![quiz](https://naturalhealthresponse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/shutterstock_148480211-1000x300.jpg)
[Quiz] Are You Missing This Key Mineral?
You won’t hear doctors or nutritionists talk about it much, but it’s hard to overstate the importance of the mineral iodine.
Iodine is absolutely essential for heathy thyroid function. If you’re not getting enough, your thyroid can’t produce enough hormones, and can that wreak all kinds of havoc on your health.
That’s because iodine—and healthy thyroid function—are necessary for everything from brain development and growth, to healing and energy metabolism.
And there’s a good change you’re not getting enough.
To find out if you’re in this category—and what to do about it if you are—here are 9 key signs that you are deficient in this important mineral.
- Weight gain. Lack of iodine leads to hypothyroidism, which slows down your metabolism. A slower metabolism means you’re more likely to store fat than burn it.
- Weakness. This is another issue that occurs due to a sluggish metabolism. Burning fewer calories for energy means your muscles don’t work as efficiently.
- Tiredness. Once again, this is another symptom of a slow metabolism, brought on by a sluggish thyroid…caused by not getting enough iodine.
- Feeling cold. A slower metabolism means you’re producing less energy, and energy is necessary to warm up your body.
- Hair loss. Thyroid hormones are responsible for renewing your hair follicles. Hair falls out all the time, but when your thyroid is healthy, it replaces the lost hair follicles. If those follicles aren’t replaced as quickly as they fall out, the result is thinning hair.
- Dry skin. Another job of the thyroid hormones is to help with cell renewal. If the thyroid hormones aren’t doing their job, dead skin cells can build up, leading to flaky skin.
- Slow heart rate. Once again, this is due to a sluggish metabolism.
- Memory problems. Thyroid hormones are intimately tied to brain development and function, so it makes sense that not getting enough iodine can have negative effects on memory. One study even showed that people who had low thyroid hormones (caused by iodine deficiency) had a smaller hippocampus—that’s the part of the brain that affects memory.
- Swollen neck. This is one of the most obvious physical signs of iodine deficiency. That’s because when the thyroid gland isn’t getting enough iodine, it tries to absorb more from your blood. The result is a swollen thyroid—and a swollen neck.
Keep in mind that any of these symptoms could be completely unrelated to iodine deficiency. But if you read this list and felt like I was talking about you, then chances are pretty good you’ve got an iodine deficiency.
To find out for sure, go to your doctor and ask for a urine test.
In the meantime, work on incorporating more iodine-containing foods into your diet. A few of the best include cod, tuna, eggs, shrimp, yogurt, and seaweed.
To a brighter day,
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
![Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.](https://naturalhealthresponse.com/wp-content/themes/health-child/images/author-images/Dr.RichardGerhauser,M.D..jpg)
Written By Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
For years he’s been the trusted doctor for celebrities, world-class athletes, and countless seniors looking to reclaim their health.
And now…for the first time ever… he’s making his medical breakthroughs available to readers all across America.
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D. is one of the most pioneering and innovative minds in medicine today – and he delivers cutting-edge cures each month through his Natural Health Response newsletter.
Natural Health Response readers get full access to Dr. Gerhauser’s protocols for chronic pain… heart disease… diabetes… Alzheimer’s… and even cancer. These are the very same treatments Dr. Gerhauser recommends to his own patients at his practice in Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to being a board-certified medical doctor, Dr. Gerhauser has earned two master’s degrees and has served as a clinical professor at the University of Arizona.
And as a physician at the world-famous Canyon Ranch, Dr. Gerhauser treated celebrities from around the world who paid dearly for the type of next-generation health information he provides Natural Health Response readers each month.
View More Free Articles
Mother Nature's Bone-Building Secret REVEALED
Mainstream medicine has peddled the same old song and dance about osteoporosis for years. Pop some calcium pills… do some jumping jacks… and cross your fingers that your bones don’t crumble like a stale cookie. But what if I told you Mother Nature has been hiding a bone-building secret right under our noses? And we […]
The INCREDIBLE Payoff for Delaying Diabetes
If you don’t know where your blood sugar levels stand, it’s time to get them checked. It’s estimated that one in three adults has prediabetes, yet 80 percent of these folks have NO IDEA they’re in this category. That’s a BIG problem because most people will develop type 2 diabetes within just five years of […]
The Biggest Dementia Risk Factor REVEALED
I’m sure you’re familiar with the Skeleton Dance song… “The foot bone is connected to the leg bone. The leg bone is connected to the knee bone…” It’s easy to think of our bones being linked because we can physically see them. What’s less obvious is that everything else about your health is JUST as […]
It's NEVER Too Late to Kick This Dangerous Habit
You’ve heard it a million times before: “Smoking is bad for you.” If you’re still lighting up, I bet you remember a time when smoking wasn’t just accepted—it was downright fashionable. Remember when you could smoke in restaurants, on airplanes, and even in hospitals? Heck, movie stars even made it look cool and sophisticated. Well, […]
The TRUTH About ED No One's Talking About
It’s a subject most men would rather sweep under the rug… erectile dysfunction (ED). But you’re not alone if you’re having trouble in the bedroom. In fact, ED affects up to 30 million men in the U.S. alone. However, popping a little blue pill isn’t the answer. ED drugs are often just slapping a Band-Aid […]
Don’t Let Muscle Loss RUIN Your Golden Years
For older women, muscle mass can take a nosedive after menopause. This means more than trouble carrying in the groceries. Over time, the decline in muscle mass can lead to mobility problems, balance problems, falls, and ultimately a loss of independence. Staying active is a critical piece of the puzzle. But now, researchers have discovered […]
The Bad Habit Causing Lupus
All autoimmune diseases are on the rise—but lupus is one of the worst. When the condition strikes, your immune system starts to attack healthy tissues. Lupus cases have increased by 60 percent in women and have increased six-fold in men over the past four decades. What’s driving this dramatic increase? Well, we might have found […]
SHOCKING Missing Piece of the Diabetes Puzzle Discovered
I’ve been saying for years that there’s MORE to type 2 diabetes than your weight—or even your diet. Sure, they play their part. But unless you’re adding in THIS missing piece of the puzzle, you could be increasing your risk of type 2 diabetes despite your best efforts to avoid it. And you’ll never guess […]
Ditch the Chips and DEFY Aging
Sometimes, you just want something to crunch on. The craving can send even the most health-conscious among us heading straight to the snack aisle. But before you reach for the potato chips—which can contain all kinds of harmful ingredients—I have a better idea. Try THIS crunchy, healthy snack instead of loading up ingredients that can […]
Is Aspirin DEADLY? (Get the Truth Here)
Old habits die hard… especially when we’ve been led to believe they’re good ones. We were told for years that taking an aspirin a day would lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. But for many, those were empty promises that came with a LOT of risk… and LITTLE reward. That’s why, if you’re […]