January/February 2011 Alternative Health
Iodine: The Forgotten Medicine
by Cheryl Myers
Before the advent of patented, synthetic drugs, iodine was one of the most beneficial and universal medicines used by physicians around the world.
It was deemed effective for everything: healing wounds and disease, destroying bacteria, viruses and pathogens, and possibly even preventing cancer. But iodine was soon forgotten in favor of new pharmaceutical drugs. Now we’re seeing the result — skyrocketing cancer rates, an epidemic of thyroid dysfunction and problems detoxifying our bodies.
Where Did Iodine Go?
Because most of us think that we get enough iodine from salt, it’s easy to forget that iodine was added to salt because of goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) back in the 1920s. While this did reduce the incidence of goiter, many people have cut back on table salt at home. And processed foods that are typically high in sodium don’t necessarily have added iodine.
Additionally, the minerals chlorine, fluoride and bromide lower iodine levels in the body by blocking iodine receptors, yet this unhealthy trio is increasingly consumed from foods or through environmental exposure. Chlorine is now used to purify water instead of iodine. Fluoride is almost universally found in toothpaste and drinking water. Bromines began to replace iodine in commercial baked goods in the 1980s.
These minerals can be toxic for your thyroid and health. Fluoride is a problem because blocks the ability of the thyroid gland to concentrate iodine and bromide can cause depression, headaches and even hallucinations.
It’s Time for Iodine
Fortunately, not everyone has forgotten what this amazing mineral can do. Integrative medical practitioners are including iodine prominently in certain medical protocols. As the interest in iodine returns, researchers in America state that boosting iodine consumption could improve thyroid health, lower incidence of cancer and fibrocystic disease of the breast, and promote overall well-being.
The current minimum daily requirement for iodine is 150 micrograms (mcg). Typically, Americans consume 240 mcg per day — just enough to prevent goiter, but not enough for truly beneficial health effects. In comparison, people in Japan consume an average of more than 12 mg (12,000 mcg) of iodine per day. That’s 50 times more than the average American.
As it happens, life expectancy in Japan is just more than 82 years old, while in the U.S. it is about 78 years. The infant mortality in Japan is half of that of the U.S., and America faces three times the number of deaths from breast cancer than Japan.
Studies note a connection between thyroid abnormalities and breast cancer, and iodine intake may be a factor. Today, one in seven American women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. Compare that to 30 years ago, when iodine consumption was much higher, and one in 20 women developed breast cancer. Women in Japan who consume high amounts of dietary iodine have much lower rates of breast cancer and thyroid problems. However, when women emigrate from Japan to the U.S. and begin eating a Western diet with its fractional amount of iodine, their breast cancer and thyroid diseases increase dramatically.
Beyond thyroid support, iodine’s anti-cancer functions may be its most important benefit. Scientific tests using estrogen sensitive breast cancer cells exposed to iodine have shown that they are less likely to grow and spread. Fibrocystic breast disease is also a common concern. This disorder creates swelling, tenderness and discomfort. In one study, 98 percent of women receiving iodine treatment were pain-free by the study’s end, and 72 percent had improvements in breast tissue.
Supplementing with Iodine
Iodine is available in different forms, each of which affects specific tissues in the body. If thyroid issues are your concern, consider potassium iodide, which the thyroid absorbs best. Breast tissue uses iodine most efficiently in the form of molecular iodine. Sodium iodide is the most soluble form, and may help improve the absorption of other types of iodine. For optimal results, consider a supplement that includes these three forms of this mineral. That way, you know your iodine supplement is active and effective.
Cheryl Myers, who directs scientific affairs and education for EuroPharma, Inc., is an integrative health nurse, author and an expert on natural medicine. Visit www.europharmausa.com.