Nascent iodine is one of the most crucial items to have in a survival scenario. Furthermore, nascent iodine is a trace element that’s been linked to many health benefits, including healthy thyroid, immune and cognitive functions. Nascent iodine has an electromagnetic charge, meaning it permits greater release of energy once consumed. As such, the human body can recognize and absorb nascent iodine more easily than other forms of iodine. [1] It’s also excellent for long-term storage.
Why iodine is a nutrient you can’t do without
Iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormones, particularly triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones help regulate several important bodily processes, such as protein synthesis, muscle contraction and digestion. They are also critical determinants of metabolic activity and are necessary for proper skeletal and central nervous system development in infants and young children. [2] Roughly 70 to 80% of iodine in the human body is stored in the thyroid gland, which is located at the base of the neck. [3]
The human body doesn’t naturally produce iodine. Therefore, it needs to come from the foods that you eat. Some of the best sources of iodine include seaweed, saltwater fish, shrimp and other seafood. However, when you consume seafood, you have to worry about microplastics and mercury contamination. Fruits and vegetables grown in iodine-rich soil are also considered good sources of this mineral. However, much of the farm soil in the world is also contaminated with heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. It is much more beneficial to supplement iodine from a source that you can trust.
Iodine is an important nutrient for supporting optimal health. Here’s a closer look at what this essential trace mineral can do.*
- It supports healthy thyroid function
Iodine is essential for keeping your thyroid healthy and functioning properly. The thyroid uses iodine from foods and supplements to make two main hormones, namely, T3 and T4. It's important that T3 and T4 levels are neither too high nor too low, lest they lead to thyroid disorders.
For instance, when blood T3 and T4 levels are too low due to low iodine intake, the pituitary gland, a gland in the brain that maintains T3 and T4 balance, releases more thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to tell the thyroid to produce more hormones. Having too much of these hormones can cause mood swings, sleep problems and swelling in the neck. [4][5]
Meanwhile, if blood T3 and T4 levels are too high, the pituitary gland releases less TSH to tell the thyroid to slow the production of these hormones. When the thyroid doesn't create and release enough thyroid hormones into your bloodstream, your metabolism can slow down and make you feel tired, gain weight and be unable to tolerate cold temperatures. [6]
In a nutshell, low iodine intake generally leads to reduced T3 and T4 production. But the thyroid may also become overactive and produce T3 and T4 in excess to compensate for low iodine intake. To support optimal thyroid function, you need to eat iodine-rich foods as part of a balanced diet or take supplements like nascent iodine.
Moreover, during a radiological or nuclear emergency, you may be exposed to radioactive iodine through the foods you eat and the air you breathe. Fortunately, your thyroid can only absorb a limited amount of iodine at a time. This means that supplementing with stable, non-radioactive iodine can help keep your thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine, thereby supporting optimal thyroid health.
- It supports healthy energy levels
Iodine is a key component of your thyroid hormones, which help your body make energy. If you don’t get enough iodine, your thyroid won’t be able to make enough thyroid hormones to support your body’s natural energy production. This can cause you to feel weak and sluggish.
A 2017 study published in the journal Thyroid Research and Practice noted that fatigue and weakness were the most common symptoms reported by people with low thyroid hormone levels. [7] But because nascent iodine is much easier for your body to absorb than other forms of iodine, it can support healthy energy levels by helping you maintain healthy thyroid hormone levels that are already within the normal range.
- It supports healthy immune function
In addition to being a key component of thyroid hormones, iodine is also a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants support healthy immune function by freely donating electrons to unstable molecules called free radicals without turning into harmful molecules themselves. Free radicals are naturally produced by the body as byproducts of metabolism. They are also formed after exposure to environmental threats, such as air pollution and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
At very high levels, free radicals can cause oxidative stress, which can damage healthy cells and their components. [8] Luckily, iodine is an efficient free radical scavenger, meaning it can help protect healthy cells against these harmful molecules. A study published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology also reported that iodine can support the healthy functions of your immune cells. [9]
- It supports healthy metabolism
The cells of the thyroid gland combine iodine with the amino acid tyrosine to form the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, which are then released into the bloodstream. T3 and T4 help regulate metabolism, which influences your energy levels. According to a study published in the journal Food Science & Nutrition, all the cells of your body depend on T3 and T4 for the maintenance of healthy metabolism.
