Many Finnish pharmacies ran out of iodine tablets last week — the day after the Nordic country’s health ministry recommended that households buy a single dose in a case of a radiation emergency amid increasing fears of a nuclear event due to the conflict in Ukraine. And many Ukrainian cities are handing out potassium iodine pills to evacuation centers in preparation for a possible Russian nuclear strike. We live in crazy days, don’t we?
“Why iodine?” … you may be asking…
Iodine can help block the absorption of harmful radiation by the thyroid gland if taken just before or immediately after exposure to nuclear radiation. And the truth is that iodine deficiency has reached epidemic proportions worldwide over the last 10 to 20 years.
How did this happen? More importantly, how does a deficiency in iodine affect your health and the health of your family?
The most common consequence of low iodine levels is hypothyroidism. However, low levels of this essential mineral can set the stage for a host of other health conditions. Read on to discover important information about iodine deficiency that even many family doctors aren’t aware of.
The CDC’s Stance on Iodine Is Confusing
The World Health Organization estimates that approximately two billion people worldwide are deficient in iodine. In the U.S., however, the “official” stance regarding iodine can be confusing.
The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that “iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) such as goiter, cretinism, stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, and retarded physical and intellectual development have been virtually eliminated through the iodization of salt.”
A consumer reading the above may think that iodine deficiency in America is a thing of the past. In fact, similar statements may have caused you to dismiss iodine deficiency as a factor for what may be going on with your health. It also doesn’t help that most conventional doctors don’t give iodine deficiency a second thought.
The Reality: Iodine Deficiency Is a Major Health Issue
Being healthy in a world of confusion requires you to look beyond the rhetoric. When you do, you will see an entirely different picture about the state of iodine deficiency in America and how it may be affecting you.
First, let’s consider the “Recommended Daily Allowance” (RDA) for iodine established by the U.S. National Institutes of Medicine. Like current recommendations for vitamins C and D, the iodine “allowance” was established in the 1940s to avoid the most serious consequences of deficiency. The RDA for vitamin C, for example, was created for the prevention of scurvy.
In the same vein, the standard adult RDA for iodine today is 150 μg/day (micrograms per day), 220 μg/day for pregnant women, and 290 μg/day for lactating women. This was established over 75 years ago for the prevention of goiters and severe complications during pregnancy.
For the most part, studies based on the RDA conclude that iodine deficiency in the U.S. is a “problem solved.” An increasing number of voices outside the box of conventional medicine, however, say that “subclinical” iodine deficiency has reached epidemic proportions.
The biggest clue as to the reality of iodine deficiency in U.S. can be seen in a series of surveys conducted by the CDC itself since the 1960s. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys are designed to track the overall health of American children and adults.
A quick comparison between NHAHES I (1971-1974) and NHANES III (1988-1994) shows that Americans’ average urine iodine concentration decreased by a whopping 50%.
At the same time, iodine levels of below 5 μg/dL (micrograms per deciliter) increased more than 4-fold. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a mean urine iodine concentration which should exceed 10 μg/dL) for overall health.
There was no change in iodine levels between NHANES III and NHANES IV (2001-2002). The problem continues and the consequences for health are staggering.
Table Salt: Not a Viable Option for Iodine
There are specific reasons why iodine levels in the United States and other parts of the world have declined so much since the 1970s. An increasing toxic load, as well as damaging policies from government and manufacturers, are largely to blame.
Let’s take a look at salt. In the 1920s, the U.S. government responded to a high number of goiters (swelling in the neck from an enlarged thyroid) in the American upper Midwest by issuing a health mandate.
Since 1924, iodine has been included in the commercial salt supply. To this day, table salt is the main source of iodine for most Americans and the majority of the non-Asian world.
Two things happened beginning in the 1970s that led to a decline in commercial salt uptake, however.
First of all, consumers en masse began responding to allopathic health warnings about sodium’s connection to high blood pressure by significantly cutting their salt intake.
Secondly, health-conscious individuals began avoiding commercial sources of salt because of the toxins used to produce it.
