(Though this blog post was written at the tail end of 2013, it’s information is JUST as applicable today!! The following informative Guest Blog Post was written by thyroid patient Jane. She is a mother and a member of the Weston Price Foundation. Years of battling a very painful disease, and experiencing the indignity and futility of mainstream medicine for managing chronic illness, led her to a path seeking true health, which included her use of iodine. Jane states: The iodine protocol has given me back my energy, cleared brain fog and erased the pain of fibrocystic breast disease. After extensive reading and over a year on the high iodine protocol, I’m personally convinced it is one of the best things you can do to help solve a wide range of major health problems, and ensure good health for many years to come. The entire body uses iodine, not just the thyroid. Various tissues and organs are designed to concentrate large amounts which are necessary for their normal structure and function.
Conversely, low iodine levels are associated with autoimmune thyroid disease, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, goiter and fibromyalgia, as well as cysts and nodules of the breast, thyroid and ovaries. Iodine researchers Drs. Abraham, Brownstein and Flechas tested 35,000 people – and 96% are deficient in this nutrient! The answers may lie with what are termed the “companion nutrients”, which was coined by Lynne Farrow of the Iodine Workshop group. Each of these nutrients are critical to the success of the Iodine Protocol, and thus is essential to the proper working of your body. Those companion nutrients are as follows: [Note: the above amounts are recommended dosages given in the writings and lectures of the iodine researchers listed above. They are not to be used as medical advice. and in Dr. Brownstein’s book “Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It”.] Here are the reasons why each of the companion nutrients are so necessary… Analysis of the medical literature is clear: selenium plus iodine is the best combination for thyroid health.
When iodine has been shown in studies to be damaging to the thyroid, it appears that concurrent selenium deficiency is the true culprit. Not only that, if you are iodine deficient, selenium supplements “induce a dramatic fall of the already impaired thyroid function in clinically hypothyroid subjects”. Therefore, if you are already hypothyroid, taking selenium supplements while iodine deficient will make you MORE HYPOTHYROID. Please note that Brazil nuts are not a reliable source for selenium. You have no way of knowing if the soil they are grown in is sufficient in this mineral. The iodine researchers found that what leads to development of autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s, Graves) is magnesium deficiency together with low iodine, low antioxidants, and high calcium. Sounds like a description of the standard modern diet, heavy on the dairy and processed foods, doesn’t it? The iodine researchers found that some of their patients were excreting large amounts of iodine which was not being absorbed by the body.
Since these patients had known iodine-deficiency disorders, the doctors’ theorized that that they couldn’t possibly be iodine sufficient. This was thought to be due either to a “defective cellular iodine transport system”, or due to a body load of large amount of environmental goitrogens such as fluoride and bromide that prevented the iodine from entering the cell. Clinical improvements in their symptoms, and enhanced iodine uptake, was reached with 3 grams (3000 mg) or more of vitamin C in sustained release form. [Author Note: If sustained release is not available, I split my daily dose and take with breakfast, lunch and dinner. And I always take it with bioflavonoids such as amla, camu or acerola powder.] It is no surprise that the protocol improves fibromyalgia. The “striated muscles contain 33% of the total body iodine”. If the muscles do not contain a high amount of the natural mineral iodine like they are meant to – it would make sense to me why they would not function well.
Perhaps iodine deficiency is the key to the mystery of this disorder? Unprocessed salt is a necessary nutrient for many reasons – but on the iodine protocol, it can also be a real life saver! The chloride in salt competes with bromide in the kidneys, so a person who is low in salt will hold on to more body-busting bromide. At 6-10 grams per day, salt can increase the urinary excretion of bromide by up to 10 fold! From Dr. Shevin, based on the U.S. Military’s salt IV protocol for bromide intoxication. Relieves side effects that can result from bromide detox such as headache, acne, fatigue, etc. Drink 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon unrefined salt dissolved in 1/2 cup warm water, then followed immediately with 12-16 oz pure water. Repeat in 30-45 minutes if needed. May repeat again until copious urination begins, or until symptoms are relieved. This means that taking a break from iodine, while continuing to take companion nutrients and salt each day, can allow your body to clear toxins more efficiently.
Recommended by Stephanie Buist ND if having reactions to iodine: “Take iodine for 5 days with 2 days off while continuing to take the companion / supporting nutrients along with one of the other liver supporting products (such as Milk Thistle, Dandelion Root Extract, and Liver Cleansing products like Pure Zen Health TLC, Metagenics, Ultra Clear Plus.” The term “companion nutrients” was coined by Lynne Farrow! Clinical results and research of Dr. Guy Abraham, Dr. David Brownstein and Dr. Jorge Flechas Salt Your Way to Health by Dr. David Brownstein Iodine 4 Health Facebook Group STTM Iodine page, plus more in the Odds and Ends Chapter of the STTM book. **Have you Liked the STTM Facebook page? It gives you daily inspiration and information! It's only fair to share... The American Thyroid Association (ATA) has issued a statement warning about the risks of too much iodine, especially from iodine, potassium iodide and kelp supplements.1 According to the ATA, such supplements may "contain iodine in amounts that are up to several thousand times higher than the daily Tolerable Upper Limits for iodine."
They advised against the ingestion of iodine or kelp supplements containing in excess of 500 mcg iodine daily, and noted that ingesting more than 1,100 mcg of iodine per day (the tolerable upper limit) may cause thyroid dysfunction. Why You Might Only Need High Dose Iodine Supplements in the Event of a Nuclear Disaster Iodine is a vitally important nutrient that is detected in every organ and tissue and many if not most are deficient in this nutrient. Along with being essential for healthy thyroid function and efficient metabolism, there is increasing evidence that low iodine is related to numerous diseases, including cancer. There are potentially serious risks to taking too much iodine, however, which is why I generally do not advise taking iodine supplements like Lugol's or Ioderol. Your thyroid only transports iodine in its ionized form (i.e. iodide). Your thyroid reduces iodide (I-) into iodine (I2) for use in formation of thyroglobulin. Your body doesn't utilize iodine directly.
