• Intro, legal, core beliefs
• Lugol's shipping to the USA?
• Why is Iodine complicated?
• Useful links
• Iodine Supplementation (The Simple Way)
  1️⃣ RDA's & Daily Iodine Quantity
  2️⃣ Iodine for 90 days
  3️⃣ How do I now feel?
  🟢 Great
  🟠 Better
  🔴 No change
• Feedback & Contact

Please revisit this article periodically for the latest updates and additions.

The most frequently asked question we encounter is:

❓ "I think I need Iodine; where do I start?"

We offer two approaches:

• 1️⃣ A Simple Way (no bloodwork)
• 2️⃣ Detailed Way (with bloodwork)
  available in December 2023

Hi, my name is Joe.

We've been serving both consumers and resellers since 2015 with Art Pharma.

Additionally, we're business owners distributing chemicals since 2010 with Ingredient Depot Inc..

Legal

Disclaimer:

I'm not a Doctor or a certified specialist. My approach is grounded in facts, liberty, science, and the guidance of middle-of-the-road professionals.

Core beliefs

Most health agencies, studies, and specialists would likely concur on a few fundamental principles:

Global Iodine Deficiency Risk: Roughly 30% of the world's population is at risk for iodine deficiency.

Health Implications: Iodine Deficiency can lead to a range of medical conditions and diseases.

As one of our Facebook followers aptly reminds us, introducing Iodine to a "normal" Thyroid can potentially lead to disorders.

Excess Iodine

Does Lugol's Iodine ship to the USA?

✅ Lugol's Iodine 2% is permitted in unlimited quantities.

✅ Lugol's Iodine 5% to 15% is allowed 1 x (30 ml - 1 fl. oz.) Bottle per order.

Every bottle must be associated to one transaction.

Shop all Lugol's

🔍 A Fresh Perspective on Lugol's Iodine

• Lugol's Iodine is refreshingly simple—it consists of Iodine, Potassium Iodide, and water. That's all there is to it!

The Origin of Iodine:

• The chemical Iodine in its pure form is sourced from the Earth.
• It's important to note that various qualities of Iodine exist, and the location of the mine matters!

Factors Affecting Availability and Pricing:

• Availability and pricing of Iodine can be influenced by geopolitical factors such as talks of war, actual conflicts, and nuclear accidents.

Regulations and Compliance:

• Products and supplements containing Iodine are subject to Federal regulations not only in the USA but also in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and a few others.
• Iodine is considered a controlled raw material by most Government agencies.

Navigating Online Information:

• The internet is replete with unverified Iodine statements and promises.

This compound effect can lead to:

• Difficulty in obtaining credible answers
• Conflicting information encountered online
• Varied information on labels with no standardized approach

The Urge to Believe:

• It's only natural to want to believe books and doctors suggesting that high-dose Iodine supplementation is the right path.

American Thyroid Association (ATA)

Thyroid Patient Information

Iodine Deficiency IDD

Iodine Deficiency

"Iodine Deficiency is a major public health problem worldwide..."

Roughly affecting 1/3 of the world's population.

Iodine Deficiency statistic

Thyroid function

"The function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine, found in many foods, and convert it into thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid cells are the only cells in the body which can absorb iodine"

Thyroid function

Iodine & Thyroid function

Hypothyroidism

"Hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid disease, is a common disorder. With hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone"

Hypothyroidism (underactive Thyroid)

Medications

Synthetic Thyroid hormone:

"It replaces or provides more thyroid hormone, which is normally produced by the thyroid gland"

Synthetic Thyroid Hormone details

Treatment

Hypothyroidism Treatment details 

Treatment length

"Generally taken life-long when used to treat hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels) unless the cause is transient"

Treatment (chapter 1)

Most-Prescribed

How popular are these treatment options?

10 Most-Prescribed (listed 1)

The Simple Way

The endocrine system, thyroid gland, and Iodine are complex. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to guarantee results.

🩺 Important Note: Please remember that I'm not a Doctor or a certified specialist.

RDA's and Daily Intake Limits of Iodine

What is an RDA?

• The RDA, or Recommended Dietary Allowance, is a guideline that indicates the amount of a specific nutrient (like vitamins or minerals) that most people should consume daily to maintain good health.
• Think of it as a daily target to aim for in your diet to ensure you're getting the right amount of essential nutrients.

How to Find the Iodine RDA where I live?

• Please Google: "your country+RDA+iodine"

Example for the United States & Canada:

• 150 micrograms for adults, 220 micrograms for pregnant women, and 290 micrograms for breastfeeding women.

The Iodine RDA is influenced by age, gender, and changes from country to country.

