods high in Iodine:

Fish and seafood

Eggs

Know that both hypo and Hyperthyroid can affect you ability to fall pregnant and maintain a pregnancy. So if fertility is something you're struggling with request your health care provider run a full thyroid panel during your next visit, as well as a urinary iodine test to know what your current status is and to establish if there is a need for you to supplement.

Some of the key symptoms to look out for:

Fatigue

Dry skin

Hair thinning

Constipation

Cold sensitivity

Many women with thyroid issues go undiagnosed for a long time. So have the testing to assess both your Iodine and thyroid.

In early pregnancy thyroid hormones ensure the placenta develops. If thyroid hormones are low this increases your risk of miscarriage and preterm birth.

Once a thyroid issue is identified you're able to start treatment and reduce the associated risks.

Natural options to support thyroid function

Beyond iodine there are other naturopathic and nutritional approaches for healthy thyroid, before we jump into that…

First step is to identify and remove any endocrine disrupters, these are chemicals most of us are exposed to on a daily basis that disrupt our delicate hormonal balance like:

BPA

Dioxin

Phthalates

Arsenic

Mercury

Organophosphates - Pesticides.

Herbal Medicines that may be helpful in supporting thyroid function:

Please keep in mind as a naturopath and herbal medicine practitioner all recommendations are individualised and unique to you, nothing here is intended to be prescriptive or medical advice, you need to seek out one to one support for tailored health support, but some of these herbs are commonly used:

Lemon Balm

Motherwort

Licorice Root-is anti-inflammatory and may help with stress.

Goku Kola

Red clover

Licorice root.

Ashwaganda-what we often refer to as an adaptogenic herb which may support fatigue, anxiety, reproductive issues.

Some general dietary guidelines to help with thyroid function:

Switch to whole grains like:

Brown rice

Millet

Quinoa

spelt.

Include beans that are soaked overnight 12-18 hours in water and kelp. (to increase iodine)

Increase vegetable intake:

Seasonal veggies - Minimus 6 serves per day.

Avoid overly processed foods and excessive consumption of dairy, sugar and wheat.

To learn more about following a healthy Mediterranean diet for fertility and longevity head across to this post.

Support proper liver function for thyroid health

This is important because much of the thyroid hormone T4 is converted to its more active form T3 in the liver. Also if the liver is sluggish it may not be effective at breaking down excessive hormones in the body. So supporting your liver may be an important part of your protocol.

Summary key points to remember

• testing Iodine and thyroid hormones early is key

• support thyroid, fertility and pregnancy using iodine supplements

• Address other factors like your diet and liver to ensure long term thyroid health.

  If you have any concerns please contact your health care practitioners for support with checking both your Iodine and thyroid hormone levels. You can find out more about one to one sessions here. Alternatively book in a complimentary 15 minute phone call with me below and I can answer any questions you might have.