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Fluoride compounds increase the need for iodine

- which is important for your metabolism and estrogen balance

Fluoride compounds increase the need for iodineWe humans are exposed to many toxic fluoride compounds from toothpaste, mouth rinses, tap water and mineral water, Teflon pans, cookie sheets, rain clothes, waterproofing agents etc. Fluoride poisoning may increase your risk of thyroid disorders, breast cancer, kidney diseases, ADHD, and birth defects. In addition, the need for iodine is increased, and it is also important to mention that the symptoms of a fluoride poisoning are often similar to the symptoms of an iodine deficiency.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that is chemically bound to different minerals. The natural fluoride compound in our diet is called calcium fluoride and is harmless. Fluoride is not considered essential to humans, but fluoride is believed to be of importance to our teeth because of its anti-septic effect and its ability to prevent caries. This fluoride compound, however is probably entirely different. In the United States, various fluoride compounds are viewed as the 10 largest environmental pollutants, and the EU has banned several of the most dangerous fluoride compounds. That, however, does not remove from them from the environment.

Did you know that fluoride, iodine, brome, and chloride are so-called halogen compounds that are highly reactive?

There are many different fluoride compounds in the environment

Toothpaste and mouth rinses contain sodium fluoride, which is toxic. It used to be a residual product from the aluminum industry. Other fluoride compounds like PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) are used in products intended to repel dirt, grit and water such as Teflon pans, pizza boxes, textiles, rain clothes, and waterproofing agents. PFOA is also toxic for humans and animals, and various fluoride compounds accumulate in the food chain and stay in the environment indefinitely.
Apparently, the requirements for tap water and mineral water differ. For instance, mineral water from e.g. Ramlösa contains 2.3 – 2.7 mg of fluoride per liter, while tap water (according to the EU directive) has to stay within 1.5 mg per liter. Because of this, the label on the bottle warns against letting infants and children under the age of seven years consume the product on a regular basis.

Did you know that the fluoride content in a bottle of mineral water may be that high, the water would not be approved as tap water for human consumption?

What can we do to avoid fluoride compounds?

It makes perfect sense to try to avoid fluoride compounds. Don’t swallow the toothpaste after brushing your teeth or use a toothpaste without fluoride. Keeping your teeth healthy depends on other things than fluoride, anyway. Also, choose kitchen utensils without Teflon and buy cookie sheets and other products that have an ecolabel. Drink tap water instead of bottled mineral water. Eat fish and shellfish from the lower parts of the food chain, and wash new clothes before wearing them.

Did you know

  • that a human fetus is particularly vulnerable if the mother exposes herself to many fluoride compounds?
  • It is also important for pregnant and lactating mothers to get enough iodine.

Health risks associated with fluoride compounds

Fluoride enters the thyroid gland and blocks the uptake of iodine. Fluoride can also affect the turnover of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, and manganese, thereby disturbing many enzymatic processes. Our daily exposure to fluoride compounds increases our risk of:

  • Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s disease) and hyperthyroidism (Graves’ disease)
  • Breast cancer
  • ADHD
  • Chronic kidney ailments
  • Altered cholesterol levels
  • Reduced effect of child vaccines
  • Fetal damage that can lead to delayed bone formation, heart anomalies, impaired sperm quality, and increased risk of obesity

Iodine excretes fluoride compounds while influencing our metabolism and sex hormones

Iodine helps the body get rid of toxic fluoride compounds. If you are exposed to large quantities of fluoride compounds, your need for iodine automatically increases to help detoxify the body and support the sensitive hormone balance.
It is commonly known that iodine supports the two thyroid hormones, T4 and T3, which control the body’s metabolic processes. Recent studies also show that iodine is important for the ovaries and the estrogen balance, the turnover of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and it even influences the so-called apoptosis (programmed self-destruction) of cancer cells.

Lack of iodine may lead to a host of diseases such as:

  • Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s disease) and hyperthyroidism (Graves’ disease)
  • Goiter
  • Breast and stomach cancer
  • Muscle pain, fibrosis, impaired fertility, and loss of libido
  • Children: Dwarfism, ADHD, or mental retardation
  • Pregnancy: Fetal damage
Important: There are several similarities between a fluoride poisoning and iodine deficiency

We do not get enough iodine

Iodine is found in fish, shellfish, algae, seaweed, fish sauce, eggs, and sea salt. Many people do not get enough iodine from their diets, especially pregnant women. Lack of iodine may contribute to the increasing rate of thyroid diseases, breast cancer, ADHD and other diseases. It also appears that various fluoride compounds and other halogen compounds lower the body’s iodine status.

Iodine content in micrograms (per 100 grams)

Seaweed 36,000

Mussels 140

Salmon 65

Eggs 21

Fruit and vegetables 0.2 – 1.0

How much iodine do we need?

The official recommendation for adults is 150 micrograms daily. According to leading experts, we need around 2-5 mg daily to get enough. This intake level supports the upper safe intake level established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Good iodine sources and supplements

Healthy people can get adequate amounts of iodine from their diet by eating fish, shellfish, and seaweed that produces quite a lot of iodine in the form of iodides. Kelp and Spirulina supplements are also good iodine sources.

Overdosing – side effects

Humans can tolerate rather large quantities of iodine, but prolonged intake of excess amounts may block the production of thyroid hormones and speed up or slow down metabolism. Pregnant and lactating women should make sure to get enough iodine, but remember that an overdose may harm the baby’s thyroid gland. Radioactive iodine may cause serious damage and even cancer. The damage can be controlled by consuming iodine tablets (sodium iodide).

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfluorooctanoic_acid

https://ing.dk/artikel/opraab-fra-forskere-test-drikkevandet-giftige-fluorstoffer-nu-170589

https://www.hotzehwc.com/2017/01/thyroid-and-fluoride-is-your-toothpaste-killing-your-thyroid/

https://ing.dk/artikel/giftige-fluorstoffer-fundet-i-grundvandet-170585

https://www.b.dk/nationalt/derfor-er-der-en-advarsel-paa-din-mineralvand

Rychlik W. The need for iodine supplementation. OMS 12.06.2017
http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v13n14.shtml

Frederick R. Stoddard et al. Iodine Alters Gene expression in the MCF7 Breast Cancer Cell Line: Evidence for an Anti-Estrogen Effect of Iodine. International Journal of Medical Sciences. 2008

Anne Krejbjerg. Den Danske Jod – genundersøgelse af befolkningen efter jodberigelsen. Thyreoidea Landsforeningen 2014

http://iodineresearch.com/hormones.html

Pernille Lund. Har du problemer med dit stofskifte? Ny Videnskab 2015

TIP! See also the related article

Do we need more iodine to prevent fatigue, overweight, breast cancer and other diseases?

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