e-HEALING

" Iodine intake is usually low to begin with, but since Americans have begun restricting their salt intake at the advice of their "allopathic physicians", goiter and hypothyroidism have become epidemic." Mariana Fletcher Baxter
                                              Importance of Iodine

Iodine in combination with the amino acid tyrosine is manufactured into the thyroid hormone thyroxin. Iodine intake is usually low to begin with, but since Americans have begun restricting their salt intake at the advice of their "allopathic physicians", goiter and hypothyroidism have become epidemic. Some 11 million Americans have either a hypothyrold (low, underactive) or a hyperthyrold (overactive) condition. Thyroid hormones control and regulate digestion, heart rate, body temperature, sweat gland activity, nervous and reproductive system, general metabolism and body weight.

SYMPTOMS of HYPOTHYROIDISM (Hashimoto's Disease): Fatigue, Cold intolerance, Muscle aches & pains, Heavy or more frequent periods, Low sex drive, Brittle nails, Weight gain, Hair loss, Muscle cramps, Depression, Constipation, Elevated blood cholesterol, Puffy face, Dry skin and hair, Inability to concentrate, Poor memory, and Goiter.

SYMPTOMS of HYPERTHYROIDISM (Grave's Disease): Insomnia, Heat Intolerance, Excessive sweating, Lighter/less frequent periods, Hand Tremors, Rapid pulse, Exophthalmos ("bug-eyes"), Weight loss, Increased appetite, Muscle weakness, Frequent bowel movements, Irritability, Nervousness, and Goiter.

Many foods and food additives are known as "goitrogens" because they interfere with the thyroid’s metabolism and produce goiter when consumed in inordinate amounts (i.e., nitrates, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, etc.).

Iodine (iodide) is an essential trace mineral nutrient required to produce thyroid hormones. The element iodine occurs in food and in the body as the ionized or chemical form called iodide. The thyroid gland combines iodide with the amino acid, tyrosine, to produce thyroxin and triiodothyronine. These hormones control the body's idling speed (Basal Metabolic Rate) and support normal growth and development.

Symptoms of iodine deficiency include sluggishness (hypothyroidism), weight gain and, in extreme cases, an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter). During pregnancy, iodine deficiency can cause severe mental retardation (cretinism) in children. Before salt was iodized in the 1920s, goiters were common in areas of the United States, especially the South, with iodine-deficient soils. Though rare, goiter sometimes occurs in women and children in certain areas of California, Texas and the South, and in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada. Goiter is still common in parts of Africa. Certain substances called goitrogens in vegetables like cassava and rutabagas block iodine uptake and may contribute to the occurrence of goiter when excessive amounts of these foods are consumed.

Sources of iodide include seaweed (kelp & dulse), shellfish like shrimp, clams and oysters, marine fish and iodized salt. Iodine occurs in food in other chemical forms besides iodide. Sodium iodate, a commercial dough oxidizer, occurs in some commercially baked goods. Milk and milk products may contain traces of free iodine, used as a disinfectant for milk cows and in milk production (a Betadine-type solution is applied to the teats and udder of the cows during the milking process as an antiseptic).

The typical diet supplies more than twice the U.S. Reference Daily Intake (RDI) of 150 mcg. Consuming 2 mg per day is generally considered safe for healthy adults. Breast milk contains iodine to provide for the infant's requirements, and lactating women require extra iodide in their diets. An additional 50 mcg of iodine per day is recommended. Iodine as supersaturated potassium iodide (SSKI) has been used clinically in the treatment of asthma, slow lymphatic drainage, sebaceous cysts, fibrocystic breast disease and to promote desirable balance of estrogens. Iodine, as a water purifier, possesses antiviral and antibacterial activity (5 drops of Tincture of Iodine per quart of water). Excessive amounts of iodide can cause iodine-induced goiter. Other side effects include rash and allergies.
NOTE: Sources of Iodine that are derived from kelp or dulse (sea lettuce) are much less apt to cause any of the nasty side effects you can get from using Tincture of Iodine (antiseptic) or in the form of Potassium Iodide (expectorant) or Sodium Iodide (table salt) which are not water-soluble.