Indeed, unlike in the 1920s, today’s table salt is actually bleached sodium chloride that has other harmful halides such as fluoride sodium bicarbonate added to it. Most holistic health experts recommend skipping commercial salt altogether and reaching for sea salt or Himalayan pink salt instead.
Toxins Cause Problems with Iodine Absorption
The 1970s also saw an increase in toxic chemicals, which block iodine uptake. This unfortunately has dealt a “one-two punch” to iodine levels overall.
Fluoride, chlorine, and bromide are health-damaging chemicals that happen to share the halide chemical category with iodine. As such, they are able to mimic iodine in the body, even replacing it within iodine receptor sites. During the 1970s, American bread manufacturers also replaced iodine with bromide as a dough softener for their products.
Bromide is particularly dangerous since it has the ability to replace iodine in the thyroid. Studies have shown that when iodine levels are low, bromide can induce hypothyroidism. This includes impaired ability to synthesize thyroid hormones.
Other studies indicate that excessive amounts of bromide can lead directly to goiters, as well as decreased iodine in the mammary glands and increased iodine excretion through the kidneys. In addition to commercial bread products, bromide can also be found in paint, new car interiors, and pool-cleaning products.
Fluoride found in tap water and dental products is another chemical that blocks iodine in the body. In addition, a chlorine-containing chemical called perchlorate, an ingredient in jet fuel, can also lead to dangerously low iodine levels.
A 2005 study done at Texas Tech University found that the average breast-feeding infant consumes twice the recommended maximum daily level of perchlorate, as established by the National Academy of Sciences.
Common Iodine Deficiency Symptoms
How can you tell if your iodine levels are too low?
Look at this list of common iodine deficiency symptoms and see if any apply to you:
- Persistent swelling or soreness in the neck and throat
- Unexplained weight gain
- Fatigue
- Muscle soreness
- “Brain fog”
- Memory loss
- Mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression
- Cyst formations in the ovaries
- Uterine fibroids
- Complications in the prostate
- Hair loss
- Dry skin
- Fluctuations in heart rate
- Feeling colder than usual
- Fibrocystic breast disease
- Gastric issues, such as colitis
- Autoimmune conditions
- Thyroid, breast, prostate, and other reproductive system-related cancers
Some of these symptoms may seem familiar to you, since they are also indicative of low thyroid function, otherwise known as hypothyroidism. This is because iodine is literally the “food” for the thyroid. Key hormones created in the thyroid, such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), cannot be created without it.
Other symptoms may come as a surprise. For example, did you know that in addition to being utilized in the thyroid, iodine is also housed and used in the salivary glands, breast tissue, gastric mucosa, ovaries, and the choroid plexus, the grouping of cells in the brain responsible for creating cerebrospinal fluid?
Iodine plays a part in every function in the body, and when you are deficient it affects every organ. According to National Cancer Institute statistics, thyroid cancer rates have risen 3.8% every year for the last 10 years. Rates of breast, uterine, prostate, and digestive system-related cancers have also been on the rise.
Finally, other ailments possibly related to iodine deficiency, such as autoimmune diseases and gastric system conditions, continue to affect almost everyone. Their rise began around the same time as iodine levels began to decrease in the United States as a whole.
Coincidence? Probably not.
How to Increase Your Iodine Levels: 4 Ways
Knowledge is power. Now that you know the facts about iodine deficiency and what causes it, you should also know that there are many things you can do to make sure you have adequate amounts in your body.
Here are 4 quick tips you can start today to ensure you’re not iodine deficient:
#1. Test Your Iodine Levels
You can do this on your own through a skin test or through an iodine loading test. While you are at it, get your levels of fluoride and bromide tested as well!
#2. Flush Out Toxins
This involves boosting your liver and kidney function as well as taking measures to get rid of bromide, fluoride, and chlorine in the body. Milk Thistle is a gentle yet powerful detoxifying herb that strengthens both the liver and the immune system.
