It's crazy when you think about all the different kinds of foods we eat.

We just swallow and hope it all works out for the best.

Well, it turns out there are better ways to think about keeping our bodies humming

healthfully along.

Welcome to Nutrition Facts.

I'm your host, Dr. Michael Greger.

Did you know that the mighty thyroid controls your metabolism, produces hormones and helps

regulate your body temperature?

What can we do to support it?

Let's start with a story about plant-based milk and iodine.

Addict with dietary iodine is required for normal thyroid function.

In fact, the two thyroid hormones are named after how many iodine atoms they contain, T3

and T4.

Now, given that iodine is extensively stored in the thyroid gland itself, it's not something

you have to get every day, but your overall diet needs to have some good source.

Unfortunately, the common sources are particularly health-promoting.

Idy salt, dairy foods, because iodine-based cleansers like beta dine are used to sanitize

the udders, which results in some iodine leaching into the milk.

They also add iodine to cattle feed.

Some commercial breads have iodine-containing food additives.

So if you put people on a paleo-type diet and cut out dairy and table salt, they can develop

an iodine deficiency, even though they double their seafood intake, which can also be a source.

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