"Lugol's Iodine is the most misunderstood and most feared...

Date:   4/8/2006 5:35:45 PM ( 18 y ago)

...yet it is by far the safest of all the trace elements
known to be essential for human health." It seems the
conventional medical establishment again has grossly
underestimated the amount of this nutrient needed for good
health.

It can be ingested safely in amounts up to 100,000 times the
RDA, according to Dr. G.E. Abraham, M.D., quoted from the
book, "Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without
It" by Dr. David Brownstein, M.D.

What Does Iodine Do?

Iodine is not only necessary for the production of thyroid
hormone, it is also responsible for the production of all
other hormones in the body. Adequate iodine levels are
necessary for proper immune system functions. Iodine
contains potent antibacterial, anti-parisitic, anti-viral
and anti-cancer properties. Iodine is also effective for
treating fibroystic breast and ovarian cysts.

Conditions Treated With Iodine

ADD, breast diseases, Dupuytren’s Contracture, excess mucous
production, fatigue, hemorrhoids, headaches, keloids,
migraine headaches, ovarian disease, parotid duct stones,
Peyronie’s, sebaceous cysts, thyroid disorder and vaginal
infection.

Where Is Iodine Found In The Body?

Every cell in the body contains and utilizes iodine. The
thyroid gland contains a higher concentration of iodine than
any other organ of the body. Large amounts of iodine are
also stored in many other areas of the body including the
salivary glands, cerebrospinal fluid and the brain, gastric
mucosa, choroids plexus, breasts, ovaries, and the ciliary
body of the eye. In the brain, iodine concentrates in the
substantia nigra, an area of the brain that has been
associated with Parkinson’s disease. Iodine is essential for
the normal growth and development of children. Severe Iodine
deficiency can result in severe mental deficiency and
deafness, i.e., cretinism. In addition, spontaneous
abortion, as well as delayed physical and intellectual
development, is associated with iodine deficiency.

Why Is Iodine Lacking In Our Bodies?

The most significant change in the iodine status of recent
time occurred with the changing of the food industry. In the
1960’s, iodine was added to the commercial baking industry
as a dough conditioner. This single addition to baked goods
significantly increased the iodine intake of the U.S.
population, as one slice of bread contained the RDA for
iodine of 150ug. Articles from the NH were published which
questioned the safety of using iodine in baking products.
Some researchers felt that this level of iodine in baking
products would cause a malfunctioning of the thyroid gland.

Twenty years later, bromine replaced iodine in the baking
industry. Bromine is a halide (as is iodide, fluoride and
chloride). All halides compete with one another for
absorption and receptor binding in the body. Bromine
interferes with iodine utilization in the thyroid as well as
wherever else iodine would concentrate in the body. We now
have two major reasons why iodine deficiency disorders have
become much more common. The substitution of bromine for
iodine in the bakery process lowered the iodine utilization.
Bromine began effectively binding to and inhibiting iodine
from binding to its own receptors.

Diets That May Cause Iodine Deficiency

Diets without ocean fish or sea vegetables, inadequate use
of iodized salt including low sodium diets, diets high in
the consumption of bakery products (e.g. bread, pasta) which
contain bromide, vegan and vegetarian products.

Iodine and Toxic Halogens: Bromide and Flouride

Iodine is part of a class of elements known as the halogens.
The halogens are a family of elements that form similar
salt-like compounds in combination with sodium and most
metals. The halogens are bromine, chlorine, fluorine, iodine
and astatine. The halogens, for chemistry enthusiasts, are
found in group VIIa of the periodic group. Bromine was
discovered in 1826. Bromide (a reduced form of bromine) is
rapidly absorbed in the intestinal tract. Bromine lies just
above iodine in the periodic table and is very close to
iodine. These two items can compete with one another for
binding in the body, especially in the thyroid gland.

Bromine, being similar size and shape, has the ability to
bind to iodine receptors in the body. However, bromine
should be considered a toxic element to the body and should
be avoided. When bromide binds to the thyroid gland, it is
not only a toxic element, it worsens an iodine deficient
problem. Bromine is very slowly eliminated from the body.
Bromine intoxication (i.e. bromism) has been shown to cause
delirium, psychomotor retardation, schizophrenia, and
hallucination. Subjects who ingest enough bromide feel dull
and apathetic and have difficulty concentrating. Bromide can
also cause severe depression, headaches, and irritability.

