Iodine is vital. It regulates thyroid function, supports a healthy metabolism, aids in growth and development, prevents certain chronic diseases like cancer and supports cognitive health in your pet. Unfortunately, many dogs suffer from iodine deficiency. In fact, did you know that there are at least 30 million people with this preventable condition?
A century ago, iodine was called the universal medicine, and was used to treat a wide variety of conditions and ailments. Pressure from pharmaceutical companies and other commercial interests has led to the deliberate discrediting of iodine as a supplement. Few people and animals get enough iodine for optimal or even good health.
Lugol’s iodine — In 1829 Jean Lugol developed an iodine solution that carries his name. It was in widespread use until the 1940's and 1950's, and many doctors successfully used it as a universal medicine. By 1950 doctors had been taught to prescribe a variety of pharmaceutical drugs rather than the very cheap Lugol's solution, and there was an active campaign to discredit iodine because of its severe impact on pharmaceutical profits.
Iodine benefits include:
• Synthesize thyroid hormones and prevents
both hypo- and hyperthyroidism
• Can reverse hypo- and hyperthyroidism
• Activates hormone receptors and helps
prevent cancer
• Aids in metabolism and energy levels
• Decreases insulin needs in diabetics
• Supports protein synthesis
• Facilitates Apoptosis
• Destroys pathogens, molds, fungi and parasites
• Supports immune function
• Eliminates toxics from the body
IODINE DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS IN ANIMALS:
Iodine is present throughout your animal’s body in just about every organ and tissue. Iodine is needed by almost every bodily system to keep your animal alive and energized. For this reason, iodine deficiency poses many risks to their health.
One of the most widespread symptoms of iodine deficiency is thyroid disorders. The thyroid is one of your animal’s body’s master glands responsible for balancing hormones. Thyroid disruption caused by a diet low in iodine-rich foods can cause fatigue, weight gain or loss, hormone imbalances, mood changes, and much more. Clinical signs and symptoms of iodine deficiency in animals include:
• Cold extremities
• Cold gums
• Constipation
• Depression
• Dry skin
• Fatigue
• Impaired cognitive function
• Impaired kidney function
• Joint stiffness
• Lethargy
• Memory problems
• Muscle weakness
• Recurrent infections
• Sensitivity to cold
• Shortness of breath
• Thinning or brittle hair
WHY SELENIUM IS IMPORTANT:
Iodine deficiency, coupled with selenium deficiency can lead to thyroid imbalance. Many people/animals who are diagnosed with iodine deficiency have been found to also have a selenium deficiency.
The thyroid gland needs both selenium and iodine to produce adequate levels of thyroid hormones. When there’s a deficiency in one or both, your pet’s body has low thyroid hormone levels.
While iodine plays a vital role in your pet’s thyroid health, selenium is critical for recycling iodine. When selenium levels are low, the thyroid will work harder to produce thyroid hormones. Your pet’s body will also have a difficult time changing these hormones into forms utilized by cells. Because of this, it’s important to treat both deficits in order to re-establish normal thyroid health. You can supplement selenium with mineral or selenium drops.
USING IODINE WITH ANIMALS:
Feed iodine-rich, animal-derived foods. But remember, the exact content of iodine in meats and organs of a particular animal depends on the iodine intake of that animal. Not all animal-derived foods are created equal.
Fish, raw milk, wild meats and organs, eggs from pastured hens and meats/organs from pastured and supplemented livestock all contain healthy levels of iodine. Iodine overdose can be dangerous, especially in dogs who are diagnosed with kidney disease.
Here are some of the ways iodine can help with your livestock and pets:
• Taken internally for health issues mentioned above, use co-factor nutrients to accompany — read about human protocols in Unguru’s Mindful Balance documents as human protocols apply to most animals as well. Co-factors include healthy, unrefined salt and selenium
• For water purification, use 1-5 drops of 5% iodine per liter of water depending on how contaminated the water appears to be and wait 30 minutes @ 50 degrees Fahrenheit for the iodine to work. Can be added to tap water before drinking to allow the body to remove toxic halogens and heavy metals
• Add to water for disinfecting stalls, poultry barns, bedding, etc.
• Apply to goiters, wounds, cuts, umbilical cord stumps, skin lesions and issues, etc.
Iodine Supplementation — Recommended dose for dogs and cats: 1mg per 10 pounds daily. The dropper dispenses vertically or horizontally. Each VERTICAL drop is approximately 3.00-3.125 mg of iodine/potassium iodide (approximately 1.250 mg iodine, 1.875 mg potassium iodide) and 2 drops is about 6.00-6.25 mgs of iodine/potassium iodide (approximately 2.5 mg iodine, 3.75 mg potassium iodide)
Horses do not require iodine in large quantities. A mature horse weighing 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds), only requires 3.5 milligrams of iodine per day. This amount increases for mares in late gestation, lactating broodmares, and horses in heavy work.
Please check before iodine dosing for horses, cattle, sheeps, goats. Their body systems handle iodine a little differently (although still have defiencies) and you will need additional information before you consider.
Iodine supports pregnancy (as the fetus under goes more apoptosis than any other developmental stage).
20) High doses of iodine may be used to reverse certain diseases.
21) High doses of iodine may be used for wounds, bedsores, inflammatory and traumatic pain, and restoration of hair growth when applied topically.
22) Iodine helps in the diminishing of tissue scarring, cheloid formations, and Dupuytren’s and Peyronie’s contractures, which are hyper-scarring conditions.
23) Detoxifies Fluoride, Chlorine, & Bromide along with heavy metals.Improves Metabolism: Your thyroid is a major factor in regulating your metabolism, and if your Iodine levels are low, you run the risk of having an underactive thyroid, and therefore a sluggish metabolism.
24) Balances Hormones: Having low amounts of Iodine can throw your hormones out of whack because it has a direct effect on your thyroid gland, which in turn regulates many of your hormones. It has also been said to help bring your libido up to its natural levels. Iodine receptors are most abdundant in the thyroid, reproductive organs of both sexes & breast tissue of both sexes. Although iodine is found in every single cell of our bodies the receptors are found in a more concentrated amount in the areas mentioned above
25) Improves Hair Growth
26) Increases Energy Levels: Not getting enough Iodine each day sets you up for not having as much energy as you would otherwise. This is because it helps with proper thyroid function, and this is a big factor in whether you feel up and ready to go, or if you feel lethargic and like you need more rest. As you can see the thyroid health is extremely important to our health in so many more ways that are recognized by our medical system.
27) Provides Protection from Radiation: An iodine saturated body is protected from radiation & can also be used for radiation exposure in both saturated people & non saturated people.
28) Protects from Pathogens: Iodine a great alternative to using antibiotics in the body to treat pathogens. Taking a prescribed oral antibiotic, kills off good bacteria as well as bad creating other problems for the person taking them, including but not limited to overgrowth of candida. But Iodine has been shown to have a similar effect while not damaging healthy bacteria that the body needs.
29) Protects Against Cancer
