Fun fact: Iodine supports normal energy-yielding metabolism, which is kind of an important job when it comes to our daily wellbeing. Another fun fact? This mineral is found in a lot of foods (and even table salt!), which means that many of us are consuming enough to meet our daily needs. In fact, iodine shortfalls in the US are pretty uncommon.* (1) But let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Why You Won’t Find Iodine in Essential for Women Multivitamin or Essential for Men Multivitamin

Most adults are able to meet their iodine needs through diet alone. ​​For teens ages 14-17 and adults 18+, the daily recommended amount of iodine is just 150 micrograms. And since iodine can be found in a wide variety of foods—fish, seaweed, dairy products, grains, and some fruits and vegetables are all sources—chances are many of us are meeting that daily iodine requirement just through what we’re eating every day. Iodized salt (aka table salt) is also a good source of iodine.* (1)

But there’s one important exception.

Supplementing With Iodine During Pregnancy and Lactation May Be a Good Idea*

Pregnant and lactating women should probably consider supplementing with iodine because when women are expecting or breastfeeding, their iodine needs are higher. Not to mention, pregnant women often try to eat less processed foods so their iodized salt intake decreases. That coupled with changing iodine needs during pregnancy means that taking a quality prenatal multivitamin with iodine might not be a bad idea.*

Pregnant women should aim to get 220 mcg of iodine daily, and lactating women should aim for 290 mcg.* (1) FYI: we include 150 mcg per serving of iodine in our Essential Prenatal and 200 mcg per serving in our Essential Postnatal.*

Vegan or Vegetarian?

If you’re pregnant or postpartum and follow a vegan diet, not to fear: our Essential Prenatal Multivitamin and Essential Postnatal Multivitamin form of iodine (USP-grade potassium iodide) is vegan.

For any of our vegetarian friends, note that fruits and vegetables can be good sources of iodine depending on the soil conditions they’re grown in. Knowing precisely how your vegetables are grown isn’t always a straightforward ask, especially if you’re shopping for produce at the grocery store (rather than, say, the farmer’s market)—so aiming for variety on your plate is, as always, a good rule of thumb. But sea vegetables, iodized salt, and some grains can also be good sources of iodine as well. If you’re still concerned about your iodine levels, checking in with your physician is your best bet.* (1)

Ritual’s Form of Iodine

We prefer potassium iodide over other forms of iodine because it plays nice with other ingredients inside our capsule. Potassium iodine is a stable form of Iodine. We prefer this form to kelp-derived forms; although kelp is a food, it can potentially carry environmental contaminants that we don’t want in our prenatal or postnatal multivitamin. Plus, as always, it’s backed by science.*

References:

1. Office of Dietary Supplements - Iodine. (n.d.). Retrieved August 31, 2020, from National Institutes of Health.