Iodine plays a very important role in the normal functioning of the thyroid gland, which secretes thyroid hormones that control the metabolic rate of the body. Without iodine thyroid hormones cannot even be synthesized. Iodine also helps with the removal of toxins from the body as well as assisting the body in utilizing minerals like calcium and silicon. Iodine is also very important for the prostrate, breasts and the reproductive organs.
Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency Include:
Thyroid disease
Goiter
Breast, prostate, ovarian, thyroid, pancreatic and other cancers
Lack of ovulation
Infertility
Miscarriage
Obesity
Allergies
Asthma
Parkinson’s
Neurological disorders
Depression and frustration
Mental retardation
Coarse skin
Constipation
Fatigue
And much much more
Lets talk good guys verse bad guys in regards to iodine. Iodine is the good guy, the one fighting for you. The other halogens in our environment such as bromine, fluorine, and chlorine are the bad guys. They fight for the same receptors as iodine. If we want to increase our iodine levels we need to cut back as much as possible on our other halogen exposures.
The type of fluoride that is often found in toothpaste and municipal drinking waters is also a neurotoxin. Fridge filters do not filter this out, nor do the other everyday filters like pur. A more specialized filter like a reverse osmosis filter system is needed to clean out the fluoride.
Bromine is a carcinogen and is in most commercial baked goods, soft drinks, plastics, cans, personal care products, sprayed on fruits and veggies, in carpeting and furniture. It is hard to completely cut bromine out, but switching to unbleached flours, cutting out plastics wherever possible, soaking your bought fruits and veggies are all steps that will help reduce exposure.
Chlorine is used to purify municipal water supplies and most pools. Unlike fluoride standard filters do reduce chlorine levels in water. For pool swimming try to use a salt water pool over a chlorinated pool.
Chances are if you are not supplementing with iodine your levels are low.
