Yes, you read that correctly: iodine can stop our horrendous night sweats!
How can that be? I hear you ask. Well, I heard about the concept that hormone imbalances can be helped by taking iodine on the Clive de Carle you tube channel about 3 months ago.
After I'd listened to it a few times, I decided to give it a go. I've been a fan of Dr Sarah Myhill's shop for a while now so I bought some Lugos iodine from her online shop for £6.50 (bargain). This was the kind mentioned by Dr Peter Glidden in the you tube video above.
For six weeks I have been taking 2 drops of the iodine in a small amount of OJ. It took about a week before I started to realise that my night sweats were less frequent.
'You don't miss what you don't get' least not at first. So is dawned on me by day 7 that there was a change. Could Dr Glidden be correct?? I've since tried to find out by reading through the published literature and would like to share with you what I have found.
Iodine and Estrogen
First, there are three main types of estrogen:
Estrone, called E1
Estradiol, called E2
Estriol, called E3
Estrone is found in fat cells, and can convert into estradiol or estriol. Estradiol is the strongest of the estrogens, and responsible for most of what we think of as “estrogenic” symptoms, both in PMS and in menopause. Under the wrong conditions, it can be metabolized into 16-Hydroxyestrogen (16-OH), which is carcinogenic (cancer-forming).
Estriol, however, has been shown to protect against estrogenic cancers, decreases the risk of fibrocystic changes in the breasts, and can even help women with estrogen-related weight changes to drop the extra pounds.
Why this is relevant: Iodine helps to maintain the estrogen balance in favor of estriol.
(There are other ways to increase estriol, too, by the way: one great one is to increase your intake of cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and brussels sprouts, due to their high concentration of Di-indole-methane (DIM). Thanks to Dr Lauren Deville, her article is posted below.
So... there are a few more articles that I could share, but to be honest, Dr Deville sums it up perfectly.
From my own experience: I have now been taking my morning dose for 6 weeks. I feel less sweaty and there's less brain fog too. It is easy to take, in liquid (don't put it straight into your mouth as it burns). I know, I'm an idiot! It is not expensive. Anyone can try it.
Other sources of iodine
Seaweed- All of the seaweed in the UK is edible. https://gallowaywildfoods.com/an-introduction-to-seaweed-foraging/
Strawberries, potatoes, spinach, corn, lima beans. https://www.futurekind.com/blogs/vegan/best-iodine-sources
In the meantime, I will keep up my guinea pig role and report back if I find another magic cure. Take care, Amanda