Most people don’t connect their mental health to what’s missing in their cells.
Maybe you have one of these symptoms going on:
Brain fog that doesn’t lift with sleep
Sluggish thinking or poor memory
Low mood, low drive, or emotional flatness
Feeling “toxic” or inflamed
Trouble focusing or finishing thoughts
A strange sense of mental heaviness or fatigue
Poor motivation or burnout
Anxiety, irritability, or mood swings
This is not just about the psychology of what is happening
- maybe you should get a therapist?
This is not just about a lack of sleep
- maybe you should have better sleep hygiene?
No, go back and connect the dots again.
This is FIRST AND FOREMOST a biochemical problem.
This is a RAW MATERIAL problem.
You can do yoga, meditate, do breathwork, therapy, somatic therapy, sleep 8 hrs per night - you name it - until the cows come home, but if your brain doesn’t have THE foundational raw materials with which to do its magic, you are literally wasting your time and your mental health with NEVER improve.
Without enough IODINE you cannot sleep well. No way.
If you talk to most health practitioners, integrative or not, they will turn their noses at iodine for many reasons.
AND they will quickly offer that ‘hey, your thyroid tests are normal, you don’t need to worry about iodine.’
But here is a little secret, your blood work can be perfect and you can still have an iodine deficiency.
AND they have NO CLUE whatsoever of the DEEP and FOUNDATIONAL ingrained effect IODINE has on our entire body, much less our dear mental health.
Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone production, yes. But the connection goes deeper.
IODINE IS LIFE. It’s the ground your mental health and vitality stand on.
IODINE will bring back your spark, stabilize your mood, and help you feel clear-headed without stimulants (yes, even coffee).
If you don’t eat large amounts of seafood animals and plants everyday, you are probably needing some iodine.
Having top-notch mental health is, first and foremost, A RAW MATERIAL THING.
If you can ingrain that in your foundational health knowledge, your entire ‘getting healthy’ journey will be tremendously simplified, require way less effort, and your vitality will soar.
🔋 Iodine powers the brain’s energy grid. It’s not just your thyroid. It’s your brain.
Your brain sucks up iodine like there is no tomorrow. THIS is a first line of defense for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Dementia, brain fog, forgetfulness.
Not enough iodine, your brain begins to lag behind and brain cells that don’t have enough energy DIE A SLOW AND PAINFUL DEATH.
PAINFUL for us who start to experience less than ideal brain function that gets worse and worse.
And you don’t have to be older to experience this.
People in their teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, all the way into 90s can experience this.
If you are older than 50 years old and you get enough iodine, you can literally have better cognitive function than a 20 year old.
Deep in your brain’s core - especially in the areas that control your emotions, memory, and focus - there are special iodine receptors that get iodine in through the blood-brain barrier and into brain cells.
They pull iodine in like a magnet.
As iodine enters your brain:
Floods your tiny energy factories (mitochondria) to burn cleaner fuel and power your brain at full capacity.
Cleans up the gunk in your brain, specifically toxic fluoride, chlorine, and bromide. It pushes those toxins out of the way through urinary excretion and clears your brain’s pathways so your thoughts can move freely again: you feel clearer, lighter, and more ‘yourself.’
These toxins now free up receptors that were originally meant to be occupied by other ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters.
Modulates dopamine and serotonin which are CRUCIAL for mood regulation and cognitive function.
🧠 Iodine deficiency is the leading preventable cause of intellectual disability in the world.
Iodine is like a conductor in the orchestra of your brain.
Without it, things don’t just slow down—they lose their harmony.
🌀 The silent deficiency no one is talking about
Most of us are definitely not getting enough iodine.
Even if you have a daily intake of iodized salt, you are only getting the bare minimum.
Iodine brain needs are one thing. And then you add to that the body’s big need for iodine for thyroid, skin, breasts, ovaries, prostate and now we are in for a big time lack of this amazing and very necessary raw material.
People go YEARS feeling mentally ‘OFF,’ trying everything — mindset tools, breathwork, nootropics, therapy — without addressing this CORE missing piece.
💡 The truth is simple:
You can’t build a clear, stable, mentally resilient life…if the foundation isn’t there.
And iodine is a big part of that foundation.
Coming up next :
I’ll show you how to start using iodine in a way that actually moves the needle.You’ll learn:
What foods naturally give you what your brain and body need
Whether supplementation makes sense, and how to approach it practically
What gets in the way of iodine doing its job, and how to clear the path
This is about supporting your brain at the root—so your clarity, energy, and focus don’t have to be managed... they just flow.
Want more?
🧠 Upgrade to a paid subscription for Friday’s “How-To” post🎥 Soon: Tune in to YouTube this week for bite-sized clips on iodine & mental health📱Follow on Instagram for quick Reels and behind-the-scenes stories
We’re going deep—one small insight at a time.
📌 A Note on Health Guidance
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. I am not a medical doctor—please consult with your healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement or health routine.
💡 Affiliate Disclosure
This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what I trust and use myself.
📚 References:
Zimmermann, M. B. (2009). Iodine deficiency. Endocrine Reviews.
Delange, F. (2000). The role of iodine in brain development. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.
Bleichrodt, N., & Born, M. P. (1994). Iodine and cognitive development. In The Damaged Brain of Iodine Deficiency (WHO).
Hetzel, B. S. (1983). Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and their eradication. The Lancet.
Groom, A. et al. (2012). Iodine intake and cognitive risk in older adults. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.