Iodine for Cancer Prevention and Optimal Health

After my breast cancer surgery, my alternative health physician strongly recommended adding iodine to my diet. (I used iodized salt—so what is the big deal.) I did not ask why—I should have. I always have better compliance with instructions when I know the why behind doing something. I knew iodine is needed for the cells to convert food into energy and for normal thyroid function. (No one wants a goiter.) But what effect does iodine have on cancer?

Lynne Farrow is a journalist, researcher, former college professor, speaker and activist. Her own experience with breast cancer led to her discovery that iodine is a medicine with proven benefits reaching back 15,000 years. 

Iodine is an element that is needed for the production of thyroid hormone. The body does not make iodine, so it must be made an essential part of our food choices. Most of us believe iodized salt is the answer. Author Lynne Farrow asks do we get enough iodine from iodized salt? After her research she asked does iodized salt contain any iodine at all? 

The report, Iodine Nutrition: Iodine Content of US Salt by Dasgupta et al, discusses the “Iodine Gap.” This gap refers to the amount of iodine that’s supposed to be in iodized salt compared to the amount actually be measured by the time you use it. The researchers tell us salt is a poor food product to fortify because chloride competes with the iodine making it less effective.

In her book, The Iodine Crisis: What You Don't Know About Iodine Can Wreck Your Life, Farrow explains how iodized table salt is actually a nutritional scam that provides a false sense of security. “The outdated government recommendation (RDA) states that an adequate amount of iodine can be consumed from less than the 250 mcg [about] half teaspoon of iodized salt. She tells us they never factored in that the current bromide pollution purges iodine. They never factored in that iodine “evaporates” from salt containers. Or, that the form of iodine in salt doesn’t absorb well into the body. Research scientists debunked the myth that you can get enough iodine from iodized salt.

An iodine deficiency causes serious problems including frustration, depression, mental retardation, poor perception levels, goiter, abnormal weight gain, decreased fertility, coarse skin, chances of stillbirth in expectant mothers, constipation and fatigue. The World Health Organization reports iodine deficiency is one of the leading causes of mental retardation all over the world.

Good food sources of iodine include shellfish, deep-water whitefish, canned sardines, canned tuna, lobster, oyster, clams, cod, haddock, halibut, herring perch, salmon, sea bass, and shrimp. Dulles, kelp, and seaweed also contain dietary iodine. Iodine is also found in garlic, lima beans, Swiss chard, summer squash, sesame seeds, soybeans, turnip greens and spinach. 

Specific health benefits include:
Regulating metabolism that affects the efficiency of body’s organ system and body processes, such as, absorption of food; sleep cycles, and the transformation of food into usable energy.

Iodine is essential to the creation of the hormones thyroxin and triodothyronine that influence heart rate, blood pressure, body weight, body temperature, and protein synthesis. Iodine helps maintain optimal energy levels of the body by the efficient use of calories. The healthy skin, teeth and hair need adequate amounts of iodine. It speeds up hair growth and increases follicle strength, while lack of this mineral can result in hair loss. It is needed for normal growth and maturity of reproductive organs. 

A deficiency in iodine can actually make a woman infertile. It is essential that pregnant women get good amounts of iodine to prevent stillbirths or neurocognitive conditions in the newborn babies and to avoid gestational hypertension, which can result in a number of complications during infancy. Many pregnant women do not realize they must consume enough iodine for herself and her child since a great deal is lost every day as it passes into breast milk. 

Iodine is used to treat hypothyroidism a condition characterized by an under-active thyroid gland, which results in the general slowing down of all bodily processes as the chemical balance in your body goes off track. Symptoms of hypothyroidism are fatigue, dry skin, trouble concentrating, constipation, cramps, and leg swelling. Untreated hypothyroid ism can result in conditions such as heart failure or a coma. 

Iodine acts as a relief for fibrocystic diseases and is widely used in therapies, both alternative and modern. Lynne Farrow tells us that salt is iodized with potassium iodide, 
which may be helpful to the thyroid, however, the breasts and ovaries need iodine as well as iodide. She warns women are taking the wrong iodine.

