Iodine is crucial for overall health, and most people don’t get nearly enough of it. It’s well known for its importance in thyroid gland function, but its benefits extend far beyond that. One of the lesser-known roles iodine plays in your body includes supporting breast health and reducing the risk of breast cancer. In fact, the highest concentration of iodine outside the thyroid gland is found in the female breast. Studies have shown that as iodine levels increase, breast cancer rates drop.
Iodine is also essential for heart health, with alternative doctors often prescribing iodine therapy to patients with heart arrhythmias. Cold hands and feet, chronic fatigue, menopause issues, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism can all benefit from iodine supplementation. Plus, iodine safely displaces or flushes harmful substances like chlorine, bromine, fluorine, lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, and mercury from the body.
Feeding your thyroid function with iodine is vital, but conventional doctors often overlook iodine tests. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for iodine is misleading – for adults, the Institute of Medicine suggests 1,100 micrograms per day, but research by Dr. Guy Abraham from the UCLA School of Medicine found that 12.5 milligrams per day (12,500 micrograms) is the optimal dose, more than 11 times the RDA.
There is little to no iodine in our soil, meaning we need to get it primarily from supplements. The Japanese consume more iodine, mostly from seaweed, and have much lower rates of breast cancer and other cancers, including prostate cancer.
Low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism, affects 40% of the US population and can lead to illnesses like heart disease and cancer. Many people on thyroid medication also take iodine. Insufficient dietary iodine can lead to hypothyroidism and increase the risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Hypothyroidism is a nutritional deficiency of iodine, a fundamental factor affecting health. To check your thyroid function, take your underarm temperature in the morning before you get out of bed and as you wake up for five days in a row. Calculate your average temperature by adding up the results and dividing by five. If you are one degree under 98.6 degrees F, you are hypothyroid and need daily iodine supplementation. Conventional blood tests in a doctor’s clinic don’t accurately show your thyroid function. Many people struggle with low energy and obesity because of a blood test that showed “normal” thyroid function.
If your thyroid is 2 to 4 degrees low, you need thyroid hormone by prescription from your doctor, preferably the natural type called Armour. You should also take a daily iodine supplement.
With so many iodine supplements on the market, Lugol’s iodine is a recommended choice – just add four to six drops of it in water per day. Iodine drops are also excellent for water purification and are a natural antimicrobial, making them an ideal remedy for bacterial, fungal, or yeast infections.
There’s a higher risk of overdosing on synthetic vitamins than on iodine, so it’s essential to consider the doses carefully. Using synthetic supplements instead of natural or organic substances means the body is ingesting chemicals made in a laboratory rather than food or nutrition.
Cataplex F from the Standard Process Company is an excellent thyroid supplement that can be taken alongside Lugol’s iodine. It’s also helpful for muscle cramps; take three to eight tablets daily, or chew four or five tablets if you experience leg cramps. Check with your chiropractor or visit the Standard Process website to find a distributor near you.
Iodine therapy remains one of the simplest and most essential treatments for overall health, particularly for breast cancer prevention and heart health. Do not disregard its importance, and ensure that you get your daily dose of iodine for a healthier life.
