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Welcome back. Today we're talking about how to spot iodine deficiency.

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Okay. You might be thinking, iodine, that's just in salt.

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Right. But it's connected to way more than we realize.

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Yeah, it really is. And we're going to be looking at some research from Micah,

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who has spent years compiling research on iodine and its impact.

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He believes that iodine deficiency might be at the heart of a lot of the health

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problems that we're seeing today. Yeah, and you know it's so fascinating

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because iodine is actually essential for life.

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Right. Like every single cell in our body needs it.

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Exactly. And Micah's website, the Iodine Index, has a ton of information on this.

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It really does. He argues that we're so focused on

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adding iodine to salt to prevent goiters. Right.

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But then we're also told to cut back on salt.

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Exactly. So are we sort of inadvertently causing other problems?

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Yeah. Well, and that's, I think, one of the biggest things that he kind of brings to light is,

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you know, we're so quick to jump on these bandwagons of like, oh, salt is bad.

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You know, like, let's just cut it out completely. When really there's so many nuances to it.

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Right. It's like we're solving one problem, but maybe creating others.

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Yeah. And the range of conditions that he connects to iodine deficiency is pretty surprising.

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Oh, yeah. I mean, we're talking major things,

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like breast cancer, thyroid cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, even hypothyroidism.

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Yeah. You know, and what's interesting is a lot of these conditions are things that are just

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skyrocketing right now. You know, we're seeing more and more of these chronic illnesses,

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and it makes you wonder, is there something that we're missing?

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Wow. Those are some serious conditions. Yeah.

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Are there any connections to things that people might not think about right away?

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Absolutely. Micah even suggests that there could be links to things like chronic fatigue,

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fibromyalgia, even ADHD. ADHD.

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That's not something you typically associate with iodine.

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Right. And the list doesn't stop there.

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No, not even close. But what else is there?

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He's connected iodine deficiency to things like atherosclerosis, excess mucus production,

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headaches, hypertension. So like almost everything.

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We're talking infections, liver disease, even nephrotic syndrome, which is a serious kidney

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disorder. Nephrotic syndrome. That's a pretty big

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leap from just thinking about iodine and salt. Right.

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Why does Micah see so many connections? Well, he uses a great

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analogy to explain it. Oh, okay.

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You know, imagine trying to build a skyscraper without steel beams.

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Okay. It just wouldn't work.

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No. Or a paper airplane with wood.

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Right. You know, our bodies need specific

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nutrients, and iodine is like a crucial building block.

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So iodine is like the steel beams of our cells.

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Exactly. Okay.

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And without enough of it, things might not function the way they should.

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That's a really clear way to put it. Yeah.

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But before we go any further, I think it's important to point out that Micah's work goes

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beyond just iodine. Right.

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He's looking at the bigger picture of how we can all reach our full potential.

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Absolutely. And you know, it's not just about addressing deficiencies.

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It's about understanding how our bodies work and what they need to thrive.

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Yeah. So he talks about the

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importance of other nutrients like selenium and magnesium as well.

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So it's about more than just iodine. Right.

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It's about a more holistic approach to health.

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Exactly. Okay.

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And it makes you wonder, could you be iodine deficient?

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That is a good question. Right.

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And that's something that we're going to talk about a lot more after the break.

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Yeah, definitely. So stay tuned.

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We'll be right back.

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And figuring that out can actually be a little tricky.

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Okay.

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You might think a blood test would give you the answer.

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Right. Yeah, it seems straightforward.

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But it's not always that simple.

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Why not? A blood test seems like the most straightforward way to check.

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Well, a blood test just shows you the iodine levels in your blood at that particular moment.

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Okay.

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Doesn't tell the whole story.

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What do you mean?

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It's kind of like taking a picture of a busy street, you know?

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Okay.

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You see what's there at that second, but you don't know how many cars were there an hour ago.

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Right.

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Or how many will be there later.

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So the blood test is just a snapshot, not the full picture of your iodine levels.

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Exactly. What we really need to know is how much iodine is actually stored in your tissues.

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Okay.

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Because that's where it's actually used.

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That makes sense.

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Yeah.

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So if a blood test isn't the best way to check for iodine deficiency, what is?

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Well, Myka suggests something called a 24-hour urine loading test.

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Okay.

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It sounds a little complicated.

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Yeah.

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But it's actually pretty straightforward.

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Okay. Break it down for us. How does this urine test work?

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So you take a specific dose of iodine.

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Okay.

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And then you collect your urine over the next 24 hours.

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Okay.

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And by measuring how much iodine shows up in your urine,

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you can get a better idea of how much your body is actually holding on to.

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So if a lot of the iodine you took shows up in your urine,

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it could mean that your body isn't absorbing it well.

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Exactly.

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And might be deficient.

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It's like trying to fill a leaky bucket.

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Okay.

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If the bucket's full, it's going to overflow when you add more water.

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But if it's empty, it'll soak it all up.

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I like that analogy. It makes it much easier to understand.

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Yeah.

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Now Myka also mentioned something called pulse dosing.

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Yes.

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What is that?

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Pulse dosing is a really interesting concept.

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Okay.

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It's based on the idea that our bodies are actually pretty smart.

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Okay.

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And they know what they need.

