HWN Suggests

My Medical Mystery Solved: Iodine Deficiency

Iodine deficiency wrecked my life. How did this happen?

No, I didn’t live in a Third World Country where iodine deficiency is the leading cause of mental retardation. I grew up in New Jersey eating plenty of seafood and vegetables sprinkled with iodized salt. Still, for years I endured daily headaches and bouts of brain fog so bad that I lost my driver’s license for speeding through stop signs without being aware. I slept so much my family called me Rip Van Winkle. Eventually I could no longer drag myself to work even with caffeine and Darvocet, a prescription painkiller.

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Featured

 Iodine Deficiency - An Old Epidemic Is Back

There are two main reasons why iodine deficiency may be making a comeback. Until recently, about 25% of the iodine in the diet was from wheat, because iodine was used in the processing of flour. Now, however, a lot of flour in the U.S. is processed with a chemical cousin of iodine, bromide (potassium bromate), which helps makes flour doughier, rise higher, and gives the loaf a better appearance. But bromide is a double-edged sword: not only has it replaced iodine, it may block the activity of iodine. That's also true for two more of iodine's chemical cousins - chlorine and fluoride, both of which are common in drinking water.

Articles of Interest

Are You at Risk for Iodine Deficiency?

According to the World Health Organization, iodine is the most common nutrient deficiency—affecting 2 billion people around the world. It’s really a shame, because iodine is cheap and the costs of iodine deficiency (both in financial and human terms) are large.

Getting enough iodine?

When I think about iodine, I picture that brownish-red disinfectant and antiseptic liquid used for cuts and surgery. Before you start getting ideas, don’t even consider drinking the stuff! Iodine is an essential micronutrient, but because your body doesn’t produce its own, you need to get it from your food. Given how serious an iodine deficiency is, it’s worth taking a moment to discuss it.

Health Consequences of Iodine Deficiency

Today, iodine deficiency is claimed to be the world’s single most significant preventable cause of brain damage and mental retardation. The detrimental effect of iodine deficiency on the mental and physical development of children as well as on the productivity of adults has been recognized.

Iodine a Supplement That Reveals Much About Our Minds & Bodies

If you want to do more living in life I strongly suggest you go ahead and give iodine a try. Nevertheless, do please educate yourself on the matter and be safe.