Strengthening the butterfly shaped organ with an algae!

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits low on the front of the neck. Your thyroid lies below your Adam’s apple, along the front of the windpipe. The thyroid has two side lobes, connected by a bridge in the middle. When the thyroid is its normal size, you can’t feel it. Brownish-red in colour, the thyroid is rich with blood vessels. Nerves important for voice quality also pass through the thyroid.

Iodine is an element that is needed for the production of thyroid hormone. The body does not make iodine, so it is an essential part of your diet. Iodine is found in various foods. If you do not have enough iodine in your body, you cannot make enough thyroid hormone. Thus, iodine deficiency can lead to enlargement of the thyroid, hypothyroidism and to intellectual disabilities in infants and children whose mothers were iodine deficient during pregnancy. Iodine is present naturally in soil and seawater. The availability of iodine in foods differs in various regions of the world. Individuals in the United States can maintain adequate iodine in their diet by using iodized table salt, by eating foods high in iodine, particularly dairy products, seafood, meat, some breads, and eggs, and by taking a multivitamin containing iodine.

Kelp, a type of seaweed, is full of healthy nutrients that can benefit your health and possibly even prevent disease. This type of sea algae is already a staple in many Asian cuisines. It’s a natural source of essential Vitamins, minerals & antioxidants. You may have seen this marine plant at the beach. Kelp is a type of large, brown seaweed that grows in shallow, nutrient-rich saltwater near coastal fronts around the world. It differs slightly in colour, flavour, and nutrient profile from the type you may see in sushi rolls. Because it absorbs the nutrients from its surrounding marine environment, kelp is rich in Vitamins, minerals & trace elements. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Trusted Source say that seaweed, such as kelp, is one of the best natural food sources of iodine, an essential component in thyroid hormone production. Even short-term kelp supplementation can increase TSH levels. It can also cause temporary hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis—excess levels of thyroid hormones in the bloodstream. Low iodine levels can lead to metabolism disruption, enlargement of the thyroid gland, various other complications.

However, too much iodine can also lead to thyroid problems, according to research. This can happen if people use supplements or consume too much kelp.