Iodine has cancer prevention properties. It is anti-carcinogenic and can boost the immune system by enhancing the activity of antioxidants throughout the body. Research studies have shown that cancer cells shrink after being injected with iodine. They even undergo apoptosis (automatic cell death) and are then replaced with healthier cells. Studies have demonstrated a positive connection in iodine’s ability to induce apoptosis in breast cancer carcinoma cells.

Studies demonstrate that thyroid cancer patients show an improvement in symptoms after increasing their intake iodine intake. Thyroid cancer is far more common in people who are iodine deficient. 

Iodine ensures programmed cell death (apoptosis), which is essential in the creation of new organs and the removal of malignant cells like cancer cells or diseased cells. Iodine flushes out chemical toxins like fluoride, lead, mercury, and biological toxins. It has antibacterial qualities and is particularly effective against Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) in the stomach, which contributes to ulcers and may cause gastric cancer.

Consult a good alternative physician when reviewing your individual iodine needs, especially if you are pregnant. Caution is recommended: Iodine intake of more than 2,000 mg could be dangerous, especially in people suffering from kidney ailments or tuberculosis. Different people’s bodies will react differently to dose amounts so be observant.

Farrow says don’t skimp on the cheap cost of iodine supplementation this may create expensive problems down the line.  She warns that processed table salts often come with aluminum anti-caking chemicals, which contribute to Alzheimer’s issues.

Lynne Farrow currently serves as the Director of Breast Cancer Choices, Inc. This nonprofit organization scrutinizes the evidence for breast cancer procedures and treatments. Farrow, editor of IodineResearch.com, has compiled materials for both beginning and advanced iodine investigators. Visit Lynne's website at LynneFarrow.net

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/minerals/health-benefits-of-iodine.html

http://www.jcrows.com/iodine.html

http://iodineresearch.com

LynneFarrow.net

Support Under-active Thyroid with Food Choices

The physical body is a complex interconnected system. Often I find the recommendations and suggestions I receive from physicians and recognized experts to be contradictory. The scientific research seems contradictory as well. Objective review of my needs seems contradictory—what is a person to do?

For cancer prevention, a diet filled with brightly colored vegetables, dark green vegetables, alliums, vegetables like onions and garlic, and cruciferous vegetables are recommended. Cruciferous describes vegetables that display a cross-like pattern made by the four-petal formation of the vegetables. This can be seen on a Brussels sprout, a head of cabbage and a broccoli bud. Mustard greens, kale, radishes, turnips, cauliflower and kohlrabi are also members of the cruciferous family.

However, cruciferous vegetables can have a depressing effect on thyroid function.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) exists when the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain important hormones. This upsets the normal balance of chemical reactions in your body. In the early stages it seldom causes symptoms, however over time untreated hypothyroidism can cause health issues such as obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease.

Symptoms tend to develop slowly over a number of years. One might attribute the fatigue and weight gain simply to getting older.  As your metabolism continues to slow, you may develop more obvious signs and symptoms, which include: Fatigue, Increased sensitivity to cold, Constipation, Dry skin, Unexplained weight gain, Puffy face, Hoarseness, Muscle weakness, Elevated blood cholesterol level, Muscle aches/tenderness/stiffness, Pain/stiffness or swelling in your joints, Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods, Thinning hair, Slowed heart rate, Depression, and Impaired memory.

Untreated hypothyroidism signs and symptoms can gradually become more severe. Constant stimulation of the thyroid gland causes a release more hormones leading to enlarged thyroid (goiter). Over time one becomes more forgetful, thought processes slow, and depression may occur. Myxedema, advanced hypothyroidism, is rare but life threatening. Symptoms of advanced hypothyroidism include low blood pressure, decreased breathing, decreased body temperature, unresponsiveness, and even coma.

