| Iodine is a vital yet misunderstood nutrient which has | | | | can determine if supplementation is needed. Iodized salt |
| been coming to the forefront of medical research in | | | | was thought to guard against deficiency, but recent |
| recent years. Necessary for basic biological function in | | | | studies show that is not always the case. In fact, the |
| humans, iodine plays an important role in thyroid and | | | | Recommended Daily Allowance of iodine has been |
| adrenal health, immune function, memory and cognition, | | | | vastly underestimated. New research shows that up |
| preventing autoimmune diseases, as well as breast | | | | to 100 times the current RDA may be necessary to |
| and prostate cancer, just to name a few. According to | | | | effectively prevent disease. If iodine levels are too low, |
| studies conducted by the National Center for Health | | | | supplementing with inorganic, non-radioactive forms of |
| Statistics, iodine levels of the general population have | | | | iodine/iodide is very safe. The Japanese are legendary |
| fallen 50% in the last 30 years. What does this mean | | | | for their longevity and low rates of degenerative |
| to us? | | | | disease, most notably breast and prostate cancer. |
| Because iodine is found in every cell of our bodies, any | | | | Interestingly, their diet is very high in iodine rich fish and |
| deficiency over time could lead to increased chances | | | | sea vegetables. Naturally occurring iodine is also found |
| of disease. The most widely known is thyroid | | | | in unrefined sea salt, artichokes, pineapple, asparagus |
| dysfunction. The thyroid will not function properly | | | | and dark green vegetables. |
| without adequate iodine. In fact, there are other | | | | The uses for therapeutic iodine are vast, and we are |
| elements in our environment that block iodine from | | | | understanding more about this vital nutrient every day. |
| reaching the thyroid gland. Iodine is part of a group of | | | | Some of the current uses include: heavy metal |
| elements called 'halogens'. Flash back to 7th grade | | | | detoxification, removing excess estrogens, treating |
| science class for just a moment........ This group of | | | | thyroid dysfunction, reproductive and breast cancers, |
| nonmetal elements on the periodic table includes: iodine, | | | | lowered immune function, chronic fatigue, attention |
| which is necessary for health, and chlorine, flourine, | | | | deficit disorder, memory impairment, depression, and |
| bromine and astatine, which are all toxic. Because they | | | | headaches. |
| are all of very similar molecular weight, chlorine, | | | | Always use iodine supplementation under the |
| bromine, and flouride will adhere to the iodine receptor | | | | supervision of a physician. They will be able to test |
| on the thyroid gland, blocking iodine absorption. This is | | | | levels by administering an Iodine Loading Test, and |
| important because of the abundance of toxic halides | | | | determine how much supplementation may be needed. |
| found in our swimming pools and hot tubs, our drinking | | | | Preventive measures now will keep you healthy for |
| water, bakery products, and prescription asthma | | | | years to come. It is far easier and less expensive to |
| medications. | | | | prevent disease, than to treat it once it has occurred. |
| Testing iodine levels is easy, painless, inexpensive, and | | | | |