Iodized Salt

In the United States, sodium iodide has been added to table salt (sodium chloride) to create "iodized salt" since 1924. It provides 76 mcg of iodine per gram of salt. With this enrichment, goiter virtually disappeared in America. Small amounts of additives stabilize iodine in iodized salt and prevent caking: They include glucose, sodium thiocyanate, sodium aluminum silicate or sodium bicarbonate. Sea salt is not a good source of iodine. Although seawater is rich in iodide, iodide is lost during purification. Note that sea salt and iodized salt contributes the same amount of sodium as standard table salt
IODINE INSUFFIENCY - F A Q'S

Does everyone need iodine supplementation?

Iodine supplementations should be prescribed only if indicated by the results of iodine testing. Iodine testing kits may be ordered from my office (828-684-3233) by individuals or by health care professionals. If ordered by an individual, test results will be returned to the individual; if ordered by a health care provider, test results will be returned to the health care provider and to the individual. A cost of $75 per kit covers the cost of the testing kit, testing services, and return postage (charges for additional postage will apply if mailed to location outside the U.S.)

Why is iodine deficiency common in the United States?

We first need to note that the body produces no iodine, and there is no organ other than the thyroid that can store large quantities of iodine. In some areas of the US, including mountain regions, the Mississippi River Valley, the Ohio River Valley, and the Great Lakes regions, the soil has always had a very low iodine content. But even in other areas of once iodine-rich soil, over farming has frequently depleted this iodine content. Hence, we no longer get adequate iodine via the plants we consume. To compensate for this, iodine was added to salt, bread, and milk. Today iodine is no longer added to bread or to milk, and the amount of iodine added to salt has steadily declined over the years. All of these factors contribute to the current prevalence of iodine deficiency in the United States.

How does iodine deficiency manifest itself?

Research work has shown that iodine deficiency in the thyroid presents as a thyroid goiter (enlargement of the thyroid). In those areas of the world where iodine deficiency is very high, such as in Switzerland and in certain areas of Asia and Africa, there are also higher incidents of thyroid cancer. Iodine is also concentrated by breast tissue, and a lack of iodine in the breasts manifests as fibrocystic breast disease (painful breasts with nodules and cysts and often more symptomatic prior to menstrual periods). 93% of American women have fibrocystic breast disease and the longer this disease exists, the higher the potential risk for development of breast cancer. 20% of all iodine in the human body is stored in the skin, specifically in the sweat glands. Lack of iodine in the sweat glands manifests as dry skin with a decreased ability to sweat.

Iodine can also be concentrated in the stomach tissue, and the lack of iodine in the stomach manifests as achlorhydria (lack of digestive acid production). Iodine is used by the stomach cells, also known as parietal cells, to concentrate chloride which is necessary to produce hydrochloric acid (digestive acid). With the prolonged presence of achlorhydria, there is a much higher incidence of stomach cancer.

Iodine is concentrated in the lacrymal glands of the eye, and a lack of iodine can cause dry eyes.  Iodine can also be concentrated in the parotid and submandibular glands of the mouth, and iodine deficiency here can result in dry mouth. Iodine can be concentrated in the ovaries, and Russian studies done some years ago showed a relationship between iodine deficiency and the presence of cysts in the ovaries. The greater the iodine deficiency, the more ovarian cysts a woman produces. In its extreme form, this condition is known as polycystic ovarian disease.

Is there enough Iodine in our salt?

