In the past, little credit for iodine has been given. Except for thyroid problems, iodine has been used in bygone years as the main ingredient in cough syrup along with glycerine.
Iodine is an essential trace element for humans. The average adult body contains between 20 and 50 mg iodine, and more than 60 percent of this is concentrated in the thyroid gland situated at the base of the neck. The rest is in thyroid hormones in the blood, ovaries and muscles. Worldwide soil distribution of iodine is extremely variable and food grown in areas of low iodine does not contain enough of the mineral to meet requirements. Such areas include a band across the middle of the USA, the Midlands and South West England, and areas of China, Continental Europe, Russia and South America.
The number of body processes benefited by iodine in the diet are manifold. Some examples are as follows:
1. Some people report that grey hair grows back to its natural color.
2. It is a natural lung and sinus decongestant.
3. Iodine can re-arrange the sugar and starch molecules so that they can be broken down and assimilated faster in the body's oxidation/ reduction cycle.
4. Iodine is a natural antiseptic and germicide for cuts and wounds.
5. It is a general gland stabilizer to the whole glandualar system.
6. Iodine brings skin eruptions to a head much faster.
7. It is alkaline in its effects on other acids and other halogens.
8. It can break down fatty tissue in the obese.
9. It is a general mucous dissolver.
10. It increases the body endurance, especially at high altitudes.
11. It produces a relaxed feeling as the body temperature stabilizes.
12. It has been used both for underactive and the overactive thyroid states.
13. It is used in most non-toxic alternative therapies.
Thyroid gland
Iodine is a component of the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine and thyroxin, which determine the metabolic rate of the body. This affects the body's conversion of food into energy and also the way energy is used.
Thyroid hormones are vital for growth and development of all organs, especially the brain, reproductive organs, nerves, bones, skin, hair, nails and teeth. The thyroid is involved in protein manufacture, cholesterol synthesis, carbohydrate absorption and the conversion of carotene to vitamin A. Thyroxin is an important regulator of body weight.
Absorption and metabolism
Iodine is rapidly absorbed from the gut. Excesses are excreted in the urine.
Deficiency
Iodine deficiency leads to various illnesses which are known as iodine deficiency disorders and include hypothyroidism, goiter and cretinism. Intakes of less than 50 mcg per day induce deficiency.
Hypothyroidism and goiter
When body iodine stores are exhausted, the thyroid gland in the neck is influenced by the pituitary gland to increase its activity and can become enlarged. This swelling is known as a goiter. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, apathy, drowsiness, sensitivity to cold, lethargy, muscle weakness, weight gain and coarse skin. Young men and women in iodine-deficient areas are at the greatest risk of developing goiter.
Deficiency of iodine is an important world health problem but is relatively rare in industrialized countries due to iodine fortification of salt. Those who still suffer from goiter may do so because they eat too many foods which block iodine utilization. These foods are known as goitrogens and include raw cabbage, kale, turnips, peanuts, soybeans and cauliflower. Drugs such as disulfiram, thiouracil, thiourea and sulfonamide can also inhibit the thyroid gland and lead to deficiency.
A reduction of salt in the diet, combined with a growing consumption of manufactured food prepared using low iodine salt, may lead to an increased risk of deficiency in areas where there is little natural iodine.
Cretinism
Severe iodine deficiency in a mother's diet during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. If the baby survives to term, it is likely to suffer irreversible mental retardation. This is known as cretinism and is a major cause of preventable intellectual impairment in low iodine areas. Mildly iodine-deficient children have learning disabilities and poor motivation. The developing fetus, newborn and young children are most susceptible to the effects of an iodine- deficient diet, and treatment before conception or in early pregnancy is essential to prevent irreversible damage. Breast milk contains more iodine than formula milk and premature babies who are formula-fed may be at risk of deficiency.
Breast disorders
Iodine deficiency may play a role in fibrocystic breast disease. Hypothyroidism and iodine deficiency may also increase the risk of breast cancer, as a higher incidence of disease has been found in iodine-deficient areas.
Sources
Good sources of iodine include vegetables grown in iodine-rich soil, kelp, onions, milk, milk products, salt water fish and seafood. The iodine content of vegetables varies widely with the iodine content of the soil in which they are grown. The table below can be used as a guide.
It is no wonder why we run short of iodine, especially when foods, such as eggs, starches, and sugars are taken to excess.
These foods are all known to use up the iodine reserves at a fast rate. Iodine is a must where the diet is high in chlorides, or HCl supplementation. Iodine can be displaced out of the body by foods or supplements containing high amounts of chlorine, chloride, or HCl. This is a natural fact of chemistry.
