Kelp is a generous source of organic iodine which is required for the thyroid gland operation, as well as for normal physical and mental development of children. Organic kelp iodine is fully digested in the required amounts, and the remains are removed from the body without any intoxication. Why the overdosing of organic Iodine is not possible?
*Source: International Council for control of Iodine deficiency disorders
From a worldwide perspective, the current level of iodine deficiency is pandemic. Over one fifth of the global population (1.5 billion people) is living on iodine deficient soils and are subject to significant iodine deficiency. According to the WHO, 72% of the global population is iodine deficient.
Iodine deficiency yields 1-10% cretinism, 5-30% brain damage, and 30-70% loss of energy. In this holistic context, iodine deficiency is a major threat to globalhealth. Iodine deficiency has increased fourfold in the last 40 years and is considered the most common and yet preventable cause of brain damage throughout the world. If a pregnant woman is deficient, the growth and development of the fetus is at risk of increased rates of mental retardation, dyslexia, ADHD, hyperactivity, short stature, decreased child survival, miscarriages, still births, and apathetic children with lowered capacity for movement and speech. Those with the highest and lowest TSH also have increased Alzheimer’s disease.
From a larger physiological perspective, it is important to realize that the thyroid is only one gland of many glands and tissues that needs IODINE. Other glands/organs/systems with high iodine uptake are the breasts, ovaries, cervix, blood, lymph, bones, gastric mucosal, salivary, adrenal, prostate, colon, thymus, lungs, bladder, kidney, and skin. In perspective, the thyroid holds 50 milligrams of iodine, the breasts hold 200 milligrams, the skin holds 400 milligrams of iodine, and the whole body holds 2000 milligrams, and possibly much more.
IODINE is found and used in every hormonal receptor in the body.
Thyroid gland hormones are often referred to as "conductors of life" - they have an impact on the activity of almost all the cells and organs of our body. They regulate metabolism and energy metabolism, the nervous system and the brain, gonads, body temperature, growth and development of the child. These hormones consist of iodine by 65% . It makes it clear why consequences of iodine deficiency range so widely : emotional, cardiological, haematological ( haemoglobin deficiency ), immune deficiency, gynaecological and many other areas ...
1) Kelp iodine helps synthesize thyroid hormones and prevents both hypo- and hyperthyroidism.
There is little awareness of the importance of iodine in the synthesis of thyroid hormones, particularly T3 and T4. Lots of people today are concerned with the suppression of thyroid function. Thyroid hormones control metabolism, temperature, heart rate, glucose consumption, and even blood lipids. Iodine also helps to regulate cortisol. It improves immune function. The key practical reality is that the people who increase their iodine intake do not have signs of hypothyroidism (such as fatigue, hair loss, headaches, weight gain, and dry skin), and they maintain normal T3 and T4 levels.Deficiency of iodine may also contribute to low stomach acid and decreased ability to absorb B12 and calcium.
2) Kelp iodine sufficiency reverses hypo- and hyperthyroidism.
Obesity or emaciation (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, respectively) both may be caused by thyroid issues, which iodine may treat, prevent and even reverse. Fibromyalgia is another problem stemming from iodine deficiency, as is chronic fatigue. From a systemic holistic perspective, adequate iodine is crucial for our health. It is the universal health mineral. Iodine, when activated in its bioavailable form, is used first to detoxify the system; so there is not enough iodine initially, especially with low doses, to support the thyroid hormone function, unless adequate iodine is added into the system.
3) Kelp iodine supports apoptosis.
From a broader perspective, one of iodine’s major functions, in conjunction with oxygen, is to support the process of apoptosis (programmed cell death of unhealthy cells), to protect against cancer and facilitate youthing. This is particularly relevant in preventing cancer and aging. Iodine is essential for apoptosis. For example, adequate iodine plays a role in protecting against stomach cancer. (People living in iodine deficient areas of the world have higher rates of stomach cancer.) This makes the point that not only the thyroid gland but also breast tissue and the digestive tract are high in iodine. It is no accident that iodine sufficiency is associated with lower rates of cancer in these high iodine tissues.