When people go shopping for salt they will notice there is iodized salt verses regular salt. This is also true for sea salt that is plain sea salt verses sea salt with iodine. There is more iodine in iodized table salt that there is in plain sea salt, which contains very little iodine to start with. Quite frequently we see articles in the local press showing that there is a high amount of iodine in salt and we need to reduce the total amount of salt because of the potential damage from iodine. However, during the last National Nutritional Survey called the NHANES III from 1988 - 1994, the study revealed that 15% of the U. S. adult female population suffered from iodine insufficiency where this was defined as a urine iodine level 60 meq per liter. Another misconception that is out on the market is that high consumption of iodized salt helps prevent iodine deficiency. The fact is that iodized salt contains 74meg of iodine per gram of salt. The purpose of iodization of salt was to prevent goiter and cretinism and was never meant for optimal iodine requirements by the human body. An example of this would be the ingestion of iodine in order to control fibrocystic breast disease that is a level of five milligrams of iodine per day. In this particular case one would need to consume 68 grams of salt. In Japan, the Japanese population has an intake of around 13.8 milligrams of iodine per day. Among the population of the Earth, the Japanese have the lowest prevalence and incidence of female reproductive organ cancer in their tissues.

What about iodine and aging?

As most of us know, hypertension (high blood pressure) often becomes an issue as we age. Because of this, many are being told that they need to decrease the total amount of salt in their diet. However, we must realize that most people over age 60 are becoming depleted of iodine due to the lack of iodine in the diet and that this particular group of individuals is also the group with the highest occurrence of thyroid nodules and goiters. Also of interest is that 25% of the people in this age category will become senile as a result of low thyroid (hypothyroidism). Iodine supplementation may alleviate these iodine-related maladies, but iodine testing and thyroid studies such as a thyroid ultrasound and thyroid lab tests should be conducted prior to beginning iodine supplementation therapy.
How can I be so sure you’re likely to have this deficiency?  Because it isn’t found in many of our food sources.
Here’s why:
Forty years ago, the food industry regularly added iodine to store-bought bread. One slice of bread once contained about 150 mcg iodine, the whole day’s RDA. Your average diet in 1960 contained about one mg of iodine per day, with bakery products providing 726 mcg. This amount was enough to significantly reduce your thyroid gland’s ability to absorb radioactive iodine. It also was enough to lower excess thyroid hormone release, preventing hyperthyroidism. And it would provide more availability of iodine for your breasts or prostate. Then it was withdrawn for fear of adverse effects from too much iodine (Iodophobia).
It is very difficult to get too much iodine from food. But to make matters worse, the food industry decided to replace the iodine with bromine in many instances. Bromine belongs to the halogen group of elements, also containing fluorine, chlorine, and iodine. All these elements have similar electrochemical properties, with bromine and iodine the most similar because of their larger sizes. To the thyroid, bromine looks like iodine and tightly binds to thyroid iodine receptors. However, bromine doesn’t help the thyroid the way iodine does.

And, what’s worse, Bromine & Chlorine also inhibit iodine’s activity. Once the food industry stopped enriching your bread with iodine and replaced it with an element that doesn’t work, and knocks out any remaining iodine, your body suffered a double whammy. Americans, across the board, are becoming severely deficient in iodine (about 90% or more).

Our soils are quite deficient in iodine and we Americans do not eat much seaweed and kelp which are good sources from the sea.

This deficiency is causing some terrible health problems. Researcher Guy Abraham, MD, my mentor on the subject, has amassed a ton of literature to prove the disease connection to iodine deficiency.
Here are just a few health problems:
Fatigue — An underactive thyroid typically causes fatigue. Iodine supplementation can quickly activate the thyroid and relieve fatigue. Dr Abraham reports iodine deficiency may harm pituitary-adrenal function in rodents. Your adrenal is essential for energy and stamina.

Thyroid disease — When there’s not enough iodine to bind with cell membranes, it allows enzymes called peroxidases (which can damage those membranes) to wreak havoc and cause autoimmune disease, such as thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s or Grave’s). In fact, Dr. Abraham has several cases of both thyroiditis and hyperthyroidism (not just hypothyroidism) that have corrected after sufficient iodine/iodide supplementation. For over a century, high doses of iodine have helped both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Many doctors fear giving too much iodine will cause Hashimoto’s to worsen. But this usually isn’t the case.

While iodine will help the thyroid increase the production of hormone where necessary, it also inhibits over-release from the gland by giving thyroid enzymes what they want. These iodine-seeking enzymes that attack thyroid membranes can be normalized when they get the iodine they need. This old information is terrific news for the many people (usually women) who have been told to have their thyroid removed to end hyperthyroidism. These draconian measures ensure the patient will have to rely on prescriptive thyroid hormone for the rest of their life. But iodine can completely solve the problem.

