The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland located at the base of the neck. It is responsible for the production of thyroid hormones and calcitonin, a peptide hormone. Thyroid hormones act on nearly every cell in the body and are primarily responsible for the regulation of a healthy metabolism. It does this by increasing the basal metabolic rate. Thyroid hormone disorders include hyperthyroidism (excessive secretion of thyroid hormone) and hypothyroidism (deficient secretion). The most common cause of thyroid conditions is iodine deficiency. Iodine deficiency is the most preventable cause of intellectual disability in children. According to Dr. David Brownstein, “Iodine is required for all cells to function optimally.”
Iodine is a building block for the structure of thyroid hormones. Optimizing the ability for the thyroid gland to utilize iodine correctly is essential in correcting thyroid disorders. A contributing factor to thyroid disorders are environmental toxins that compete and displace iodine in thyroid tissue. Correcting this issue along with providing nutrition to fuel the biochemical processes of thyroid function are the main therapeutic goals.