Pass the Salt! Dr. Oz Says It Helps Detox Your Thyroid (But Only If It’s Iodine Salt)

More and more evidence — including a recent Duke University study — shows our “metabolism glands” take a beating in the modern world. In fact, experts estimate that 20 million Americans have some type of thyroid issue, and women are five to eight times more likely to be diagnosed with thyroid conditions than men. in serious need of a thyroid boost. Dr. Oz to the rescue! His arsenal of science-backed secrets works to jumpstart a sluggish thyroid, “So you can burn more fat, feel more energized and wake up your metabolism like never before,” he promises on his website. How well do Dr. Oz’s salt detox tips work? Women report using them to see recharge their health report results while losing weight — with visible results within seven days. 

The Smart Salt

Dr. Oz calls iodine “the key ingredient you need for your thyroid.” We can’t make thyroid hormone without it — and that’s the reason it’s been added to table salt since the 1920s. But many of us don’t get enough of the nutrient. One reason: The popularity of gourmet salt (like kosher salt and sea salt) means up to 80 percent of what we add to our food “no longer has iodine added to it,” Dr. Oz reports. Making matters worse, common toxins (which Duke scientists found hiding in most ordinary household dust) can prevent iodine from being absorbed. Luckily, adding a little “ordinary” salt back into your diet is typically all it takes to restore production of thyroid hormones. Dr. Oz’s Rx: “A pinch of iodized table salt every day.” 

Success Made Simple

While iodized salt gets to work reviving the thyroid, Dr. Oz says a few dietary tweaks can help. “One thing you need every morning is 30 grams of protein to fire up your thyroid,” Dr. Oz says. Eggs and turkey sausage or a smoothie with protein powder will do the tricky . Protein is a building block of thyroid hormones — and high-protein meals has been shown to increase levels of thyroid hormone. It also helps keep hunger and cravings down all day.

You’ll also want to skip foods that are a drain on the thyroid. When Dr. Oz’s daughter Zoe developed thyroid issues, her dad, author of the bestseller Food Can Fix It, coached her to trade foods that are often highly inflammatory — like ultra-processed fare, wheat and dairy — for foods with strong anti-inflammatory properties (like veggies, fruit, nuts, beans, gluten-free whole grains and seafood, spices, and healthy fats). Turns out, inflammatory foods trigger the release of hormones that block thyroid function. As inflammation subsides, thyroid hormones perk up nicely, boosting calorie burn by about 500 calories a day for a typical woman.