Adding Iodine can cause Bromine, Flouride, etc. get flushed from the body, because these halogens occupy the Iodine receptors when Iodine is not present. When the body flushes these toxins you need help expelling them from the body or they will end up in the fat. You would be wise to add 1/2t sea salt to water, every 1/2 hour followed by 8oz. distilled h2o, until you urinate. The salt will help to bind the bromine, etc. and get flushed out through the kidneys. The "detox" phase could take 3 months or longer. If you notice abdominal bloating, headaches, eye fluctuations, etc. this is probably a result of toxicity from the halogens and sea salt is necessary. Also, if you are on an Iodine/Iodoral you should be consuming the "complimentary supplements" Magnesium, Selenium, Vit's ACE, to help as well. Following an Iodine Support Group would also be helpful.

I wonder if since you added protein and fat, that you aren't now consuming too many carbs by default. The reason I say that is because too many carbs puts abdominal fat on me in a flash. You could try going zero carb for awhile to see if the abdominal fat comes off. If it does, then it probably isn't the iodine that is the problem. Btw, too much iodine can cause problems, but I don't thing abdominal fat gain is one of them.

I have also gained approx 6 lbs so far after about 2 months of iodine supplementation.

In the yahoo iodine support group they say that you can retain extra water/fat to dilute the toxins that you are flushing out.

I am hoping the weight gain is temporary and will recede naturally as I go back down from 50 mg/day to 13 mg/day maintenance dose.

I plan to stay at 50/day for 6 months and then go back down.

Anyway, the weight gain is a def. bummer... but you are not alone.

I have had other symptoms like headaches, but those seem to go away with mineral supplements mentioned above and reduction in iodine dose for a day or two.

Otherwise, I am pretty good Primal Diet eater.

Emily

Intaking too much iodine can change how your thyroid works. I am not sure if it would lead to hypothyroidism (low thyroid) if you didn't have that already, but it might lead to hyperthyroidism (high thyroid activity). Now mind you, that's usually associated with weight loss.

If you want to make sure it's working right, ask to have not only your TSH tested but also T3 and T4. To get a complete picture ask about the anti-thyroid antibody tests too. I've heard that if you have an autoimmune thyroid disorder, taking iodine can actually make it worse, even though you've got hypothyroidism going on. The iodine leads the antibodies to attack the thyroid even more. Do not rely on the TSH number alone. It can be normal while you still have stuff going on. Lots of hypothyroidism cases go undiagnosed that way.

How's your fructose intake? Your choline intake? You need less of the former (ties in to Helen's question about carbs--too much fruit isn't necessarily a good thing) and more of the latter (try more eggs, or maybe liver). Choline makes for a healthier liver, which may make it easier to dump the abdominal fat.

I have been supplementing Iodural for quite some time, 3 drops/day (54x RDA), with no weight gain.

I started adding iodine to my diet last January for about a month and then I set off a cascade of health issues. I still don't know what exactly happened, but the iodine was the only thing that changed, and I began having nausea after eating, panic attacks, began having itchy skin, breaking out in hives, which led to food allergy tests and then autoimmune tests. Much later on down the road when I saw an endocrinologist, who did an actual thorough thyroid testing panel, I had thyroid antibodies, which were low but are technically Hashimoto's according to the the endo. I had no other symptoms, in fact had been able to lose 60 lbs earlier that year (due to not eating much from my nausea and panic attacks) and my TSH was always normal. The endo said that excess iodine can exacerbate Hashimoto's, but unfortunately, none of my doctor's did a thorough panel earlier on near the onset of my symptoms, so I have nothing to compare it to. Adding in magnesium and D helped a lot in my symptoms. So it seems that iodine is not always necessarily good for the thyroid according to my endo, so it could be the cause. Best wishes.

fyi, iodine can effectivley kill candida bacteria. Often the die off from that can cause a host of uncomfortable side effects.