One 1860 French physician mistakenly gave a tincture of iodine when he meant to give digitalis to a woman with Grave’s Disease. She recovered within three weeks. When he discovered his mistake, he switched to digitalis, and her symptoms came back. He switched back to the iodine and achieved a remission.

Poor digestion —Many organs need iodine, but can’t absorb it until the blood measurements reach very high levels. The stomach and salivary glands are two such organs, but they can’t uptake iodine in any significant amounts until the blood level reaches 100 times what the thyroid needs. Most people do not produce enough stomach acid as they grow older. I firmly believe low gastric acidity can be caused by iodine deficiency, as iodine promotes stomach acidity!

Breast, ovarian, and skin cysts — In addition to fixing almost all cases of breast cysts, iodine also has a remarkable healing effect on ovarian cysts, and even on skin cysts. (For the latter, I recommend rubbing in iodine right over the cyst.)

Dementia and glaucoma — Iodine is found in large amounts in the brain (including the parts of the brain associated with Parkinson’s disease) and the ciliary body of the eye, a possible factor in glaucoma.

Other illnesses — Iodine reduces the dangerous activity of lipoprotein(a). When elevated, this protein can lead to excessive blood clotting and vascular disease. Iodine has been used successfully in headaches, keloid formation, parotid duct stones, and Dupytren’s and Peyronie’s contractures. Doses up to six times the RDA have been used safely for months to combat the excessive mucous in chronic lung diseases.

Now that I’ve shown you how important iodine is to your health, it’s time for you to find out if you’re deficient. Actually, you already know that you probably are deficient, but there are times when you might need to know for sure. Some of you may remember a simple patch test I recommended several years ago. With this test you would simply swab a quarter-size patch of iodine on your skin and watch to see how fast it would disappear. Unfortunately, I can’t continue to recommend this test. While it won’t harm you, it’s simply not accurate enough. There is a test now that’s far more accurate and is fairly inexpensive.

The test was developed by Dr. Abraham and is called a loading test. With this procedure, the doctor administers four iodine tablets. If your body has all the iodine it needs, you would expect to urinate out most of the ingested amount over the next 24 hours. If not, your body would hold on to a significant amount of the iodine and you would know that you’re deficient.

But I’m not sure you need the test. David Brownstein, MD, author of the wonderful new book Iodine, also was performing loading tests on his patients. However, Dr. Brownstein and I stopped most of the tests after nearly every test we performed returned positive for deficiency. Now I just start iodine supplementation in any condition where iodine is a known factor.

Just how likely is deficiency in cancer? In an in-house study, 60 cancer patients (various types) were given the iodine-loading test and then measured for urinary excretion. All 60 patients were found to be seriously deficient in body stores of iodine and some had great excesses of bromine. The best case excreted only 50 percent of the load and the worst excreted only 20 percent (that means they were retaining a very high 80 percent). Folks, these are some serious numbers. One hundred percent of these cancer sufferers were deficient in iodine! I assure you the problem is population wide.

If you’re deficient and think iodized salt is your answer, I can assure you it’s not. First, the amount of iodine (as potassium iodide) added is relatively small. You will need a minimum of 100 grams of iodized salt daily (20 tsp) to get adequate levels. Even saltaholics can’t eat this much salt.

IODORAL:
Dr. Abraham has developed a convenient iodine/iodide preparation you can take by pill instead of the usually unpleasant Lugol’s solution. Called Iodoral, a tablet is quite literally dried Lugol’s solution, providing 12.5 mg of iodine/iodide. In his research, Dr. Abraham found that a person abundant in iodine should excrete at least 90 percent, over the next 24 hours, of a loading dose of four tablets (50 mg). If you excrete less, that means your body needs and is retaining it. Dr. Abraham believes the dose of iodine for maintaining sufficiency of the whole body is at least 13 mg per day (100 times the paltry RDA) – six mg for the thyroid, five mg for the breasts, and two mg for the rest of the body. Men would likely need less, though not always.