#3. Reduce Exposure to Harmful Halides
Choose filtered water free from fluoride. Opt out of the use of fluoride toothpastes and dental products. Limit your exposure to chlorine and bromide in swimming pools. Choose organic sources for bread the next time you shop. There are dozens of actions you can take to limit your exposure to harmful halides. Choose one each week and stick with it!
#4. Increase Intake of Quality Iodine
You can start with your plate. Some foods high in iodine include quality fish and seafood, seaweed and kelp, cranberries, strawberries, and green, leafy vegetables.
Iodine deficiency has reached epidemic proportions worldwide… and can lead to unexplained weight gain, fatigue, “brain fog”, and much more. If any of the symptoms listed above apply to you, be sure to talk to a healthcare professional to see if iodine supplementation may be right for you.
Go here to learn more about our recommendation for a certified organic nascent iodine supplement.
Editor’s Note: This article was initially published in March 2018 and was updated in October 2022.
Article Summary
The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 2 billion people worldwide are deficient in iodine.
Today’s table salt is actually bleached sodium chloride that contains other harmful halides (chemicals).
Common iodine deficiency symptoms include:
- Persistent swelling or soreness in the neck and throat
- Unexplained weight gain
- Fatigue
- Muscle soreness
- “Brain fog”
- Memory loss
- Mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression
- Cyst formations in the ovaries
- Uterine fibroids
- Complications in the prostate
- Hair loss
- Dry skin
- Fluctuations in heart rate
- Feeling colder than usual
- Fibrocystic breast disease
- Gastric issues, such as colitis
- Autoimmune conditions
- Thyroid, breast, prostate, and other reproductive system-related cancers
4 tips to increase iodine levels:
- Test your iodine levels
- Flush out toxins
- Reduce exposure to harmful halides
- Increase intake of quality iodine
What iodine supplement do we need
I did not see where you mentioned the source of iodine you take..Did I overlook?
I read it through & the only area they listed to get supplementary iodine was in the small list of foods that are high in it such as seaweed, berries, leafy green vegetables, fish etc.
Seaweed. Amazing!
Dr. Edward Group sells Detoxadine. That’s what Ty & Charlene use if you listen to the video.
J. Crow’s Lugol’s Iodine solution available on Amazon. It is worth reading Dr Brownstein’s book as he also recommends a particular selenium and B vitamin along with it.
Can someone please just tell me the selemium and vitaming B supplement as well as the recommend iodine.
I take 3 drops of 5% Lugols, a selenium tab, 200 mcg., zinc 30 mg. And a B complex. This got rid of my breast cysts and cured my thyroid.
do you take the lugols internally or by mouth
I best one out there is, Lipo-Spheric B Complex Plus from Livon Labs, with Selenium, Zinc and B Vitamins. I live in Spain and here is called Altrient B.
I agree with J.Crow’s Lugol’s 5% iodine, it’s a liquid. I’ve been buying and using Lugol’s iodine for at least 5 years. I buy a bottle for my husband and 4 children. I trust Lugol’s and I put 1-3 drops per day into my favorite drink (water, juice, or tea). As long as I remember to take it every day I don’t feel as fatigued as I sometimes do, but if I forget, then I notice how fatigued I feel. It also helps keep my vertigo away. It’s pricey, but I think it’s very worth it ($29.95/bottle). Also, I’ve email questions to J.Crow’s and I have received helpful and friendly replies from them.
Could you recommend a good iodine supplement? My wife is looking for some to help with her fight. She is worried about buying a supplement that may not be good. Any help would be great.
Thank you,
Derek
Nascent Iodine
I take detoxadine .
I buy my iodine, selenium and B12 from Dr. Group on Globalhealingcenter.com Dr. Mercola sells it too. Alex Jones on info wars sells iodine ,too.
He stated and showed a picture of the iodine he takes from Global Healing.
can you send me which iodine product I should buy I am fighting virus or fungus for years
thank you
This may not be the most popular answer, due to where you purchase it from, but it is available at the InfoWars.com store. It is called Survival Shield X-2, and it is a nascent iodine, which is what I see as the one type that people recommend. As of today, they have a sale on it for $30. It will last 200 days for one person. I came to this site through a link on a You Tube video that featured Dr. Edward Group. He has been on the InfoWars shows many times and while I can’t be sure, I think he may have had a hand in actually creating the product.
