Paleo diets, also known as “ancestral eating” or “caveman diets,” have varying interpretations.
Iodine deficiency is linked to hypothyroidism, thyroid enlargement, and, interestingly, hyperthyroidism.
Worldwide, table salt and dairy are the largest sources of iodine in one’s diet.
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And that is why Paleo and other caveman-style diets can pose a concern.
Notable Research
Researchers in Sweden studied the effects of the Paleo style diet on iodine levels.
They excluded all gluten, grains, beans, refined foods, sugar, salt, and sodas.
Both groups had equivalent baseline iodine levels before the study began.
These results suggest that the diet’s effect on iodine deficiency began to have an impact on thyroid hormones.
You should, however, ensure that you are getting enough iodine.
However, there are some concerns for people who have certain underlying conditions, such as thyroid disease.
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Epub 2017 Sep 13.