Not everyone needs this much, though. Take Betty for example. She visited me with complaints of terribly painful and cystic breasts. She often had to shoo her husband away. Simply providing iodide at a level of five mg per day completely reversed the problem and made her feel womanly and erogenous again.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON IODINE: W. W. Greene, D.C.

Of all the elements known so far to be essential for health, IODINE is the most misunderstood. Yet, it is by far the safest of all the trace elements known to be essential for human health. It is the only trace element that can be ingested safely in amounts up to 100,000 times the RDI. It is estimated by myself and other clinicians that probably 90% or more of the population of the United States is grossly deficient in Iodine. In fact, it must be noted that Iodine is the single most deficient nutrient in the world --- with approximately 70% of the world's population deficient.

The collective experience of many medical clinicians over 3 generations has shown that Iodine therapy in the range of 12.5mg to 50mg daily doses to be safe and effective in treating signs and symptoms of Iodine deficiency.

The current recommended daily intake (RDI) is only 150 micrograms (.15 mg). This is hardly enough Iodine for the Thyroid gland let alone the rest of the body. The United States RDI and World Health Organization recommendations were NOT based on WHOLE-BODY sufficiency for Iodine, but on the maximum amounts of Iodine required to prevent Goiter and Cretinism. The normal daily requirements of the body for Iodine have NEVER been determined. the Medical Establishment collectively has been afflicted with a condition called “ Medical Iodophobia” –- a condition that results in an altered state of consciousness, split personalities, impaired rational thinking… all the result, probably, from a deficiency of IODINE!! We still do NOT know the Iodine requirements for WHOLE-BODY sufficiency. In Japan, the Japanese people usually consume an average daily intake of 13.8 mg of Iodine, the only population in the world that gets this amount of Iodine daily and are the healthiest people in the world based on cancer statistics.

Based on a simple Iodine “Loading Test” developed by Guy Abraham, M.D. we can now come pretty close to determining how much Iodine the ENTIRE body needs each day for OPTIMAL health. This amount is 12.5 mg to 37.5 mg per day, or 2 to 6 drops of Lugol solution per day.             <http://curezone.com/blogs/m.asp?f=18&i=238>

Iodoral can be found at:
Iodoral 180 Tablets = $40.00 USD; 90 Tablets = $22.24
1 Tablet contains Iodine 5mg + Iodide (as potassium salt) 7.5 mg= 12.5 mg
<http://www.illnessisoptional.com/ace/product.asp?ProdID=15899>
180 tab bottle $50.00
<http://healthnatura.com/iodine.htm>
How to Use Iodoral in Weight Loss: <http://healthnatura.com/art_iodine_metabolism.htm>
Optmox-Iodoral: 180 tablets= $70.00 CAD; 90 tablets=$40.00
<http://www.aviva.ca/shop/products.asp?itemid=3149&catid=195>
Lugol is less expensive (liquid form): 5% iodine and 10% potassium iodide.
4 Fl. oz. = $8.00 USD @<http://www.aviva.ca/shop/products.asp?itemid=3149&catid=195>
4 Fl. oz. = $13.75 USD @ <http://secure.sciencecompany.com/Lugols-Iodine-4oz-P6409C670.aspx>
4 Fl. oz. = <http://secure.sciencecompany.com/Lugols-Iodine-4oz-P6409C670.aspx>

CAUTION: According to Phil Thomas, all iodine has a poisonous effect upon the body unless it is first detoxified, and even then it’s a powerful element to contend with. As is the case with everything, the body and it’s reaction are specific to that given situation and/or individual.  See PART II, or visit Thomas' website: Iodine Source

Optimally, people would get all their iodine from dietary sources: soybeans, cauliflower, peanuts, cauliflower, etc. But much agricultural farmland is now iodine-deficient, leading to reduced levels of iodine in foods. Other areas, such as the Great Lakes region in the U.S., are naturally deficient in iodine -- a fact that lead to the massive goiter in the 1930's, when 40% of the people living in Michigan suffered from goiter. In 1924, iodine was first added to table salt as a preventative measure, and by 1940, the practice was in general consumer use. Using iodized salt has, no doubt, been effective: it contains about 76 mcg. of iodine per gram. The average person consumes at least 3 grams of iodized salt daily, exceeding the RDA for iodine by 150 mcg. However, iodized salt has many other drawbacks: it contains aluminum and processing chemical residues, its overuse creates the well-documented conditions associates with high sodium intake and sodium-potassium imbalance, etc.