The iodine on infowars is quality, for sure. Plus, buying it will help push back against the censorship that they’re being attacked with. Agree or disagree with the message, they have just as much right to express it as anyone else. They are the canary in the coal mine in the war against censorship of anyone that disagrees or goes against the deep state.
Thank you Eric. I’ll look there on Infowars store. Your right on with the deep state comment too!
Dr.Edward Group has many videos on you tube and he has been seen on Truth About Cancer videos as well. He goes over types of iodine to use.
Hello Bobbi!
Here’s Dr. Group’s video on the importance of iodine: http://bit.ly/2GIiiBf
And here is the link to the iodine that he discusses in the video (if you are in need of it): http://bit.ly/shop-organic-nascent-iodine
Hope this is helpful. Happy researching!
One last and very important comment: When you start taking Iodine, you HAVE TO EASE INTO IT!
Iodine is the largest of the Halides and when you start taking it, it will bind to your Halide receptors, displacing ALL of the other Halides that were there already: Bromine, Flourine, and/or Chlorine. When those Halides get rocking around your body, you will feel miserable for a while before they are flushed out. Depending on how deficient you are, this could be a significant upset to your body.
So, do the following (assuming you’re already good on Selenium levels):
Day 1 – 1 drop of Iodine in plenty of pure water (no chlorine, or flourine) 3x a day on an empty stomach at least 10 minutes before eating.
Day 2 – 2 drops in plenty of pure water 3x a day same as above
Day 3 – 3 drops 3x a day as described above
Day 4 – 4 drops 3x a day
etc. until you are at a level of 15 drops 3x a day (45 drops a day total) which you need to maintain for 3-6 MONTHS.
You can then drop to 5 drops 3x a day as a maintenance level
During the 3-6 months of getting to the proper levels, it’s also possible to take an Iodine supplement in pill form that is roughly the equivalent of 45 drops a day, but it’s recommended to use the nascent Iodine in singlet form for superior absorption.
It’s extremely difficult to take too much Iodine and the main thing is to ingest it with plenty of water. You do NOT want to skimp on the water!
Starting your Iodine regimen in this fashion will help to ensure you have a smooth transition of replacing the other Halides with Iodine on all of your body’s Halide receptors.
I cannot overstress how vitally important Iodine is. It’s one of the hardest things to have enough of in your daily diet unless you happen to live in an Asian country that has a naturally high level of Iodine obtained from dietary sources, such as seaweed or other sea vegetables. Good luck and good health!
Thanks for the detailed instructions Eric. I don’t know what my selenium levels are, however I do take 200 mcg Selenium (L-Seenomethionine) per day as well as 25 mcg Selenium (Glycinate Complex) in my daily multiple. I’m wondering if that intake (along with what I get in foods) would provide me with enough selenium to be able to go ahead with your schedule.
I also wonder about this, that I read in an article by Dr. Mercola “….So, these findings suggest it might not be wise to get more than about 800 mcg of iodine per day, and supplementing with as much as 12-13 mg (12,000-13,000 mcg’s) could potentially have some adverse health effects. The iodine drops that I have on hand (but have been to nervous to take!) re Nascent Iodine. 1 drop = 650 mcg.
So if I got up to the 45 drops you mentioned, I’d be getting 29,250 mcg or 29.25 mg per day.
Well, the Dr. did say you needed to get up to 20,000 mcg to detoxify in the video.
Thanks again Eric for your dosahe recommendation guidelines!
Thanks for the detailed instructions Eric. I don’t know what my selenium levels are, however I do take 200 mcg Selenium (L-Seenomethionine) per day as well as 25 mcg Selenium (Glycinate Complex) in my daily multiple. I’m wondering if that intake (along with what I get in foods) would provide me with enough selenium to be able to go ahead with your schedule.
I also wonder about this, that I read in an article by Dr. