Disorders connected to iodine deficiency: all thyroid disorders, ovarian cysts/PCOS and insulin resistance, uterine fibroids, infertility and menstrual problems, fibrocystic breast disease, fibromyalgia, low stomach acid, various autoimmune diseases, and cancers of the breast, ovarian, prostate, uterine and thyroid. Among others.
Quite a list isn't it? Read on dear mamas, we have a lot of ground to cover. I will be posting several threads in a row to continue.
We have iodine receptors all over our body.
The mineral iodine is an essential one. Essential for the health of many more organs and hormones and bodily processes than just the thyroid. We have receptors for iodine not just on the thyroid but also: the breast, uterus, prostate, skin, pancreas, saliva glands, stomach, intestines, choroid plexus (brain) and eye.
Iodine is required by every single cell in the body. It is connected to the manufacture of every hormone in the body including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, insulin, aldosterone, etc. So it starts to make sense that deficiency can lead to so many different disorders other than the more commonly known goiter.
Current studies show that iodine is needed in many times more than the RDA.
The RDA is 150 micrograms for an average adult and more for pregnancy and lactation. The total body load of iodine that can be stored in the thyroid is 50 milligrams and the total body load for iodine sufficiency is 1,500 milligrams. Since a microgram is 1/1000th of a milligram, one quickly sees the falacy of the RDA. It was based on the minimum amount of iodine to prevent goiter and cretinism. I will show that it is not enough to ensure the health of the body as a whole.
The storage of iodine in the body receptors are influenced by the toxins we consume.
Many of you may have heard of goitrogens. The term is commonly used for foods which eaten regularly can lead to development of a goiter: the cabbage family and soy. They inhibit iodine utilization and are known to lead to thyroid disorders. They can also inhibit the transfer of iodine to breastmilk. However…
There is a whole other class of goitrogens which are chemical toxins: the halogens.
Halogens (aka halides) are in the same chemical family as iodine. They displace iodine and block receptors in the body leading to malfunction of various organs and bodily systems.
Some iodine blockers are so ubiquitous in our modern life that you might not even think are necessarily "toxic" such as fluoride and chlorine. Fluoride and chorine inhibit iodine. Bromide (aka bromine) is a major goitrogen which can be in bread and bakery products, fruits and vegetables, flame retardants, swimming pool and hot tub disinfectants, sodas and Gatorade, and prescription drugs including some SSRIs. Bromides inhibit iodine and can be stored in iodine receptors in iodine's place, like all other halogens.
There are also other toxins which are more well known to be dangerous such as mercury, nitrates and perchlorate. These also block iodine and can attach to the iodine receptors in the body.
Iodine researchers now think that coupled with the reduced iodine present in the modern diet, coupled with our increased toxic load, is one of the major causes leading to the epidemic of diseases related to iodine deficiency.
Breast cancer alone, in that 1 in 7 women will get it in their lifetime, is reason enough to learn more about iodine.
To be continued....
Quite a list isn't it? Read on dear mamas, we have a lot of ground to cover. I will be posting several threads in a row to continue.
We have iodine receptors all over our body.
The mineral iodine is an essential one. Essential for the health of many more organs and hormones and bodily processes than just the thyroid. We have receptors for iodine not just on the thyroid but also: the breast, uterus, prostate, skin, pancreas, saliva glands, stomach, intestines, choroid plexus (brain) and eye.
Iodine is required by every single cell in the body. It is connected to the manufacture of every hormone in the body including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, insulin, aldosterone, etc. So it starts to make sense that deficiency can lead to so many different disorders other than the more commonly known goiter.
Current studies show that iodine is needed in many times more than the RDA.
The RDA is 150 micrograms for an average adult and more for pregnancy and lactation. The total body load of iodine that can be stored in the thyroid is 50 milligrams and the total body load for iodine sufficiency is 1,500 milligrams. Since a microgram is 1/1000th of a milligram, one quickly sees the falacy of the RDA. It was based on the minimum amount of iodine to prevent goiter and cretinism. I will show that it is not enough to ensure the health of the body as a whole.
The storage of iodine in the body receptors are influenced by the toxins we consume.
Many of you may have heard of goitrogens. The term is commonly used for foods which eaten regularly can lead to development of a goiter: the cabbage family and soy. They inhibit iodine utilization and are known to lead to thyroid disorders. They can also inhibit the transfer of iodine to breastmilk. However…
There is a whole other class of goitrogens which are chemical toxins: the halogens.
Halogens (aka halides) are in the same chemical family as iodine. They displace iodine and block receptors in the body leading to malfunction of various organs and bodily systems.
Some iodine blockers are so ubiquitous in our modern life that you might not even think are necessarily "toxic" such as fluoride and chlorine. Fluoride and chorine inhibit iodine. Bromide (aka bromine) is a major goitrogen which can be in bread and bakery products, fruits and vegetables, flame retardants, swimming pool and hot tub disinfectants, sodas and Gatorade, and prescription drugs including some SSRIs. Bromides inhibit iodine and can be stored in iodine receptors in iodine's place, like all other halogens.
There are also other toxins which are more well known to be dangerous such as mercury, nitrates and perchlorate. These also block iodine and can attach to the iodine receptors in the body.
Iodine researchers now think that coupled with the reduced iodine present in the modern diet, coupled with our increased toxic load, is one of the major causes leading to the epidemic of diseases related to iodine deficiency.
Breast cancer alone, in that 1 in 7 women will get it in their lifetime, is reason enough to learn more about iodine.
To be continued....