With treated salt's convenient little addition to the Western diet - its integration accelerated by the explosive expansion of fast food outlets, at which table salt's cup doth overflow, one might think we have seen the last of iodine deficiency. Hardly.  Enter "halogen displacement" and the effects of chlorine intake on the body's small reserve of iodine. Table salt, by definition, is mostly "sodium chloride" (what chemists call a "halide" - or a halogen tied to a mineral, making it a "salt" of a halogen). Although bound to sodium, the use of table salt as a delivery vehicle for iodine ironically presents a situation where you ingest far more chlorine, which displaces iodine (as we will see in a moment) than you do the iodine itself.  You see, chlorine, which has been used extensively since 1904 to control microbes in public drinking water, belongs to the same class of elements as iodine: the "halogens" - or elements that are one step removed from the "inert elements" (or gases) because they have just one electron missing from their outer shell to make it inert (non-reactive). This makes them quite readily reactive.

The mechanism behind "halogen displacement" was probably best described by J.C. Jarvis, M.D. (Folk Medicine, Henry Holt & Co., 1958, HB, p. 136), who wrote: "The clinical activity of any one of these four halogens is in inverse proportion to its atomic weight. This means that any one of the four can displace the element with a higher atomic weight, but cannot displace an element with a lower atomic weight. For example, flourine can displace chlorine, bromine and iodine because flourine has a lower atomic weight than the other three. Similarly, chlorine can displace bromine and iodine because they both have a higher atomic weight. Likewise, bromine can displace iodine from the body because iodine has a higher atomic weight. But a reverse order is not possible. A knowledge of this well-known chemical law brings us to a consideration of the addition of chlorine to our drinking water as a purifying agent. We secure a drinking water that is harmful to the body not because of its harmful germ content but because the chlorine content now causes the body to lose the much-needed iodine..."

To counter the effects of iodine loss, Dr. Jarvis recommended various methods including: (1) Eating foods rich in iodine: food from the ocean, radishes, asparagus, carrots, tomatoes, spinach, rhubarb, potatoes, peas, strawberries, mushrooms, lettuce, bananas, cabbage, egg yolk, and onions; (2) Painting a small area of the body with tincture of iodine; and (3) taking preparations known to be rich in iodine, including cod liver oil, kelp tablets ...

But he was particularly keen on the power of Lugol's iodine, for treating various illnesses, including colds and flu, and for countering the effects of stress: "Supposing you do follow the suggestions outlined above and find that some weeks the pressures of your private and your business life are causing you to lose the ability to bounce back. Then you should add a drop of Lugol's solution of iodine to your glass of apple or grape juice at breakfast, or you may take it in the mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. The point is that the potassium in the solution (Lugol's is 5% potassium iodine) blocks off the body mechanism that organizes for aggressive action, releasing its hold on the body when opportunity for rest and relaxation arises. The iodine swings into action the body and the building up and storing of body reserves. When working under pressure, include the Lugol's solution dose each day until the period of pressure passes. If it should happen that your body becomes saturated with iodine, you will find that there is an increase of moisture in the nose. If this occurs, omit the iodine until the nose is normal."
Treating Candida Mycoplasia & The Aftermath of Antibiotic Usage
Many alternative physicians will use Lugol's for these conditions -- just 6 drops, 4 times daily (24 drops per day). (Read Dr. Orian Truss <candida_dysbiosis.htm>). Precautions: Lugol's, like bio-oxidative preparations <quikheal.htm>, is oxidative. You should avoid taking anti-oxidant supplements (Vitamin A, C, E, selenium, glutithione, etc.) for the duration of your "higher-than-normal" usage of Lugol's. You should also follow high usage of iodine products with Microflora Restoration <microflora.htm> - or similar products to replenish vital intestinal flora.
http://www.altcancer.com/lugols.htm