Low iodine intake leads to low T3 and T4 levels, which can cause your metabolism to slow down. As a result, you’ll burn fewer calories at rest, meaning more calories from the foods you eat will be stored as fat instead of being burned as energy. This can make you feel weak and fatigued and may even lead to weight gain in the long run. Supplementing with easy-to-absorb nascent iodine is a great way to prevent this and support a healthy metabolism.
- It supports healthy skin, hair and nails
Thyroid hormones, which contain iodine, help your skin cells regenerate, control hair growth and maintain healthy nails. As such, people who lack iodine tend to have dry skin and suffer from hair loss and brittle nails. [10]
A study published in the journal Dermato-Endocrinology found that skin cells can't regenerate properly when thyroid hormone levels are low, causing dry, flaky skin. [11] Similarly, low thyroid hormone levels due to a lack of iodine can affect your nails, causing abnormalities in nail shape, nail color or attachment to the nail bed. Curved nails, swollen fingertips and thickening skin above the nails are all signs of low thyroid hormone levels. [12]
Low thyroid hormone levels can also negatively impact the development of hair at the root. Hair may fall out and may not be replaced by new growth, resulting in thinning across the scalp. [13] Increasing your daily iodine intake can help you maintain healthy thyroid hormone levels that are already within the normal range and avoid dry skin, hair loss and brittle nails.
- It supports healthy brain function
Thyroid hormones are important for the proper growth and development of the brain. Low iodine intake leads to low thyroid hormone levels, which can cause cognitive and developmental problems in infants and young children. In fact, dietary iodine deficiency is one of the leading preventable causes of cognitive and developmental disabilities in many parts of the world. [14]
In adults, iodine deficiency can affect the ability to learn and remember. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, researchers found that adults with higher thyroid hormone levels performed better on learning and memory tests than those with lower thyroid hormone levels. [15] This means that supplementing with nascent iodine can help support healthy brain function, which is crucial for your survival, especially in emergency situations.
Where to get nascent iodine
Iodine is one of the most important nutrients your body needs. It is known to support numerous health benefits, including healthy metabolism, healthy energy levels and healthy thyroid, immune and brain functions.
In a survival situation, getting the right amount of nutrients for your body may prove to be difficult. Some preppers opt to add supplements to their survival stockpile to ensure good nutrition. However, many iodine supplements have a short shelf life and contain harmful ingredients and added chemicals.
The Health Ranger Store is known for providing only clean, high-quality, non-China and non-GMO supplements, so you can expect nothing less from Health Ranger's Nascent Iodine. Our iodine supplement is a 2% strength stable iodine tincture that’s lab-verified for potency and composition. It is also lab tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology.
Health Ranger's Nascent Iodine is made using the divinely inspired Edgar Cayce method of adding energy to diatomic iodine to create monatomic nascent iodine. Our iodine supplement also uses a solution of pure, USP-grade ethanol alcohol distilled from fermented grain instead of a glycerin solution. This gives our iodine supplement an incredibly long shelf life.
With roughly a third of the surface tension of water, Health Ranger's Nascent Iodine also has one of the lowest surface tensions of any iodine product we’ve tested so far. Thanks to this low surface tension, our nascent iodine is easier for your body to absorb than other iodine supplements.
Each bottle of Health Ranger's Nascent Iodine can keep you stocked for up to three years. We have also conveniently packaged our nascent iodine in an amber glass bottle for maximum protection against light. We have even opted for durable metal screw caps since rubber squeeze droppers have a limited shelf life.
To maintain healthy iodine levels, experts recommend taking 150 mcg of iodine daily for adults. However, please check with your healthcare provider to determine exactly how much iodine you need to consume. Each drop of Health Ranger's Nascent Iodine delivers 400 mcg of elemental iodine, which is equivalent to 267% of the Daily Value (DV) for iodine.
To take our Health Ranger's Nascent Iodine, add one to three drops of our formula to half an ounce of water and drink immediately. It’s best consumed 15 to 20 minutes before a meal. Do not add any acidic ingredients to the water as doing so can alter the chemistry of the nascent iodine. Don’t take it too late in the day so that you won’t have a hard time falling asleep at night.
Maintain optimal health and well-being even in a survival scenario by supplementing with nascent iodine!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose any diseases.
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[4] https://www.endocrineweb.com
[6] https://my.clevelandclinic.org
[8] https://www.hsph.harvard.edu
[9] https://www.frontiersin.org
[10] https://www.healthline.com
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[12] https://www.aad.org
[13] https://www.healthline.com
[14] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[15] https://academic.oup.com
