Hi how much should I supplement with before theres problems with overdose. I know having too much zinc is a real problem and trying find corret amounts to take a the web is really hard. Also is it better to take it in the form of kelp?

My doc has me on 4 drops of iodine daily for hypothyroidism, along with Nature-Throid (1/2 grain dose), all taken 1 hour before breakfast.

what about the connection between iodine and acne. I heard excess iodine causes it to seep through the pores. Wouldn't this be somewhat counterintuitive?

The recommended daily amount is 150 mcg. But this is the minimal daily amount that we should be getting from diet and is simply there to offsett a major deficiency and getting goiter etc, but it may not be the "ideal" dose. Problem is, where I come from, our iodine levels are very low (New Zealand), so often we are not even getting enough iodine from butter or eggs, when normally these are good food sources.

It is hard to say how much you will need, as I don't know how much you would be getting already. Also iodine can cause detox symptoms when you start supplementing with it - depending on how much you're taking. So sometimes you have to take a break or start again on a lower dose and adjust to tolerance.

You could use kelp, but make sure it a good source (free of contaminants), or you could find a supplement of iodine from a health food shop.

I would take it easy and test yourself on average doses beforehand. E.g. 100 - 150 mcg. You can sometimes find vitamin/mineral supplements that have iodine in them, but it depends. I get one in new zealand that has 100 mcg of iodine in there because it's made by a NZ laboratory, which makes sure that the nutrients new zealand lacks in soils etc is made up with what they put into their supplements. Selenium is another one here that we lack.

You may not have that problem where you are, I don't know. You can always try a small amount daily, but don't go overboard. Sometimes you can get symptoms of feeling hyper too, and that can be "detox" or it might be temporary hyperthyroid as the body tries to adjust to the sudden increase in iodine. I'd not take chances though, I think there is always too much of a good thing too sometimes. It is a trace element, so though some feel we need MUCH more of it, some take the cautious approach.