4) Kelp iodine activates hormone receptors and helps prevent certain forms of cancer.
It is clear that the prevention of cancer, particularly cancer of the breasts, thyroid, ovaries, stomach, and esophagus, is increased with iodine sufficiency. Iodine serves to prevent lipid peroxidation, especially in breast cancer. Deficiencies of iodine also increase the incidences of breast cancer: women with iodine deficiency have been found to have three times greater incidence of breast cancer.
In studies before Fukushima, Japanese women had about 1/3 the breast cancer rate as American women and had 50 times greater iodine intake than American women. Dietary iodine has been proven to reduce the size of both benign and malignant breast tumors.
5) Kelp iodine helps support protein synthesis.
Iodine is essential in thyroid hormone synthesis. If deficient, protein synthesis is disturbed. Thyroid hormone has two effects: increased protein synthesis and increased oxygen consumption. Thyroid hormones are essential for life as they activate key biochemical reactions including protein synthesis, enzymatic activities, and function of target organs such as development of brain, heart, muscles, pituitary, and kidneys. Therefore iodine is important in the development of the fetus. Thyroid hormone regulates mitochondrial protein synthesis. Iodine deficiency causes hormone dysfunction in all bodily hormones.
6) Kelp iodine destroys pathogens, molds, fungi, parasites, and malaria.
Another major iodine role to consider—as we necessarily near the end of antibiotic use with the evolution of resistant microorganisms, hospital superbugs, and powerful new strains of tuberculosis and malaria—is iodine’s power as a negatively charged substance to destroy all pathogens, molds, fungi, and parasites, including malaria. Iodine can be used both to effectively treat and prevent malaria. It is the most powerful antibiotic we have, and while it is not patentable, it can help save the world from all these uncontrolled resistant infections. It is also said to be effective in treating tuberculosis. As more antibiotic resistant bacteria emerge, iodine may become the “new” lifesaver on many levels.
7) Kelp iodine supports immune function.
Iodine plays a role in the physiology of inflammatory responses. This is important in the immune system. Iodine increases the movement of granulocytes into areas of inflammation and improves the phagocytosis of bacteria by granulocytes and the ability of granulocytes to kill bacteria. Since all disease is associated with inflammatory response, iodine becomes key for youthing the body.
8) Kelp iodine regulates estrogen production in the ovaries.
Healthy iodine levels also seem to be important in regulating estrogen balance. The three main estrogens (estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3)) come into balance with iodine sufficiency. Iodine has been shown to bring a healthy balance between these hormones in both men and women.
The ovaries, testes, and adrenals all produce estrogen. According to Dr. Brownstein, iodine governs estrogen production by the ovaries. It is interesting to note that estrogen and progesterone compete for the same receptor site and that infertility and miscarriage are both associated with estrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency, underneath which lies iodine deficiency. The World Health Organization has related iodine deficiency to decreased fertility and increased perinatal and infant death. According to the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency (ICCID), “noticeable iodine deficiency disorders are problem pregnancies that result in miscarriages, stillbirths, and low birth weight infants who have lower rates of survival.” Besides solving problems with the reproductive organs, iodine seems to be key in solving so many of today’s diseases related to estrogen dominance.
9) Kelp iodine is anti-mucolytic (meaning it reduces mucus catarrh).
Iodine helps decrease mucus catarrh in both the intestines and the sinus. Iodine effectively cleanses and detoxifies lymph, as lymph is a carrier of iodine.
10) Kelp iodine neutralizes hydroxyl ions and hydrates the cells.
