Will kelp really help with the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
The Thyroid Foundation says not to, as does Mary Shoman (an expert in the field): “Is goitre due to lack of iodine in our diet? Should I eat kelp to get rid of this goitre? ANSWER: Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of goitre in the world but NOT in this country. We have had iodized salt for two generations, and there are many other sources of iodine now in our diets so that, if anything, we are receiving more iodine than in most places in the world. There is no point whatsoever in adding more iodine to the diet and that includes kelp, a form of seaweed high in iodine often sold in health food stores. The problem is that too much iodine is just as dangerous as too little iodine. Excess iodine can also cause goitres and can either cause a low thyroid state, (hypothyroidism) or excess output of thyroid (hyperthyroidism). It also aggravates Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In Canada it is a mistake to ingest kelp.” Mary Shoman said: “While some herbalists and vitamin proponents recommend
