Hello Jeff,
I'm a European vegan. How likely will I become iodine deficient if I do not supplement or eat seaweed? While I do consume salt from things like sauces, I do not knowingly consume iodized salt (it doesn't say it's iodized on the labels).
I know that iodine has been addressed here many times, but you're addressing mostly American vegans who are supposedly at lower risk of iodine deficiency.
Do you think those urine tests are even reliable for diagnosing a deficiency? Don't you find it interesting that despite some studies showing vegans can be iodine deficient, there aren't any studies conclusively showing they suffer thyroid disorders more frequently? Is it possible that our iodine needs are actually lower than the recommended 150mcg/day? I've read of some people who claim that iodine needs can be as low as 50mcg/day in healthy people and that the recommended intake of 150mcg is just based on estimations - Does that claim hold any weight? Is it possible that the decrease in cretinism and goiter is largely or partly down to the fact that people eat food from a variety of locations these days?
How much iodine do you actually think everyone needs to get? To my knowledge you haven't exactly stated that anywhere. Do you think people really need to consume iodized salt or seaweed?
Thank you very much in advance for any reply.
