Iodine is a controversial subject. While medical professionals and organizations state that the trace mineral is vital for one’s health and wellbeing, there is no agreement regarding how much is enough. I am not here to tell you how much you should take or about the type of iodine that is best for you. I’m not a doctor or a medical professional. I’m only going to post facts that I learned.
Where Iodine Comes From
The main source of natural iodine on the planet is its oceans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It enters the air as iodine gas or from sea spray. When iodine-rich air mixes with water, such as rain, it falls to the ground, on surface water or on vegetation.
To make iodine supplements, manufacturers generally extract it from seaweed or kelp. In 1829, Dr. Lugol, a French physician, discovered that he could make iodine water-soluble by bonding the element with potassium. This is why some refer to potassium iodide solutions as Lugol’s iodine.
Benefits of Iodine
- Disinfectant
- Antiseptic
- Purify water
- Promote thyroid health
- Promote healthy brain development in fetuses, infants and children
- Treat fibrocystic breast disease
- Improved insulin function
- Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, according to Dr. Edward Group
- Elevate your body’s pH
- Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Improved results when undergoing a pelvic instillation sclerotherapy, according to the National Institutes of Health
- Treat fungal skin conditions, such as cutaneous sporotrichosis
- Treat some eye infections
- Promote wound healing
- Reduce the effects of radiation exposure
- Treat leg and foot ulcers
- Reduce the risk of infection in those using catheters
- Reduce pain related to mastalgia
- Reduce sores and swelling in the mouth caused by chemotherapy
- Treat gum infections
- Prevent cancer and kill cancer cells, according to Dr. Mercola and Dr. Sircus
Dangers of Too Much Iodine
- Hyperthyroidism
- Negative interactions when taking antithyroid drugs, Amiodarone, Lithium, ACE inhibitors, ARB blood pressure drugs, water pills
Are You Getting Enough Iodine?
The best way to tell if you are getting enough iodine is with a blood or urine test, which your doctor can order. The good thing about lab results is that you'll know how much iodine is in your body. The tricky part is determining if you really are iodine deficient.
The National Institutes of Health, CDC, World Health Organization, publications in the National Academic Press, and doctors’ websites state different lab ranges and amounts of iodine to take. The best thing to do is work with your doctor to determine the optimal level for your specific needs.
Good sources of iodine in food include eggs, iodized salt, fish, green leafy vegetables, and sea vegetables.
Sources that deplete iodine in the body include bromine (found in soda, pesticides and processed foods), fluoride and some medications.
The Best Type of Iodine to Use
There are several types of iodine supplements available on the market. Different people respond better to different types.
Some physicians recommend using potassium iodide (Lugol’s iodine) as a daily supplement. Others, like Dr. Mercola, recommend eating spirulina or toxin-free sea vegetables (i.e., kelp or seaweed) to increase your iodine intake naturally.
Both Dr. Sircus and Dr. Group both recommend using nascent iodine because it is the same type of iodine that the thyroid produces, so the body absorbs it well. However, Dr. Sircus states that while he personally prefers nascent iodine, he does recommend Lugol’s iodine in pill or topical form to those who are on a budget.
Dr. Group recommends against using alcohol-based iodine solutions because the alcohol might be an endocrine and hormone disruptor. He also states that alcohol’s drying effect does not allow the body to absorb the iodine well. He prefers vegetable glycerin-based solutions.
Doctors will always have differing opinions about the best type of iodine to use. In the end, some iodine is better than no iodine.
What I’m Using
The owner of Basics4Balance is very proud of her product. She credits iodine for curing her cancer, as have other patients. I am so happy that she had great results with a safe, natural remedy. My sister had leukemia twice and received a bone marrow transplant, so I know how special it is to find a solution that works well.
I posted a review regarding this product on Amazon last week. At the time of publication, the product description stated that Dr. Sircus recommended this brand of iodine. Curious about this, I investigated his site and found that Dr. Sircus does recommend Lugol’s iodine (the same type of iodine), but does not necessarily endorse the Basics4Balance brand. I posted my findings in my review, only stating facts.
The owner of the company, concerned that readers would infer that I thought the product description was misleading, sent me a message about my review. She asked me to adjust it, so I did. I updated the review to reflect that the Amazon description no longer had the statement about Dr. Sircus.
The owner of the company asked me a second time change my review because of what the reader might infer. I told her that I would not change my review. I did not have any concerns about the product, so I did not express any concerns in my review. I never thought that the product description was misleading, so I did not state anything about the product description being misleading. I stated facts. I cannot control how a reader interprets facts. Product reviewers receive items in exchange for an honest assessment, which is what I provided.
I know the company’s owner was worried about her business’ image and reputation. I appreciate that. I welcomed her to comment on my Amazon review. I gave the product four out of five stars, not because of the Dr. Sircus statement, but because of the product’s high cost compared to other brands of Lugol’s iodine.
I’m brutally honest in my reviews. Most businesses like this because it helps them improve. This is the second time that a company has asked me to change my review. While the iodine seems like it’s a high-quality product, the overall product experience was not as enjoyable as most.
I received the products mentioned in exchange for an unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission if you click on a product link and make a purchase through Amazon.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment