good blog post, just found it searching around. Good bromide 101, IMO

http://liveonearth.livejournal.com/639594.html


“Although the bromide ion is widely distributed in nature, the main route of exposure in humans stems from bromide residues in food commodities as a result of the abundant use of bromide-containing pesticides, like methylbromide and ethylene dibromide, for soil fumigation in intensive horticulture and for postharvest treatment.” --van Leeuwen

BROMIDES
The Bully of the Halide Group
common endocrine disruptor
a halide (like fluorine, chlorine and iodine)
competes for same receptor on thyroid as iodine
when present and bound to receptors it inhibits thyroid hormone production

BROMIDE FORMS
methyl bromide = pesticide (used on strawberries esp in CA)

brominated vegetable oil (BVO) added to citrus drinks (suspends flavoring)
gives liquid a murky color
in some asthma inhalers and prescription drugs
in fire retardant used on fabrics, mattresses, carpeting
traces remain in tissue long after consumption
inhibits thyroid function by blocking Iodine uptake

potassium bromate = dough conditioner (commercial bakery products, some flours)
makes the dough more elastic and better able to stand up to bread hooks
Pepperidge Farm and others use only unbromated flour
potassium bromate also in some toothpastes and mouthwashes (antiseptic and astringent)
causes gums to bleed, inflam

BROMIDE SOURCES
plastics (computers, car seats, armrests, door trim, shift knobs and more)
citrus flavored sodas (BVOs in Mtn Dew, Gatorade, Sun Drop, Squirt, Fresca)
pesticides
medications (Atrovent Inhaler, Atrovent Nasal Spray, Pro-Banthine (ulcers), anesthesias)
fire retardants (polybromo diphenyl ethers/PBDEs in fabrics, carpets, upholstery, mattresses)
(uropean Union banned the use of some PBDE (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) compounds)
hot tub and swimming pool treatments
commercial baked goods, esp restaurant buns (flour is “enriched” with potassium bromate)
drinking water containing bromide + exposed to ozone-->bromate ions (oxidizers)
personal care products: permanent waves, hair dyes, and textile dyes (sodium bromate)
cosmetics (preservative: benzalkonium)

BROMIDE DOMINANCE
iodine deficiency-->increased CA risk: breast, thyroid, ovary, prostate
TREATMENT FOR BROMIDE DOMINANCE
removal of bromide from receptors via Iodine supply: Lugol's liquid or Iodoral
supplemented in dosages greater than the normal recommended dosages (15mcg)
as high as 50mg+ to obtain possitive results

BROMIDE TOXICITY
builds up in CNS-->depressant, may cause acute paranoia, psychosis
Jorge Flechas MD reports that btw 1920-1960, min 20% of hospital admissions for “acute paranoid schizophrenia” were dt ingestion of bromine-containing products
skin rashes and severe acne
loss of appetite, fatigue, metallic taste
cardiac arrhythmias
adominal cramps, anxiety, anorexia, blurred vision, coma, constricted pupils, convulsions, cyanosis (skin blueness), diarrhea, dizziness, headache, weakness, tremors of tongue & eyelids, muscular cramps, nausea, respiratory difficulty, salivation, slow pulse, sweating, tearing, vomiting

HISTORY & REGULATION
1950s product: Bromo-Seltzer = effervescent granules from Emerson Drug Company of Baltimore used to treat heartburn, upset stomach, indigestion, headaches and hangovers
original formula 3.2 mEq/teaspoon of sodium bromide, sedative effect, popular hangover remedy
1960's potassium bromate replaced postassium iodate as a dough conditioner
bromides withdrawn from the American market in 1975 due to their toxicity
European Union banned the use of some PBDE (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) compounds
Bromo-Selzer still on the market, no longer contains bromide
bromides still sneak into commercial products: food & personal care
1990 United Kingdom banned bromate in bread, 1994 Canada followed, Brazil too
2004 Coca Cola Company recall of Dasani bottled water dt bromide + ozone-->oxidizer

