The Cancer-Fighting Power of Iodine

What is one mineral that your body can’t live without? If you answered Iodine, you most likely read the article headline. You’d also be correct.

People in the U.S. consume an average 240 micrograms (µg) of iodine a day. In contrast, people in Japan consume more than 12 milligrams (mg) of iodine a day (12,000 µg), a 50-fold greater amount. 1

Japan has the lowest cancer rate of any nation. According to researchers, this is not a coincidence. 1

IS YOUR BODY STARVED FOR IODINE?

Iodine is vitally important in making cells function, including those involved in hormone health. The enemy of iodine is something called a halide — a substance that sneaks into the cellular slot where iodine belongs and takes its place. These halides cause health problems, including cancer, and include fluoride, bromide and chloride, to name a few. Even worse, your body becomes starved for iodine when you have these metals in your body.

If you have enough iodine in your diet, it is harder for halides to become lodged in your system and do damage.

IODINE IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL CELLULAR FUNCTION

Whereas western doctors claim that iodine is important for thyroid health, some researchers, including David Brownstein, MD, reminds us that iodine is needed for virtually every cellular function, so the recommended allowances set by the government are far too low and do not even remotely come close to the amount of iodine that the Japanese consume in their diets.

According to Donald W. Miller, Jr., MD: “There is growing evidence that Americans would have better health and a lower incidence of cancer and fibrocystic disease of the breast if they consumed more iodine.” 1

GET MORE IODINE IN YOUR DIET

Here are Great Sources of Iodine in Foods:

cod
shrimp
tuna
organic milk
organic eggs
seaweed

Bottom line: Eat more seafood — fish and seaweed. Ionized salt, however, is not a good form, because table salt is refined and toxic.

1. Are Americans Getting Enough Iodine? – Donald W. Miller, Jr., MD