The Iodine Deficiency Epidemic — How to Reverse It for Your Health
Did you know that iodine deficiency is now regarded by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most predominant and easily preventable case of impaired cognitive development in children in the world? There are at least 30 million suffering from this preventable condition.
Iodine is a trace mineral and an essential component of the thyroid hormones. A very high percentage of people are iodine deficient according to Dr. David Brownstein author of "Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It." People take Lugols Iodine for various benefits, such as to increase energy, boost the immune system and promote detoxification. They also take it for the thyroid health as the thyroid equires iodine to function normally. Lugol's iodine solution is often used as an antiseptic and disinfectant, for emergency disinfection of drinking water. These uses are possible since the solution is a source of effectively free elemental iodine, which is readily generated from the equilibration between elemental iodine molecules and tri-iodide ion in the solution. It is supplemented with for iodine deficiency. Lugols Iodine was used in the Chernobyl disaster as an emergency source of iodide to block radioactive iodine uptake, it was widely available as a drinking water decontaminant.
The human body does not produce Iodine so it is an important part of your diet. Foods which analysis shows are particularly rich in Iodine include all foods from the ocean, along with: radishes, asparagus, carrots, tomatoes, spinach, rhubarb, potatoes, peas, strawberries, mushrooms, lettuce, bananas, cabbage, egg yolk, and onions. Even with a good diet many people simply don't have enough Iodine. Acutally unless you are eating a typical Japanese diet chance are you're low on it.
The term iodine deficiency disorders has been coined to represent the different array of disorder that result from iodine deficiency in a population. These disorders are all preventable if the appropriate dose of iodine is administered. Common disorders that result from iodine deficiency are hypothyroidism, increased cholesterol levels, endemic goiter, cretinism, decreased fertility rate, increased infant mortality, fibrocystic breast disease, atherosclerosis and breast cancer.
Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency include:
Depression
Hyperlipidemia
Shortness of breath
Difficulty losing weight
Recurrent infections
Impaired kidney function
Dry skin
Sensitivity to cold
Muscle weakness
Headaches
Cold hands and feet
joint stiffness
Lethargy or fatigue
Brain fog
Menstrual problems
Memory problems
Thinning hair
Constipation
5 Possible Causes Linked to Iodine Deficiency
1. Low Dietary Iodine
Almost all of our soils are depleted in minerals. Foods grown in iodine-deficient soils do not provide enough iodine to the livestock and population inhabiting there.
Iodine does not occur naturally in specific foods; it is present in the soil and ingested through foods grown on that soil. Iodine should be obtained primarily through diet however since our food supply is so mineral deficient Iodine can be obtained through supplementation. Lavida Health recommends a Lugols formula.
2. Pregnancy
According to the journal Pediatrics, about one-third of pregnant women in the U.S. are iodine-deficient. Currently, only about 15 percent of breastfeeding and pregnant women take iodine supplements.
Severe iodine deficiency is associated with stunted mental and physical growth, and even marginal iodine deficiency can impair brain functioning in infants.
3. Tobacco Smoke
Tobacco smoke and the other substances in tobacco smoke that can impair thyroid function and can also block thyroid hormone action.
4. Fluoridated and Chlorinated Water
Tap water contains fluoride and chlorine, which inhibit the absorption of iodine. In a study where researchers used the Wechsler Intelligence Test to determine the IQs of a total of 329 eight- to 14-year-old children living in nine high-fluoride, low-iodine villages and in seven villages that had only low levels of iodine. As discovered, the IQs of children from the high-fluoride, low-iodine villages were lower than those from the villages with low iodine alone.
5. Brassica family Foods
Eating raw vegetables in the Brassica family (cauliflower, broccoli, kale, cabbage, soy, Brussels sprouts) can impact thyroid function because they contain goitrogens, molecules that impair peroxidase. Steaming these cruciferous vegetables until fully cooked before consumption breaks the goitrogens down. People with iodine deficiency are at risk when consuming these foods.
8 Benefits of Iodine
1. Metabolism
Iodine influences greatly the functioning of the thyroid glands by helping with the production of hormones directly responsible for controlling the body’s base metabolic rate. Metabolic rate ensures the efficiency of the body’s organ systems and biochemical processes, including sleep cycle, absorption of food and transformation of food into energy we can use.
2. Energy Levels
Iodine plays a vital role in maintaining optimal energy levels of the body by the utilization of calories, without allowing them to be deposited as excess fat.
3. Helps Prevent Certain Kinds of Cancer
Iodine plays a role in boosting immunity and inducing apoptosis, the self-destruction of dangerous, cancerous cells. While iodine assists in destroying mutated cells, it doesn’t destroy healthy cells in the process. Evidence shows the ability of iodine-rich seaweed to inhibit growth of breast tumor development. This is supported by the low rate of breast cancer in parts of world, especially in Japan, where women consume a diet rich in iodine. If you notice breast changes in your breast tissue, it could be a sign of iodine deficiency.
4. Eliminates Toxic Chemicals
Iodine can remove heavy metal toxins like lead, mercury and other biological toxins. Accumulating evidence suggests there are many extra thyroidal benefits of iodine, including antioxidant functions, maintaining the integrity of the mammary gland as well as antibacterial properties, particularly against H. pylori, which is a bacterial infection in the stomach and associated with gastric cancer.
5. Boosts Immunity
Iodine doesn’t just affect the thyroid; it does many other things, including playing an important role as an immune booster. Iodine is a scavenger of free hydroxyl radicals and stimulates and increases the activity of antioxidants throughout the body to provide a strong defensive measure against various diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease.
6. Forms Healthy and Shiny Skin
Dry, irritated and rough skin that becomes flaky and inflamed is a common sign of iodine deficiency. Iodine helps with the formation of shiny and healthy skin, hair and teeth and is an important trace element, as a lack of iodine results in hair loss.
7. Prevents Enlarged Thyroid Gland
Iodine deficiency is widely recognized as the primary cause of goiter. In fact, according to a meta-analysis out of China, lower urinary iodine concentration values “were associated with an increased risk of goiter, and … iodine deficiency may lead to an increased risk of goiter.” Add sea salt, seafood, raw milk and eggs to your diet to avoid iodine deficiency, as this often also works as a preventative step of an enlarged thyroid gland.
8. Helps Prevent Impaired Development and Growth in Children
Studies have shown that iodine deficiency during infancy and pregnancy can interrupt healthy brain development and growth. Infants are more susceptible to mortality and high risk for neuro-degenerative problems if iodine-deficient, such as a mental form of disability known as cretinism, motor function problems, learning disabilities and low growth rate.
Lavida Health’s 5% Lugols Iodine Solution is Ultra-Powerful and Pure Sourced from mined elemental crystals free of the contaminants found from shellfish or kelp sourced Iodine. Will not expire if kept in cool, dark storage. 6.25mg per drop, 600 drops per bottle. To really get the most benefits when taking our Iodine, it is recommended to increase your water intake (to help flush toxins removed by the iodine) to also supplement daily with Himalayan salt, Vitamin C, Vitamin B complex, Magnesium and Selenium.
To avoid the negative detoxing symptoms, start with one drop (1 drop = 6.25mg) daily and increase to two drops (2 drops = 12.5mg) daily. Consult with your health care practitioner before use.