Now here is the clincher. Any fluoride, whether in toothpaste or in water supplies, will displace iodine out of the body with vigorous action. Iodine is present in all of the glandulars such as the thyroid, the parathyroids, the adrenals, the gonads, and the brain itself. All of these comprise the immune system. The last line of defense IS the immune system which determines the presence of chronic and latent serious disorders.
Iodine is naturally found in Kelp and the seaweeds. Iodine is also found in other foods such as garlic, grapes, and olives, but it exists in lesser quantities.
Take special notice when you are taking the blood pressure. If the difference between the systolic pressure (higher reading) and the diastolic pressure (lower number) have a difference of more than 35 points, iodine supplements may be very helpful in preventing or arresting deposits in the arterial system as the case may be.
Sodium or potassium iodide is added to table salt in many countries including the USA, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. Salt used in the processing and refining of foods is not usually iodized. Potassium iodate is used in the baking of some bread.
Bacon-150g 18 mcg
Cod-150g 165 mcg
Kidney-150g 23 mcg
Milk -560g 86 mcg
Potato chips- 265g 13 mcg
Trout- 150g 24 mcg
Beer- 560g 45 mcg
Eggs- 70g 37 mcg
Kipper -150g 107 mcg
Mussels -150g 180 mcg
Prawns- 150g 42 mcg
Tuna -150g 21 mcg
Cheese -40g 18 mcg
Fish fingers- 75g 75 mcg
Liver- 150g 22 mcg
Pilchards in tomato sauce -100g 64 mcg
Sardines, canned in oil- 150g 35 mcg
Whiting -150g 100 mcg
Cockles -50g 80 mcg
Herring -150g 48 mcg
Mackerel -150g 255 mcg
Plaice- 150g 42 mcg
Scampi -150g 62 mcg
Yogurt- 150g 95 mcg
The average iodine intake in the USA is over 600 mcg per day.
Recommended dietary allowances in the USA
Men -150 mcg
Women -150 mcg
Pregnancy- 175 mcg
Lactation - 200 mcg
UK
Men-140 mcg
Women- 140 mcg
Australia
Men-150 mcg
Women-120 mcg
Pregnancy-150 mcg
Lactation -200 mcg
Supplements
Iodine supplements come in various forms including ammonium iodide, calcium iodide, potassium iodide and kelp. People who live in low soil iodine areas who restrict the salt in their diet and do not eat fish may benefit from iodine supplements.
Toxic effects of excess intake
Symptoms of acute poisoning from ingestion of iodine (rather than iodide) are mainly due to its corrosive effects on the gastrointestinal tract and include vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Other symptoms may include metallic taste, sore teeth, gum and mouth, and severe headache. Eventually the kidneys fail to produce urine. A fatal dose is 2 to 3 g of iodine. Treatment is with large volumes of milk and starch solutions with 1 percent solution of potassium thiosulfate.
Toxic effects from the iodide form of iodine are rare and may include a reduction of thyroid hormone secretion, acne, and inflammation of the salivary glands when doses reach 1500 mcg. Dietary intake of iodine should not exceed 1000 mcg per day for any length of time. Toxic symptoms may result from high intakes which occur as part of medical treatment with iodine as iodides. Patients may become hypersensitive after prolonged oral administration.
Topical application of iodine-containing disinfectants may lead to hypothyroidism in newborn babies.
A disorder known as hyperthyroidism of Graves disease is due to an overactive thyroid. It is not due to over-consumption of iodine, but happens as a result of a disruption in the mechanisms that control thyroid hormone function.
Therapeutic uses of supplements
Supplemental iodine is used to treat iodine deficiency disorders. On a large scale, this is often given in the form of iodized salt or as an iodized oil injection.
Fibrocystic breast disease
Some studies have shown that iodine treatment can relieve the symptoms of fibrocystic breast disease. In 1993, Canadian researchers published a review of trials using iodine replacement therapy to treat fibrocystic breast disease. Preparations used included sodium iodide, protein-bound iodide and molecular iodine. Beneficial effects were seen with all the treatments, but molecular iodine was found to be the most beneficial.2 Thyroid hormone replacement therapy may also be beneficial.
Other uses
Iodine is an antiseptic and can be used to kill bacteria and fungi. Iodine used topically as a douche is effective against a wide range of organisms including candida and chlamydia. Excessive use should be avoided since some iodine will be absorbed into the system and can cause suppression of thyroid function. Iodine tablets are frequently used to disinfect water.
Iodine can also be used to prevent radioactive damage to the thyroid gland. In nuclear accidents, radioactive iodine is released into the atmosphere and can be taken up by the thyroid, possibly causing cancer. Immediate treatment with iodine prevents this uptake.
Cautions
Potassium iodide supplements should be used with caution in cases of dehydration, acne, heat cramps, adrenal insufficiency, and cardiac disease. Prolonged use during pregnancy is not advisable.
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