Kelp how much to take for thyroid

Planning by Care Setting. Planning by Specialty. Allergy and immunology Anaesthesia and pain Cancers Cardiovascular system disorders Diabetes Ear, nose and throat disorders Endocrine system disorders Eyes and vision Gastrointestinal disorders Haematological disorders Infection and infectious diseases Liver disorders Mental health and illness. Musculo-skeletal disorders Neurological disorders Nutritional and metabolic disorders Obstetrics and gynaecology Renal and urologic disorders Reproductive health Respiratory disorders Sexual health Skin disorders Stroke Surgery Vaccinating Wounds and injuries.

Training index Courses Materials Search Training. Training by Care Setting. Training by Specialty. Mental health and illness. Publications by Care Setting. Publications by Specialty.

Diabetes Gastrointestinal disorders Infection and infectious diseases Mental health and illness Musculo-skeletal disorders Neurological disorders Public Health Radiology Reproductive health Sexual health Skin disorders.

Why patients take kelp Kelp is a generic term that refers to Laminaria and Macrocystis species of brown seaweeds, although in practice the term is often used in reference to species of Fucus. Iodine and kelp Normal daily iodine requirement The normal daily iodine requirement ranges from micrograms to micrograms, with the UK reference nutrient intake value of micrograms for adults.

Iodine content of kelp and its effect The iodine content of kelp products can vary considerably, even within products of the same brand. Avoiding kelp in patients with thyroid disorders Kelp can aggravate existing thyroid disorders. In fact, giant kelp is one of the world's fastest growing plants. It grows as much as feet meters in a single year.

Kelp contains iodine. This provides the trace element for your thyroid hormone. Kelp is a food staple. These include carrageenan. Alginates are used in the food industry to stabilize and improve the textures of foods. These include ice cream and chocolate milk. The thick, smooth feel of chocolate milk is made by adding alginates. Kelp is also used as soil conditioners.

It adds organic material to soil that doesn't have enough nutrients. Discuss kelp supplementation with your doctor before using it -- he may recommend a specific brand and dose, or tell you to avoid it completely. Kelp contains iodine, which is the active ingredient that affects the thyroid. The amount of iodine in a particular supplement varies by type, age and growing location of the kelp, as well as harvesting and processing methods.

According to a letter in "Environmental Health Perspectives," U. Federal labeling regulations require the recommended dose on the bottle to reflect the maximum iodine dose, so don't exceed the recommended dose unless specifically recommended by your doctor. The maximum daily kelp dose still provides percent of the iodine you need in a day, and taking more can cause problems. Getting too much iodine can make thyroid problems worse, and high doses around 2, mcg can be toxic.

Nasr says that people on restrictive diets may consider adding a daily multivitamin that contains the recommended daily allowance of iodine. He also assures patients not to worry that you are getting too much iodine from everyday foods. Selenium, which is needed to support efficient thyroid function, is not something you would typically find at the grocery store, but an alternative medicine doctor might prescribe it, Dr.

You can also get it in foods like fish, Brazil nuts, meat and poultry. Eating the wrong foods or taking the wrong supplements can cause trouble for people with thyroid problems. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles.