Eat– for Good Health

Iodine is disappearing from the food supply, triggering a wave of tiredness and brain fog. Women’s iodine intake is a staggering 50% percent lower than it was just three decades ago.  Modern farming practices have led to a depletion of iodine in soil which used to end up in produce, meat, and dairy. Jacob Teitelbaum M.D. explains:  When deficits occur, symptoms such as tiredness, brain fog, constipation and wight gain are common.   In the 1920s the government advised iodizing salt, but a recent University of Texas study showed that 52% of the salt with the iodized label fell short of FDA requirements.  It’s smart to take a multivitamin containing 150 mcg (FDA recommendation) of the iodine nutrient, but Dr. Teitelbaum reasons that “increased exposure to environmental toxins and chemicals in common foods can interfere with the body’s uptake and use of iodine.” Dr. Teitelbaum recommends a shake of milled sea veggies since seaweed contains natural iodine from seawater. 

Here are more of Dr. T’s suggestions:  1). Avoid bread (which was once a surefire source of iodine) that contains potassium bromate. In the 1970s food manufactureres replaced iodine-based ingredients with potassium bromate, a texture-enhancing additive that turns into bromine during baking.  “Bromine’s chemical structure is similar to that of iodine.  When cells need to pick up iodine, they can mistakenly pick up bromine instead.”  Dr. T. advises us to scan the ingredients on bread for potassium bromide, bromate, or bromated flour.  Also scrutinize citrus-flavored beverages that harbor bromine or vegetable oil, BVO.  2). Enjoy cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage) raw or steamed but not fully cooked.  If cooked, certain compounds turn to goitrogens which block the production of thyroid peroxidase, the enzyme responsible for iodine uptake in the thyroid gland.  3).  It’s good news, says Dr. T, that ocean water is rich in iodine and becomes concentrated in fish and seaweed.  Eat three servings of iodine-rich fish a week, choosing from Dr. T’s list of cod, haddock, mackerel, and sardines.   Sprinkle on a dash of naturally salty powdered seaweed from Sea Seasonings Triple Blend Flakes at health food stores.

~ by kathleenrowland on June 26, 2009.