As I mentioned in a previous post, I was unable to adequately balance my calcium and magnesium until I began using Iodine. I have been using Acu-Cell now for a few of years, and have found it to be invaluable in my quest for healing and balance.

One note, from what I have studied regarding the 'calcium blockers' mentioned, oxalic acids, phytates, etc., it is important to remember that timing of food consumption is as important as what is consumed, much like the interplay between Iodine and vitamin C. It isn't that both are definitely needed, it is just important that they be consumed in a coordinated fashion so as not to interfere with each other's benefits. Also, traditional cooking often took care of the now common conflicts. Fermentation, soaking, and slow-cooking with lower heat often broke down the natural anti-nutritive substances while increasing beneficial ones and preventing the dietary conflicts we often encounter and suffer from today. To put it bluntly, modern society doesn't know how to cook.

Another interesting point that I have discovered in my personal results is the effect that both calcium and Iodine have on skin moisture. Dry skin can be improved to a point with calcium supplementation, but the effect is increased exponentially when the metabolizing effects of Iodine are added. I have read many times that when sweat is low in iodine that skin tends to be dry, but so far I have not seen the corollary between calcium, iodine, and dry skin. These effects can also explain why more magnesium is needed while supplementing iodine. Magnesium keeps calcium soluble, and iodine increases calcium metabolism. Without magnesium, calcium may be over-metabolized during iodine supplementation even if some of the calcium is still stored in soft tissue in its more insoluble forms. The magnesium will help to dissolve that stored calcium, which will allow the body to keep pace with the increased metabolism of calcium while preventing an increase in parathyroid activity which could jeopardize bone calcium.

Another point that I discovered during much research some time ago, was that while low calcium causes an increase in parathyroid hormone production, the parathyroid may not be able release this hormone when there is a magnesium deficiency. This could be good news to the bones of someone with concurrent deficiencies in calcium and magnesium, but since the parathyroid doesn't actually release any of the continually produced hormone, it is difficult to say how this will affect the feedback system between it and the thyroid's calcitonin release. This could also make the bones more susceptible to damage when magnesium is supplemented alone. Combinations of these types of feedback loop questions and uncertainties may explain the conflicting results that have been seen in research involving supplementaion of these minerals and osteoporosis as well as calcium storage in soft tissues. The fault doesn't lie with the minerals or with supplementation in general, but rather with the preceeding deficiencies or excesses.

This link is very informative, and may lead to more information on iodine and its relation to other nutrients. Unfortunately, I was unable to open the links to the audio compilations, but others may have more luck.


http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2007/01/31/consequences_of_iodine_defic...


And just in case something I have written contradicts someone else, I intend no offense. I simply research information and access various sources. My personal interpretations are, like myself, inherently prone to err. I desire knowledge and understanding of what I believe to be a wonderous and intricate system and I am open to feedback from fellow explorers.

This is extremely interesting.
I wonder if the connection I have made between Mono-Sodium-Glutamat (Natrium Glutamat) after-effects being somehow mitigated by intake of Iodine see
//www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=847186#i

is not related to calcium.
MSG is a calcium channel opener, and this induces a deficiency of magnesium which is a calcium channel closer.
After some time of eating Mono-Sodium-Glutamat (Natrium Glutamat) a person suffers from lack of magnesium, unless their diet is extremely rich in magnesium. Then the trouble starts and he/she gets Mono-Sodium-Glutamat (Natrium Glutamat) sensitive.
Do you think this is relevant?

I have liked the acu-cell site for a number or reasons; for one, the listing of synergisms, deficiency, and toxicity symptoms.

Interesting that deficiencies in a specific mineral can produce similar symptoms of other mineral deficiencies, or in some cases mineral "toxicity" illustrating the balancing act that it all is.


http://www.acu-cell.com/sni.html


When everything is in balance, there is an ideal synergism (ideal health), when the balance is upset, the same minerals\elements can become antagonistic with one another creating "symptoms".

Excellent information uncovered in this forum at its inception illustrates the way halogens can, and do replace one another if an imbalance occurs. The same occurs with minerals to an extent as well, especially the trace minerals. If one or another mineral is in short supply and symptoms exist... finding the mineral(s) that may be causing that deficiency and their synergistic relationships, one with the other, should lead one, with an understanding of their own diet, to the adjustments that may be necessary to ameliorate the problem(s).

I understand there are still missing pieces...

The illustration of body intelligence at work is, as you say, "cool".