It has to split the I2 into two I- ions, which is an oxidative reaction that causes oxidative stress. Further, taking too much iodine may also lead to subclinical hypothyroidism, which occurs when your thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone. It's an ironic association, since hypothyroidism is often linked to iodine deficiency, But research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition2 revealed that study participants taking relatively higher doses of supplemental iodine — 400 micrograms a day and more – paradoxically began developing subclinical hypothyroidism. I would recommend taking a large dose iodine supplement in the event of some type of nuclear fallout. In this case, if you're iodine deficient, taking a potassium iodide (a stable form of iodine) supplement can protect your thyroid by "flooding" your system with iodine so your thyroid has no need to take in the radioactive form. Iodine Is Not Only for Your Thyroid Though thyroid health is often what people think of when they think of iodine, other tissues also absorb and use large amounts of iodine, including:
Iodine deficiency, or insufficiency, in any of these tissues will lead to dysfunction of that tissue. Hence the following symptoms could provide clues that you're not getting enough iodine in your diet. For example, iodine deficiency in: Salivary glands = inability to produce saliva, producing dry mouth Skin = dry skin, and lack of sweating. Three to four weeks of iodine supplementation will typically reverse this symptom, allowing your body to sweat normally again Brain = reduced alertness and lowered IQ Muscles = nodules, scar tissue, pain, fibrosis, fibromyalgia Iodine actually induces apoptosis as well, meaning it causes cancer cells to self-destruct. Dr. Jorge Flechas, MD is adamant that absence of iodine in a cell is what causes cancer, and statistics tend to support this view. Unfortunately, iodine levels have significantly dropped in the United States in recent decades due to several factors, including: Bromine exposure: When you ingest or absorb bromine (found in baked goods, plastics, soft drinks, medications, pesticides and more), it displaces iodine, and this iodine deficiency leads to an increased risk for cancer of the breast, thyroid gland, ovary and prostate -- cancers that we see at alarmingly high rates today
Declining consumption of iodine-rich foods, such as iodized salt, eggs, fish, and sea vegetables Less use of iodide in the food and agricultural industry Rocket fuel (perchlorate) contamination in food Are 95% of Americans Iodine Deficient? Worldwide, it's thought that up to 40 percent of the population is at risk of iodine deficiency. In the US, however, agencies tend to say most people are iodine "sufficient," meaning they get enough of the nutrient from their diet. This is controversial, though, as according to other sources, such as Dr. David Brownstein, who has been working with iodine for the last two decades, over 95 percent of the patients in his clinic are iodine deficient. Dr. Flechas also insists severe iodine deficiency is rampant and believes the current US daily recommended allowance (RDA) for iodine may be completely insufficient for overall physical health and prevention of diseases such as thyroid disease, fibromyalgia and cancer. It is important to realize that the RDA for iodine is not in milligram doses but in micrograms:
150 micrograms (mcg) per day for adult men and women 220 mcg for pregnant women 290 mcg for lactating/breastfeeding women Dr. Flechas recommends 12.5 milligrams (mg)/day, especially for his pregnant patients to optimize their child's intelligence, and states that researchers have determined the average dietary intake of iodine for Japanese women is 13.8 mg per day (the Japanese consume far more iodine than Americans due to their daily consumption of sea vegetables). Although he makes a compelling argument, I am not yet convinced that such large amounts may be necessary, so I would encourage you to do your own research, and adopt a sensible, middle-of-the-road approach when it comes to iodine. Personally, like the ATA, I believe caution may be appropriate here before swallowing milligram amounts of iodine on a regular basis, as we need more research to determine the health effects of too much iodine. I am not yet convinced that high doses are necessary and do not take such large amounts in supplemental form.
I do not believe this makes me "iodophobic" as clinicians like Dr. Brownstein accuse me of being. But rather I believe it is wise to exercise caution when using supplemental nutrients. I have reviewed Brownstein's work and although he has many good points I disagree with his therapeutic recommendations. How to Increase Your Iodine Levels Naturally The jury is still out on whether iodine in supplemental form is safe (especially at higher doses). As an alternative, toxin-free sea vegetables and spirulina are likely the ideal natural sources from which to obtain your iodine—however, make sure that these are harvested from uncontaminated waters. Raw milk and eggs contain iodine, as well. At the same time, you'll want to avoid all sources of bromine as much as possible, as this appears to play a large role in the rising levels of iodine deficiency. Here are several strategies you can use to avoid bromine and thereby help optimize your iodine levels naturally: Eat organic as often as possible.
Wash all produce thoroughly to minimize your pesticide exposure. Avoid eating or drinking from (or storing food and water in) plastic containers. Use glass and safe ceramic vessels. Look for organic whole-grain breads and flour. Grind you own grain, if possible. Look for the "no bromine" or "bromine-free" label on commercial baked goods.Drink natural, filtered water instead. If you own a hot tub, look into an ozone purification system. Such systems make it possible to keep the water clean with minimal chemical treatments. Look for personal care products that aren't laced with toxic chemicals. Remember -- anything going on you, goes in you. When in a car or a building, open windows as often as possible, preferably on opposing sides of the space for cross ventilation. Utilize fans to circulate the air. Chemical pollutants are in much higher concentrations inside buildings (and cars) than outside. Simple Tests for Iodine Deficiency If you are interested in being tested for iodine deficiency, ask your health care provider about the urine iodine challenge test.