Overview
Iodine is an essential mineral and one of the most important elemental minerals for human health. It plays a critical role in maintaining healthy thyroid function. Iodine is required to make thyroid hormones which regulate energy, protein, fat, and other hormones. Iodine provides the building blocks for thyroxine and triiodothyronine. These hormones, in turn, regulate your body’s metabolism.
Iodine prevents goiter, an enlarged thyroid. Iodine deficiency can result in low energy levels, depression, weight gain, and problems with the nervous system.
It is an essential mineral that has huge health implications but most people are not getting enough of it in their diets.
This article is about the benefits of the iodine protocol, iodine rich food, supplements and the implications of insufficient amounts in our diet.
Global iodine nutrition: Where do we stand in 2013? Even worse in 2022!
BACKGROUND Dietary iodine intake is required for the production of thyroid hormone. Consequences of iodine deficiency include goiter, intellectual impairments, growth retardation, neonatal hypothyroidism, and increased pregnancy loss and infant mortality. SUMMARY In 1990, the United Nations World Summit for Children established the goal of eliminating iodine deficiency worldwide. Considerable progress has since been achieved, largely through programs of universal salt iodization. Approximately 70% of all households worldwide currently have access to adequately iodized salt. In 2013, as defined by a national or subnational median urinary iodine concentration of 100-299 μg/L in school-aged children, 111 countries have sufficient iodine intake.
Thirty countries remain iodine-deficient; 9 are moderately deficient, 21 are mildly deficient, and none are currently considered severely iodine-deficient. Ten countries have excessive iodine intake. In North America, both the United States and Canada are generally iodine-sufficient, although recent data suggest pregnant U.S. women are mildly iodine-deficient. Emerging issues include discrepancies between urinary iodine status in pregnant women compared to school-aged children in some populations, the problem of re-emerging iodine deficiency in parts of the developed world, the importance of food industry use of iodized salt, regions of iodine excess, and the potential effects of initiatives to lower population sodium consumption on iodine intake.
CONCLUSIONS Although substantial progress has been made over the last several decades, iodine deficiency remains a significant health problem worldwide and affects both industrialized and developing nations. The ongoing monitoring of population iodine status remains crucially important, and particular attention may need to be paid to monitoring the status of vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women and infants. There is also need for ongoing monitoring of iodized salt and other dietary iodine sources in order to prevent excess as well as insufficient iodine nutrition. Finally, it will be essential to coordinate interventions designed to reduce population sodium intake with salt iodization programs in order to maintain adequate levels of iodine nutrition as salt intake declines.
@article{Pearce2013GlobalIN, title={Global iodine nutrition: Where do we stand in 2013?}, author={Elizabeth N. Pearce and Maria Andersson and Michael B. Zimmermann}, journal={Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association}, year={2013}, volume={23 5}, pages={ 523-8 } }
Dr. Brownstein, the Inventor of the Iodine Protocol, on Why it is an Essential Mineral
Dr. Brownstein is a holistic doctor who believes in the importance of iodine supplementation as an essential mineral for life. His protocol for iodine supplementation has been researched and proven to be very effective. The Brownstein Protocol is an intense intervention that involves taking high dose iodine over time, followed by a break to allow the body to reset its thyroid hormone production.
Iodine has been incorrectly demonized for years without justification and our current generation has little idea of why iodine is an essential mineral. Dr. Brownstein has taken a lot of heat for his high dose iodine protocol but is producing minor miracles in people that have been critically low in this mineral.
Our government and FDA along with big pharma have once again demonized or at the very least, ignored another essential health producing nutrient of life. Just like avoiding sun and vitamin D, the message from our so-called health experts has been to avoid iodine as though it is a poison! Soils are depleted and they have silently taken it out of salts and the result is over half the US population is grossly deficient!
Deficiency is the world’s leading cause of preventable mental retardation with about 2 billion people at risk!
Why the Demonization?
Iodine is an essential mineral yet demonized because it was falsely linked to goiter. Goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland in the throat. caused by insufficient intake! In addition to this false pretense, our diminished availability in food supply compounds the deficit and depletion!
Following the Dr. Brownstein protocol will help to ensure that you are getting enough essential iodine in your diet. Additional benefits of supplementing in high dose have been attributed to the prevention of cognitive decline, cancer and heart disease. It is an essential mineral that can also help with the mental health issues like depression and sleep quality. We aren’t talking small potatoes here so why do you never hear of this basic lifesaving nutrient?
The Dr. Brownstein Iodine Protocol
The Dr. Brownstein high dose iodine protocol suggests taking one milligram of iodine per day until the body’s stores are replenished. Then, for maintenance purposes, one milligram every three days or so. Brownstein’s protocol is also a treatment for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Instead of avoidance like many current western doctors’ advocate, Brownstein attacks this condition with high dose iodine supplementation to help reverse this autoimmune condition attributed as the cause of hypothyroidism
It regulates metabolism in humans, and we need it for normal growth and development, especially during pregnancy and childhood. Some people are more sensitive to its effects than others because of genetic variations.
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys its own thyroid tissue. Hashimoto’s dysregulation of the thyroid causes fatigue, irritability, anxiety, depression, and weight gain
Mitochondria is fed with high dose iodine intake
Optimal Intake
According to WHO, the recommended intake per day for adults ranges from 150-220 mcg/day. The threshold level of deficiency of iodine in the body is below 50 mcg/L of urine. Like many of the WHO, CDC, FDA and other institutions, the recommended levels are at basic survival and not usually optimal.