It is unclear how much bromide must be absorbed before
symptoms of bromism become apparent. Recent research has
demonstrated that symptoms of bromide toxicity can be
present even with low levels of bromide in the diet. Bromine
(reduced form of bromide) is used as an antibacterial agent
for pools and hot tubs. It is still used as a fumigant for
agriculture. Crops sprayed with bromide have been found to
have elevated bromide levels. Bromide is also used as a
fumigant for termites and other pests. In 1981, 6.3 million
pounds of bromide were used in California. By 1991, 18.7
million pounds were used in California.

Toxicity of bromine has been reported from the ingestion of
some carbonated drinks (e.g. Mountain Dew, AMP Energy Drink,
some Gatorade products) which contain brominated vegetable
oils. Bromine used to be present in many over the counter
medications. It is still used today in many prescription
medications. Over 150 years ago, bromine was used
extensively in medicine as a sedative as well as a remedy
for seizures. Bromine is still found in some medicines
including those that treat asthma, and bowel and bladder
dysfunction.

Medicine Indication

Attrovent Inhale, Spiriva Handihaler, Attrovent Nasal Spray,
Ipratropium Nasal Spray, Pro-Panthine, Bladder Dysfuntion,
Pyridostigmine Bromide (antidote for nerve gas).

Flouride

The American Dental Association has advocated the addition
of fluoride to drinking water as a preventative measure
against dental cavities. There is much evidence to suggest
that adding fluoride to drinking water is ineffective at
preventing cavities. Fluoridation has been linked to dental
fluorosis (discoloration of teeth), hip fractures, bone
cancer, lowered intelligence, kidney toxicity and other
negative effects. Fluoride is known to be a toxic agent.

Fluoride has been shown to inhibit the ability of the
thyroid gland to concentrate iodine. Fluoride was first
reported to cause thyroid problems in 1854 when fluoride was
found to be a cause of goiters in dogs. Research has shown
that fluoride is much more toxic to the body when there is
iodine deficiency present. Many commonly prescribed
medications contain fluoride including the popular SSRI
antidepressants such as Paxil and Prozac. There have been
reports linking these antidepressants increasing the risk of
breast cancer. Many medications that contain fluoride have
been pulled from the market due to serious adverse effects.
These include the cholesterol lowering drug Baycol,
Propulsid (stomach ulcers), Posicor (anti-arrhythmic) and
many others. Fluoride is still used in many medications
commonly prescribed including Flonase and Flovent.

Chloride Is An Important Element In The Extracellular Fluid

There is a large amount of chloride found in the body -
approximately 100gm. Chlorine (oxidized form of chloride) is
added to many products including the municipal water supply
as well as to swimming pools and hot tubs as disinfectant.
It is also used as a whitener. However, chlorine is a toxic
element. A byproduct of chlorine use is the production of
dioxin. Dioxin is one of the most toxic carcinogens known to
mankind. It does not readily break down in the environment.

Chlorine and its by products have been linked to birth
defects, cancer, reproductive disorders including still
birth, and immune system breakdown. Americans are exposed to
a high level of chlorine and chlorine byproducts that are
toxic to their health. This includes being exposed to the
steam of a dishwasher when the door is opened after cleaning
(chlorine superheated and combined with detergent). In
addition, the sugar-substitute Sucralose (Splenda) contains
chlorinated table sugar. There are safer alternatives to
disinfecting water including the use of iodine, hydrogen
peroxide, ultraviolet light and ozone that could be
substituted for chlorine.

The best way to rid the body of the toxic halogens is to
increase the intake of iodine. Changing the way you eat is
important. Iodine, unlike vitamins and minerals, is not
present in adequate amounts in most foods. Specific plants
absorb iodine not present in the soil. Iodine is found in
many ocean foods, such as fish (cod, sea bass, haddock, and
perch) and sea vegetables (sea weed).

Restoring Iodine Supplementation Easily and Cheaply.

The role of iodine in human nutrition is well established as
are its deficiency diseases and the conditions to which
deficiency can contribute (i.e., goiter, cretinism,
hypothyroidism, etc.) The amount of iodine necessary to
avoid diagnosable deficiency is quite small.

Originally people would get all their iodine from dietary
sources: soybeans, cauliflower, peanuts, etc. But much
agricultural farmland is now iodine deficient, leading to
reduced levels in 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 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 iodide 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.

Get Lugol's Iodine at http://thebreathoflife.net/products.html

 

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