Iodine helps to eliminate oxidative stress because it neutralizes hydroxyl ions (one of the most potent free radicals); so it has a particular antioxidant effect.
iodine is a more powerful antioxidant than Vitamin C, Vitamin E and phosphatidyl choline. According to Sebastiano Venturi (in Evolution of Dietary Antioxidants – The Role of Iodine), iodine is an important antioxidant that has antitumor and antisclerotic activity. When iodine is used as a supplement, antioxidant activity increases and immune system function increases.
11) Kelp iodine makes us smarter.
Iodine is the primary brain-selective nutrient in human brain evolution. Iodine deficiency is the main cause of decreased intellect. Low thyroid function decreases brain circulation, which slows intellectual function: cognitive impairment, memory loss, depression, slowness of mind, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, and a variety of psychiatric disorders.
Additional research has shown that parasites in the gut eat up a great deal of serotonin, 95% of which is produced in the intestines. When parasites are destroyed with iodine, there is an increase in serotonin, which is excellent for mental functioning.
12) Kelp iodine prevents heart disease.
The thyroid regulates heart rate.Associated with this scientific understanding is that all fats deplete the total body load of iodine. We also know that hypo- and hyperthyroidism creates low-density lipoproteins (LDH) and increases total cholesterol and raises risk of atherosclerosis. Hypothyroidism, which is a result of low iodine, weakens the heart muscle causing cardiac arrhythmia.
Iodine deficiency has indeed been associated with increased cardiovascular disease. This results in decreased myocardial contractility and increased peripheral vascular resistance as well as disorders in lipid metabolism.
Hypothyroid is also considered a precursor to, and a common condition also associated with, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, which are all major killers today.
13) Kelp iodine supports pregnancy (as the fetus undergoes more apoptosis than any other developmental stage).
As mentioned, iodine supports apoptosis; hence, pregnant women need more iodine because the fetus goes through more apoptosis than any other life phase. This explains the horrendous infant mortality rate/birth defects documented in Chernobyl and what is now beginning in Fukushima due to global spreading of the manmade I-131 radioactive isotope of iodine rapidly displacing the I-127 stable isotope of iodine.
14) High doses of Kelp iodine may be used to reverse certain diseases.
At 6 grams daily (which is 6 million micrograms/day or 6,000 milligrams/day!), a much higher dose, iodine has been used to cure syphilis, skin lesions, and chronic lung disease. In perspective, microgram levels prevent and cure cretinism and goiter, milligram levels help prevent and cure many things as already stated such as cancer, fibrocystic breast disease, and Alzheimer’s, and gram levels have been used to treat syphilis, skin lesions, and chronic lung disease.
15) High doses of Kelp iodine may be used for wounds, bedsores, inflammatory and traumatic pain, and restoration of hair growth when applied topically.
Iodine has also been used in gram amounts for wound care, bedsores and pain. Iodine has many other uses, including relieving headaches and even restoring hair growth. The science of trichology has known for decades the importance of applying iodine to the scalp to restore proper follicle function and hair growth. Iodine is also used to eliminate toenail fungus.
Recommended Daily Intakes of IODINE
The RDI for iodine in the U.K. is a meager 150 mcg/day, which pales in comparison with the average daily intake of 13800 mcg/day for the Japanese.
JECFA has recommended a Provisional Maximum Tolerable Daily Intake of 0.017mg/kg for iodine. This works out at 1,0 mg/day for a 60kg adult. (The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) is a scientific expert committee that is jointly run by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization.)
But excess iodine intake in healthy adults in iodine-replete areas is difficult to define. Many people are regularly exposed to huge amounts of iodine—in the range 10–200mg/day—without apparent adverse effects. Some research theorized that because in Japan the average intake was 13.8 milligrams, and Japan had significantly less breast and prostate cancer and better health and longevity than in the UK and the rest of Europe, that higher doses of iodine could be safely used.
Source: Fisher DA, Delange F. Thyroid hormone and iodine requirements in man during brain development. In: Stanbury JB et al., eds. Iodine in pregnancy. New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 1998:1–33.
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