The levels have been plummeting since the early 20th century and still continue to decline today. A lot of this has to do with the fact that people are not eating enough seafood and iodized salt along with its diminished importance in the western health communities.
The Japanese diet consists of high levels which is one possible explanation for the lower rates of chronic diseases. The Japanese report lower levels of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, allergies, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Alzheimer’s disease and obesity when compared to Western countries.
It is the only element that protects against radioactive substances, including polonium-210. It has been shown to help prevent breast cancer and also improve cognitive development of the fetus in pregnant women.
Forms of Iodine
Lugol’s is a form of potassium iodide that is used to treat thyroid conditions. This form is also often used when people are in environments with high levels of radioactive iodine in the air.
Nascent refers to an inorganic form. The compound contains no chloride or other ions, which makes it safer for the body to metabolize.
Some doctors may recommend nascent over Lugol’s if they are concerned about too much potassium intake or if their patients are taking digoxin, lithium, amiodarone, or have kidney problems.
Seaweed and other ocean plants contain good amounts of iodine however the amount is potentially negated due to toxic amounts of mercury and arsenic.
Kelp is a type of seaweed that grows in shallow ocean waters. Kelp is also rich in iodine but again, the mercury and radiation factors must be considered from sources around Japan.
The most common way to get iodine is through iodized salt, however, most people don’t eat enough salt! Kelp can be a viable source because it is in the form of iodide, which is a bioavailable form.
An Essential Mineral but Overdose is a Concern
With all the reasons mentioned here as to why we need iodine and are grossly deficient as a society, you can take too much, resulting in harmful side effects.
Symptoms of an overdose include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, decreased reflexes, confusion, and more. If you think that you or someone else may be suffering from an overdose seek medical attention immediately. You would need to ingest a lot so please do not let this dissuade you from getting more in your diet!
Deficiency has been found in many people all around the world, but studies show that more than half of adults in the United States are deficient in this essential nutrient. The average intake in Japan is about 1.2 milligrams per day, while the average in the U.S. is less than 0.15 milligrams per day.
Japanese consume more than 10 times the amount of iodine in their diet than other parts of the world. This is due to the Japanese eating seafood, seaweed, and drinking green tea that contains high levels.
Here are some of the top sources:
- Kelp seaweed
- Iodized salt
- Sea vegetables
- Strawberries,
- Potatoes with skin on
- Yogurt (plain)
- Cheese
- Brown rice
- Eggs
- Kelp powder
- Salmon (wild caught)
- Tuna
- Shellfish (limit once per week)
What Happened to Cause Epidemic Deficiency?
The author grew up in the 50’s and 60’s when our soil was still rich with nutrients and iodized salt was served everywhere. The iodized salt was something that happened when it was discovered that the goiters were being caused in areas that had depleted iodine in the soils. As a small child, I recall several male adults with large goiters in their throats. Even Fred the barber, who my dad took me to for haircuts, had a large goiter that freaked me out.
Isn’t it strange how they figured this out in the late 50s and then forgot and incredibly flipped it around to blame iodine years later! Propaganda that kills so I implore everyone that is not already up to speed on iodine to get on board now! I will list Dr. Brownstein’s protocol link below and heartily endorse his regimen that speaks the facts and truth.
I never thought about iodine much until several years ago when I began experiencing some of the hypothyroid symptoms. They seemed to come and go until more recently when I began having many of the symptoms at once and when I found the Brownstein Protocol. My routine was a daily dose of Lugol’s in hopes of seeing improvement. Instead, after a couple of weeks, I began to get a lump in my thyroid! The beginnings of a goiter? I thought that this can’t be happening! I never had a blood test or doctor indicate anything about my thyroid let alone Hashimoto’s thyroiditis! It appeared that I was experiencing an autoimmune reaction to iodine just like thousands of others!
So are you supposed to disregard everything this article has been discussing? Absolutely not because as Dr. Brownstein stated in his protocol, those exhibiting thyroiditis just need to power through the symptoms and come out the other side complete and cured! I got scared and stopped taking to be honest and in spite of what he said not to do.
Maybe he is wrong or a nut?! I thought, this can’t be with thousands of disciples swearing by him so I got the nerve up a few weeks later to start again. In the interim, I continued my vitamin and mineral protocols and other supplements and noticed that the lump in my throat was gone. When I resumed taking the Lugol’s solution, I was concerned but hoping for the best. After consistently taking for several weeks every day, I can say that I have absolutely no Hashimoto’s symptoms, goiter or other side effects other than feeling incredible!
Just as Brownstein Said
FYI, I did the Brownstein protocol with others at the same time and was the only person with thyroiditis issues. I may have had an autoimmune response that was either Hashimoto’s or similar form of thyroiditis. The question remaining is how many people suffer with what they believe to be Hashimoto’s or similar and completely stay away from iodine and take pharmaceutical drugs instead? It could be the majority for sure and all they may need is to use the Brownstein protocol to return to a normal, healthy existence!
Just like Dr. Brownstein said, gut it out and come out the other side completely healthy and with optimal iodine in your system! It is amazing how I am experiencing brain clarity, healthy and vital physiology along with improved muscle tone and body fat! Get to it now and share this article with others today and live your best life!
PowerPoint Presentation (jeffreydachmd.com) dr. Brownstein protocol