MOUNTAIN DEW CONTAINS
brominated vegetable oil (emulsifier)
high fructose corn syrup
sodium benzoate
55+ mg of caffeine/12oz can
Yellow Dye #5 (tartrazine, which has been banned in Norway, Austria and Germany)

JAPAN VS US Iodine LEVELS
bromine exposure-->iodine levels decline
declining consumption of iodized salt, eggs, fish, and sea vegetables
soils depleted of iodine
in the US 50% reduction in urinary iodine excretion 1970-90
Japanese consume 89x more iodine than Americans (sea veg)-->less chronic diseases, lowest world CA rates
RDA for iodine in the U.S. is a meager 150 mcg/day
average daily intake of 13800 mcg/day for the Japanese
evidence suggests low CA rates in Japan dt high iodine levels
documented antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties
low iodine-->fibrocystic breast dz, hyperplasia, and atypical mammary tissue
reversable after 3-4 months of supplementation
DX deficiency: urine iodine challenge test

BROMINE AND THYROID
bromine displaces iodine and prevents thyroid uptake of iodine
iodine x3 in T3 (active thyroid hormone) and x4 in T4
hypothyroidism prevalent
13 million Americans have hypothyroidism (estimate mb low)
10-40% of Americans have suboptimal thyroid fx

TIPS FOR AVOIDING BROMINE AND OPTIMIZING IODINE, THYROID FUNCTION
you can't avoid bromine entirely, but you can minimize
1. eat organic (esp strawberries), wash produce
2. avoid eating, drinking, storing food in plastic (use ceramic, glass)
3. use organic whole-grain breads and flour (look for bromine-free)
4. don't drink soda pop
5. use ozone purification system for hot tubs
6. read labels on personal care products
7. open windows in cars and buildings, cross ventilate, use fans
8. avoid unfermented soy (not because of bromine, rather, for thyroid optimization

CHLORINE
dangerous exposure levels already present
showering is major source

MOUNTAIN DEW
pH 3.3
http://www.naturalthyroidchoices.com/MtDew.html

Ingredients:
Carbonated water
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
Concentrated orange juice and other natural flavors
citric acid
Sodium benzoate (preserves freshness, deactivates DNA, etio Parkinson's, liver cirr, dmg mito)
Caffeine (55.2 mg per 12 oz., incr epi/norepi-->adrenal fatigue
Sodium citrate
Gum arabic
Erythorbic acid (preserves freshness)
Calcium disodium EDTA (to protect flavor)
Brominated vegetable oil (see section above on BVO)
Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) (banned in Norway, Austria and Germany, extracted from coal tar, causes most allergic and intolerance reactions of all azo dyes, SX: anxiety, migraines, clinical depression, blurred vision, itching, general weakness, heatwaves, feeling of suffocation, purple skin patches, sleep disturbance, asthma, mild rhinitis)
EFFECTS OF MTN DEW
1) acid leaches minerals from bones
2) acid and Sugar destroy teeth
3) fructose-->weight gain
4) increased uric and lactic acid-->dz
5) higher triglyceride levels
6) inhibits copper metabolism
8) Sugar suppresses immune system 6-36 hours
9) sodium benzoate-->deactivates parts of DNA and destroys mitochondria-->fatigue and dz
10) caffeine taxes adrenal glands-->lower immune resistance and hormone levels
11) BVO-->lower thyroid function, bromide toxicity-->cancer and degenerative dz
12) Yellow Dye #5-->allergic rxns

IODINE
RDA is 150 mcg/day
RDA may not be adequate when bromides are ingested
definitely need more during prenancy
iodine effective tx for: hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions, goiter, fibrocystic breasts, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, brain fog, constipation, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, and detoxification issues (mercury, perchlorate, fluoride, bromide)

SOURCES:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/09/05/Another-Poison-...

http://iodine4health.com/

http://www.naturalthyroidchoices.com/MtDew.html