Symptoms of Slow Metabolism
Fatigue  Headaches & Migraines  PMS  Easy Weight Gain  Depression  Irritability  Insomnia  Allergies  Fibro Cystic Breast DiseaseFluid Retention  Anxiety & Panic Attacks  Hair Loss  Poor Memory  Poor Concentration  Low Sex Drive Carpal Tunnel Syndrome  Hives  Acidic morning urine pH below 6.8Unhealthy Nails  Dry Skin & Hair Cold Intolerance /  Heat Intolerance  Low Motivation/Ambition  Acne Asthma High Cholesterol/Triglycerides  Cancer

One of the early indicators of a slowing of the metabolism is a midday oral temperature consistently below 98.6° F.<http://healthnatura.com/temperature_test.htm> for a chart and instructions on checking on your temp. However, temperature is only an indirect measure of metabolism, and does not directly correlate to iodine <http://healthnatura.com/iodine.htm> balance. A normal temperature does not necessarily mean that you have adequate iodine. Only a 24 hour urine iodine saturation test can accurately determine your iodine levels: <http://healthnatura.com/simple_iodine_test.htm>.
How to Get an Iodine Test at Home: <http://healthnatura.com/how_to_get_an_iodine_test_at_hom.htm>

How iodine accelerates weight loss by supporting the thyroid gland
by Dani Veracity

If adjusting your diet and exercising more hasn't helped you reach a healthy body weight, you may have hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland. In addition to weight gain, other symptoms of hypothyroidism include a bad complexion, fatigue, forgetfulness, loss of sex drive, impotence, irritability and unhealthy hair, nails and teeth. Fortunately, you can help normalize an underactive thyroid gland by increasing your intake of the mineral iodine.
"The healthy functioning of the thyroid is essential to maintaining and preventing the accumulation of ," writes Burton Goldberg in Alternative Medicine. An underactive thyroid gland slows your metabolism; you thus burn dramatically fewer calories and feel sluggish. In addition, in Asian Health Secrets, Letha Hadady explains that an underactive thyroid gland promotes excess weight and cellulite by causing water retention.

The experts speak on iodine and the thyroid:
Goiter is usually associated with hypothyroidism, which is decreased thyroid function that leads to slower metabolism, fatigue, weight gain, sluggishness, dry hair, thick skin, poor mental functioning, decreased resistance to infection, a feeling of coldness, and a decrease in sexual energy. More advanced hypothyroidism may worsen these symptoms as well as create a hyperactive, manic state and hypertension, which is paradoxical because this may occur with an overactive thyroid as well. Iodine by itself usually will not cure goiter and hypothyroidism but often will slow their progression. Staying Healthy With Nutrition by Elson M Haas MD, page 196
I believe that an insufficient intake of organic iodine in today's modern diet has led to a serious and chronic form of low-grade hypothyroidism, a major contributing factor to breast and ovarian cancers. Even a mild low thyroid function can cause an imbalance of other hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and androgen, hormones that play a pivotal role in reproductive health as well as in the prevention of cancerous and noncancerous tumors, such as fibroids and fibrocystic breast disease. Low thyroid function frequently coincides with low adrenal function—what I call a "hypo-overall endocrine system"; it's just not working up to speed. This condition manifests itself in many ways, including fatigue, low energy during the day, insomnia, low body temperature, very low blood pressure, low-grade depression, dry skin, dry hair, pear-shaped figure, weight gain, infertility, PMS, sensitivity to cold (particularly the extremities), calcification buildup, hardening of the arteries, cystic breasts and/or ovaries, and cancers of the breast and ovaries. Iodine as an anti-biotic (or probiotic):



PART II: The End of Antibiotics and the Rise of Iodine

PART III: Iodine And The Halogen Revolution