Do you have hypothyroidism and not know it? The symptoms include; fatigue, weight gain, numbness and tingling in hands, constipation, dry skin and hair, and increased sensitivity to cold.

Once you have been diagnosed by a physician, here is what the medical and scientific literature have to say about it...

"Several minerals and trace elements are essential for normal thyroid hormone metabolism, e. g., iodine, iron, selenium, and zinc ... deficiencies of these elements can impair thyroid function. Iron deficiency impairs thyroid hormone synthesis by reducing activity of 'iron] -dependent thyroid peroxidase. Iron-deficiency anemia blunts and iron supplementation improves the efficacy of iodine supplementation. Combined selenium and iodine deficiency leads to 'a condition of dry, waxy type of swelling, with abnormal deposits of mucus in the skin and other tissues--myxedematous cretinism.] Emphases added.

"The normal thyroid gland retains high selenium concentrations even under conditions of inadequate selenium supply and expresses many 'selenium-containing] proteins...In regions of combined severe iodine and selenium deficiency, normalization of iodine supply is mandatory before initiation of selenium supplementation in order to prevent hypothyroidism.

"Selenium deficiency and disturbed thyroid 'activity] may develop under conditions of special dietary regimens such as long-term 'feeding not by the alimentary canal but rather by injection, intravenous or otherwise,] phenylketonuria diet 'associated with certain psychiatric drugs,] cystic fibrosis, or may be the result of imbalanced nutrition in children, elderly people, or sick patients."...Zimmermann & Kohrle, Laboratory for Human Nutrition, Zurich, Switz., in Thyroid, vol. 12, 2002.

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"Screening for congenital hypothyroidism 'not related to autoimmune disease, drug treatment or goiter] exists and its use prevents mental retardation. The prevalence of spontaneous hypothyroidism is between 1% and 2% and is more common in older women and 10 times more common in women than in men.

"Approximately one third of patients with newly diagnosed overt hypothyroidism have received destructive therapy for hyperthyroidism 'over-active thyroid] and indefinite surveillance is required. 'emphasis added.]" Vanderpump & Tunbridge, Dept. of Endocrinology, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom. In Thyroid, vol. 12, 2002.

DETAILS: What could be wrong with, as a preventative, using iodized salt and a 150 milligram tablet of kelp?