Iodine Deficiency Can Cause Cancer, Hypothyroidism, ADHD and Retardation.

Learn About 5 Simple Tips to Avoid and Treat Iodine Deficiency Naturally.

Iodine is important: each and every cell in your body needs iodine. Iodine is responsible for the production of all body’s hormones. Iodine is the key to a healthy thyroid and efficient metabolism.

Japanese consume a daily average of 13.8 mg of iodine (89 times more than Americans!), and they are one of the healthiest nations based on overall well-being and cancer statistics.

Why Iodine Consumption is Dropping?

It is estimated that about 1 billion people worldwide are susceptible to health problems due to iodine deficiency.

Iodine consumption for example in US has dropped 50% since the 1970s. This is mainly due to the bromide exposure, fluoridated water, exposure to mercury from dental work, soil depletion, limited intake of iodine-rich foods etc.

Bromide is endocrine disruptor and even small amount of bromide is toxic. It is used as an additive in many products like pesticides, prescription drugs, personal care products, plastic products, dyes, added to some citrus drinks and bakery products (potassium bromate).

Iodine Deficiency Causes Cancer

Iodine induces apoptosis, meaning it causes cancer cells to self-destruct. Iodine is one of the most powerful anti-cancer agents known. It is both a strong antioxidant as well as oxidant in the body, thus maintaining the balance between the two.

While good iodine levels help fight back against cancer, lowered levels provide fertile ground for cancer to form in many different hormonally sensitive tissues — tissues of the breast, thyroid, prostate, uterus, and ovaries.

Iodine deficiency is linked to fibrocystic breast disease with nodules and cyst enlargement.

Iodine deficiency results in increased iodine trapping by the thyroid, thus iodine deficient individuals are prone to radiation-provoked thyroid cancer.

Several studies have demonstrated a relationship between low iodine intake and fibrocystic disease of the breast (FDB), both in women and laboratory animals. “Women with goiters owing to iodine deficiency have been found to have a three times greater incidence of breast cancer. A high intake of iodine is associated with a low incidence breast cancer, and a low intake with a high incidence of breast cancer”- Dr. Donald Miller Jr.

According to Dr. Flechas the absence of iodine in a cell is what causes cancer, and some statistics support this view. For example, between 1971 and 2000, the average iodine levels in the US declined by 50 percent and cancers associated with iodine deficiency (breast, prostate, endometrium, and ovaries cancer) increased.

Dr. Brownstein has noticed clinically that iodine can cause tumors to shrink and die from the center out. He achieved similar results with nodules and cysts in the thyroid, ovaries, and uterus after introducing supplementation with iodine.

Iodine Deficiency and Hypothyroidism, Goiter (Enlarged Thyroid)

Iodine is the key to a healthy thyroid and efficient metabolism, and part of the thyroid hormone molecule itself.

Iodine is used by the thyroid gland to help regulate metabolism and development of skeleton and brain and plays a crucial role in thyroid biochemistry.

Thyroid hormones are used by every cell of our body to regulate metabolism and body weight by controlling the burning of fat for energy and heat. We also need it for your immune system to work properly.

Thyroid hormone production can be severely disrupted by high exposure to bromide/bromine, chlorine and fluoride.

Thyroid problem can actually be an iodine deficiency problem. If you feel tired, are overweight, have dry skin, suffer from hair loss, constipation or cold sensitivity, it could all be related to hypothyroidism.

Iodine deficiency can severely affect child’s brain function and IQ and cause mental retardation.

Iodine deficiency is a major cause of sub-functioning intellect as proposed by Dr. Flechas: “In newborn children iodine is responsible for the development of the babies’ I.Q. Recent research shows iodine deficiency is felt to be the source of attention deficit disorder in children”. Deficiency of iodine appears to be causing damage in developing embryos and in pregnant women iodine deficiency causes abortions and stillborns.

Besides iodine, a proper brain function and high IQ in children is promoted by the omega-3 fat DHA, vitamin D, optimized gut flora. Fluoride needs to be avoided at all cost.

Iodine RDA and Supplementation

It is obvious that recommended daily allowance for iodine are insufficient for optimal health and brain function, however in “alternative world” there is no consensus on what supplementation may look like and recommendations range anywhere between 800mcg to 12+mg and above 50mg for serious illnesses.

Some recent research also casts doubt on high-dose iodine supplementation and suggests it might not be wise to go above 800 mcg of iodine per day (source: Dr Mercola) whilst according to Dr. Flechas should be 12.5 mg/day.

Dr David Brownstein, based on his clinical and laboratory experience believes that an individual with a serious illness such as cancer or an autoimmune disorder may need protocols above 50 mg/day to become iodine sufficient.

Check At Home If You Are Iodine Deficient

According the Dr. Mercola, you can check at home if you are iodine deficient by applying the iodine tincture from the drug store and painting a 3-inch/8cm patch on your arm. The patch should last for 48 hours. The sooner it disappears the deeper is your iodine deficiency seem to be.

If serious deficiency of iodine is suspected, best to ask your health care practitioner for the urine iodine challenge test and based on the results work with on establishing a full nutritional program, which besides iodine supplementation calls also for adequate supplementation of selenium, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc and omega-3 in addition to healthy and balanced nutrition.

5 Tips to Help Avoid Iodine Deficiency

For those in good health and to keep on the safe side it may be preferable to optimize iodine levels through the natural intake of foods.

Toxin-free sea vegetables like seaweeds kelp, bladderwrack and spirulina are among the best natural dietary sources of iodine.
Celtic Sea Salt and Le sel de Guérande are all-natural, pure source of iodine that contains up to 350 mcg per 1/4 tsp.
Eat organic. Wash all produce to minimize the pesticides exposure (and bromine).
Avoid using plastic containers. Use glass/ceramic instead.
Buy whole-grain breads and flour and make sure they are bromine-free.