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So if you're deficient in something, you'll often crave foods that are high in that nutrient.

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Oh, so if I'm suddenly craving sushi, maybe that means I need more iodine.

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It's possible.

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Okay.

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But of course, it's important to listen to your body.

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Right.

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But also consider other factors as well.

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Yeah.

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You don't want to base your entire diet on cravings.

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Right. It's about paying attention to the signals, but not jumping to conclusions.

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Exactly.

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Now we've been talking about getting enough iodine,

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but there's also this big push to reduce our salt intake.

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Right.

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And didn't we say that iodine is added to salt?

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You bring up a really important point and it's something that Micah talks about quite a bit.

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He's concerned that this advice to cut back on salt while well-intentioned

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could actually be contributing to iodine deficiency.

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That makes sense.

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If we're cutting back on the very thing that's fortified with iodine,

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we might not be getting enough.

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Exactly.

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And while too much salt can definitely be a problem,

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Micah emphasizes the importance of choosing unrefined salt.

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Okay.

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Like Himalayan pink salt or Celtic sea salt.

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So not all salt is created equal.

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Right.

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Unrefined salt not only provides iodine, but it also contains other essential minerals

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that our bodies need.

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It's about choosing the right kind of salt and using it in moderation.

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This whole conversation is really highlighting the importance of looking beyond the headlines

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and understanding the nuances of nutrition.

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Yeah.

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It's not always black and white.

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I couldn't agree more.

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It's about finding a balance and making informed choices based on all the information available.

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And Micah is doing a great job of bringing this information to light.

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Absolutely.

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And helping us all make those choices.

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So we've talked about the importance of iodine, potential signs of deficiency,

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and ways to assess our levels.

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Yeah.

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But what about actually addressing a deficiency?

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Oh, okay.

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What are the next steps?

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Yeah, that's the million dollar question.

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Right.

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We know iodine is important, but how do we make sure we're getting enough

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without going overboard?

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That's where things can get a little tricky.

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Okay.

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You know, you can't just start taking tons of iodine supplements.

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Right.

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And hope for the best.

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So what's the right approach?

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Micah really stresses the importance of a personalized approach.

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Okay.

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You know, he says there's no one size fits all solution when it comes to iodine.

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That makes sense.

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We're all different.

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Our bodies have unique needs.

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Exactly.

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And so he recommends starting slowly.

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Okay.

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With a low dose of iodine and gradually increasing it.

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Okay.

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While paying close attention to how you feel.

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It's all about listening to your body and adjusting accordingly.

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Absolutely.

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Because some people might experience side effects if they take too much iodine.

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Like what kind of side effects?

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Things like anxiety, insomnia, even heart palpitations.

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Oh, wow.

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Or acne.

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So if that happens, it's a sign to back off.

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Okay.

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Or stop altogether and talk to your doctor.

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So it's not as simple as just popping a supplement.

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Right.

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There's more to it than that.

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And it's also important to think about the type of iodine supplement that you're using too.

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Right.

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Micah suggests looking for high quality supplements that contain a blend of different forms of iodine.

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Okay.

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Like potassium iodide and molecular iodine.

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Why is it important to have those multiple forms?

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Well, each form has its own unique properties and benefits.

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Okay.

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And using a combination can help your body absorb and utilize it more effectively.

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I think we often take iodine for granted.

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Right.

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But it clearly plays a much bigger role in our health than many of us realize.

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It really does.

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And Micah's work, I think, really challenges us to rethink our approach to nutrition.

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Okay.

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And to look beyond just calities and macronutrients.

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Right.

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You know, it's about understanding the whole thing.

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Yeah.

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Understanding the vital roles that these nutrients play in our bodies.

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And his focus on personalization and listening to our bodies is something we can all apply to our health's journey.

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Absolutely.

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It's about taking ownership of our health.

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Yeah.

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And making informed choices based on the best information available.

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For anyone listening who wants to learn more about iodine and explore this topic further,

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Micah's website, the Iodine Index, and his video series, Methylate.me.

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Yeah.

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Are fantastic resources.

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They're great.

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They're full of valuable information that can help you make informed decisions about your own health.

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I highly recommend checking them out.

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So we've learned that iodine is essential.

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Uh-huh.

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Deficiency is more common than we think.

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Mm-hmm.

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And taking supplements should be done carefully.

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Right.

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And with personalized guidance.

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Absolutely.

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This leaves us with one final thought-provoking question.

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Okay.

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If iodine is so crucial for our health, even in ways we might not expect.

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Right.

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How can we advocate for a more comprehensive understanding of nutrition?

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Mm-hmm.

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One that goes beyond just counting calories and focuses on the vital roles these nutrients play in our bodies?

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That's a great question to ponder.

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Right.

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As we move forward.

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Yeah.

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It encourages us to look beyond the surface and explore the intricate connections within our bodies.

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It's clear there's still so much to learn.

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And Micah's research is a great starting point for anyone wanting to delve deeper

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into this fascinating world of nutrition.

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Absolutely.

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And how it impacts our lives.

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For sure.

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Thanks for joining us for this deep dive into the world of iodine.

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It's been a pleasure.

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We hope you found it informative and empowering.

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Until next time, keep learning, keep questioning.

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And keep exploring.

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Your health is worth it.