Daily Intake Limits of Iodine

How much Iodine is in one drop of Art Pharma's Lugol's solution?

The table below indicates:

• When Lugol's is in its original form inside the bottle.
• After dilution as per label instructions.

• Lugol's 5% to 15% needs extra dilution.
• However, the daily iodine intake remains consistent between the 2% and 15% solutions after dilution.

Why do Lugol's solutions between 5% and 15% have the same daily intake as the 2% solution, yet require more dilution?

• The daily intake limits for our Lugol's solutions are determined by government guidelines.

Iodine for 90 days

How much Iodine do i take?

For a generally healthy body with no pre-existing medical conditions:

• When purchasing a product that is authorized for sale, this means the bottle will have clear instructions on how to consume a safe quantity of iodine.
• If you are considering one of our products, we would follow the instructions included inside the parcel.

If you are taking medications / supplements, or have pre-existing medical conditions or allergies:

• You must speak to your doctor. We can provide a copy of the label, and they can advise you.

If you want to try quantities of iodine above those indicated on the label:

• Follow the instructions on the label; do not self-medicate.

If you see an improvement with a minimal dose, then discuss this with your doctor, having a copy of the label in hand.

When to take Lugol's?

• Credible sources seem to indicate that on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning is when our body is the most receptive.

🤝 Our Advice:

• Start taking daily notes.
• A booklet in proximity to your Iodine bottle would serve as a reminder.
• Enter in the booklet a short sentence a day about how you feel.
• 💧 I add a little (1/2 oz.) water (no coffee, tea, or juice) for my general routine.
• Other times, I add the Iodine to my morning shake. I don't recommend this, since when mixing in a shake, you are essentially digesting the Iodine rather than absorbing it.

Why Daily Notes?

• As we know, the future is unpredictable.
• Knowing how you felt on "mg of Iodine" on a specific date could be helpful for you or a Doctor.
• We also noticed that being organized with our routine dramatically increases the chances of success.

Why Can't We Suggest Taking Iodine in High Quantities?

• As I see a flood of content promoting Iodine in high quantities.
• I don't believe that everyone is a suitable candidate for taking Iodine in quantities 50x or 100x the recommended RDA.
• In my opinion, those are exceptions and not the general rule.
• Also, if a doctor suggests taking 50 x or 100 x the RDA, it would make sense to be closely monitored and get bloodwork regularly.

❌ Providing an amount of Iodine to consume on a case-by-case basis could be construed legally as practicing medicine without a license. And unfortunately, we would be breaking the law.

After 90 days

🩺 Without the Assistance of Bloodwork or a Healthcare Professional

• You will have to rely on how you feel.

There's 3 possibilities:

🟢 You feel great

🟠 You feel better

🔴 You feel no change

🟢 You Feel Great

• You have achieved your goal.

Please don't change a thing; play it safe.

• Respect your starting point of iodine quantity by following the product label or your country's Iodine RDA.
• Your Iodine RDA is considered safe for a generally healthy body.

🤝 Our Advice:

• If you have taken notes in the booklet.
• Review the notes to confirm your feelings.

🟠 You Feel Better

• It's wonderful to feel better, isn't it.
• This improvement might suggest that Iodine is having a positive effect.

But why only "might"?

• Without concrete bloodwork results, we can only rely on personal feelings.
• This approach increases the margin for error. Simply increasing your Iodine intake would be a shot in the dark.
• Respecting the instructions on the label or the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for Iodine seems like the wisest choice.

🤝 Our Advice:

• Avoid altering your Iodine intake without a solid reason.
• We've observed that inconsistent iodine routines often don't yield favorable outcomes.
• If you're feeling better while adhering to the instructions on the bottle or the Iodine RDA, it's a promising sign.
• It might suggest you're on the right track.

"might" is not the answer you want?

In the absence of bloodwork, we're making an educated guess that your improved well-being is due to the Iodine.

• If you're maintaining a stable routine and practicing healthy habits (like eating well, staying hydrated, and exercising) means any positive change in your well-being is more likely attributed to the Iodine.
• Alternatively, if there are variations in your routine or if some essential habits are occasionally overlooked, your improved state could also be influenced by factors like a bit more physical activity, a shift towards a healthier diet, or simply staying better hydrated.

❌ Without bloodwork and a professional, it makes things a little more complicated.

🔴 You Feel No Change

Is Iodine supplementation for you?

• Without bloodwork or a professional, it's harder to say.

🤝 Our Advice:

• Did you make your best effort?
• You could review the links and sources above.
• Share with a healthcare professional the reason(s) you originally started an Iodine routine.

Feedback & Contact

Do you have a question or a topic for us?

We're looking forward to hear your thoughts and suggestions.

Thank you!

Joe