The disaster in Japan last month led to worldwide searches for radiation. The West Coast of the US struggled with the uncertainty of exposure from Japan.

Large doses of radiation can kill within two months. Minor doses can cause cancer. Or speed up the aging process. Many scrambled to protect themselves.

One form of protection is in the sea. It grows in underwater “forests” in shallow oceans. Sales of this natural radiation defense have spiked in recent weeks.

You need to know two things are this radiation-protective supplement. First, you need to be taking this supplement. Even if you haven’t been exposed to radiation. We’ll explain exactly why you need it.

Second, it’s different than other supplements. In fact, you need to be very careful how you take it. We’ll give you all the details about how to take it the right way.

A study comes from Dr. Mark R. Burge. He’s a Professor of Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. He specializes in Endocrinology. He also earned a fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism. And he’s published over 20 peer-reviewed studies.

He led a team of researchers. They studied the effects of an underwater plant on the thyroid. We’ll tell you about it shortly. But first, let’s get a better understanding of the thyroid gland.

The Thyroid Effect

Thyroid hormones regulate every function of the body. Your thyroid controls how you use energy. It also makes proteins. And it monitors sensitivity to other hormones. You can see how thyroid cancer could shut the body down.

The absorption of too much radioactive iodine can cause thyroid cancer. Saturating the thyroid with stable iodine blocks radioactive iodine penetration.

Iodine is needed to maintain a healthy thyroid. Most Americans used to get a sufficient amount of it in the salt in their diet. But efforts to decrease salt intake have created a problem. Many now have an iodine deficiency.

The All-Natural Way to Protect the Thyroid

The richest natural source of iodine is kelp. It’s a form of seaweed.

But there’s been some concern that kelp can actually cause thyroid disease.

So should you be supplementing with kelp?

Dr. Burge’s objective was “To study the effects of ingestion of two different doses of supplemental kelp on the thyroid function of healthy euthyroid subjects.”

Participants were divided into three groups. The high-dose group took four capsules of kelp daily for four weeks. The low-dose group took two. The control group took a placebo.

During and after, thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine were measured. TSH is a thyroid-stimulating hormone. Thyroxine is the main hormone produced by the thyroid.

The results: TSH increased in both kelp groups but not in the placebo group. “Short-term dietary supplementation with kelp significantly increases both basal and poststimulation TSH,” reported the study.

So kelp can help produce more thyroid hormones. That means more protection against harmful radiation. And less chance you’ll get thyroid cancer.

Dr. Hildegarde Staninger recommends kelp to protect the thyroid. She’s a world renowned toxicologist. Her specialty is radiation poisoning. She’s received two Presidential Awards. And she was awarded the 7th US Army and Greater Stuttgart Community Award for her work during Operation Desert Storm. Currently, she runs a detoxification and integrative medicine clinic in Los Angeles.

Dr. Ray Sahelian is a popular medical writer. He’s appeared on NBC, CBS, and CNN. He agrees that “kelp is a healthy sea vegetable to include in one’s diet.” But he cautions, “as with any other food, moderation is suggested.”

Kelp Supplementation Can Be Complicated

Hypothyroidism is an under-active thyroid. The gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone. This can cause sensitivity to cold, fatigue, depression, and/or constipation.

Why do I bring this up now? Because iodine is a cure for thyroid disease. But too much can cause it. So you need to be careful to get the right amount. And everyone is different.

Kelp supplements are available in liquid, capsule, and powder form. You can get the capsules at any health food store. Dr. Sahelian says: “If you do plan to take a kelp supplement, take only one or two tablets a day, and take two days off a week and a week off each month.”

And check out our NHD Undercover from Wednesday here. You’ll learn all about the real radiation threat in America.