Anyone can develop hypothyroidism, however increased risk include if you:

            Are a woman older than age 60

            Have an autoimmune disease

            Have a close relative with an autoimmune disease

            Have been treated with radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medications

            Received radiation to your neck or upper chest

            Have had thyroid surgery (partial thyroidectomy)

            Have been pregnant or delivered a baby within the past six month

Complications for untreated hypothyroidism can lead to these health concerns:

            Goiter. Although generally not uncomfortable, it can affect your appearance and may interfere with swallowing or breathing.

            Heart problems. Hypothyroidism may be associated with an increased risk of heart disease, high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, even sub clinical hypothyroidism, a more benign condition than true hypothyroidism, can cause an increase in total cholesterol levels and impair the pumping ability of your heart. Hypothyroidism can also lead to an enlarged heart and heart failure.

            Mental health issues. Depression may occur early and may become more severe over time. Hypothyroidism can also cause slowed mental functioning.

            Peripheral neuropathy. Long-term uncontrolled hypothyroidism can cause damage to your peripheral nerves for example your arms and legs. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include pain, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness or loss of muscle control.

            Myxedema. A rare, life-threatening condition is the result of long-term, undiagnosed hypothyroidism. Symptoms include intense cold intolerance, drowsiness followed by profound lethargy and then unconsciousness. A myxedema coma may be triggered by sedatives, infection or other stress on your body. Signs or symptoms of myxedema require immediate emergency medical treatment.

            Infertility. Low levels of thyroid hormone can interfere with ovulation, which impairs fertility.

            Birth defects. Babies born to women with untreated thyroid disease may have a higher risk of birth defects

Life style and dietary choices that will help support thyroid function include eating several small, well-balanced meals throughout the day to keep your blood sugar consistent and help with energy. You should eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes and proteins. Snack on raw seeds, apricots, prunes, and dates and avoid refined sugars. When cooking use good quality extra-virgin olive, or coconut oil.

Snack on Brazil nuts--natural source of selenium, which reduces damaging thyroid inflammation, and build the powerful thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3),

Cook your cruciferous vegetables—to break down the goitrogens that block thyroid's iodine. Iodine is essential to make energizing thyroid hormones. Broccoli, cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables are loaded with this iodine-blocking compound, however, cooking cruciferous for little as two minutes destroys goitrogens as they are quite heat sensitive.

Some experts suggest rotating your dark green and cruciferous vegetable family choices in order to get their benefits while avoiding a build up of the goitrogens that can block the thyroid's iodine absorption. Four vegetable family groups: 1.  Kale, collards, arugula, turnip, cabbage, bok choy, radish greens, mustard greens, broccoli; 2.  Spinach, chard, beet, lambs quarters; 3.  Dandelion, leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce; 4.  Parsley, cilantro.

Eat lean protein with every meal to slow the absorption of carbs and prevents insulin spikes which are a proven thyroid suppressor. Protein is rich in the amino acid tyrosine, which is an essential building block of thyroid hormones. Iodine is directly related to thyroid function and is found in sea salt and foods made with seaweed.

There is a debate about whether or not soy products should be consumed by those with hypothyroidism since the isoflavones (phytoestrogens) in soy have adversely affect the thyroid. Soy can negatively affect the body's ability to absorb synthetic thyroid medications. Wait 3 or 4 hours before consuming soy products after taking medication. Also wait before calcium supplements, iron and antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum as they interfere with medication absorption. However, too much iodine can be bad for your health. Excess fiber intake can have an adverse affect on thyroid medication as it interferes with medication absorption.

Scratched or damaged nonstick pans increase the risk of thyroid problems because the coatings interfere with the ability of thyroid hormones to bind to the tissues that desperately need them. Exposure to second-hand smoke cigarette smoke increases your risk of thyroid problems. Tobacco's cyanide clogs the receptor sites on your thyroid, interfering with the gland’s ability to absorb the nutrients.

http://www.alivemedicine.com/news/article/current/2012/10/05/100512/underactive-thyroid-5-natural-ways-to-help

www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypothyroidism/DS00353

http://www.ehow.com/way_5290249_diets-people-hypothyroidism.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/491733-cruciferous-vegetables-thyroid-control/#ixzz2IHKcSSu4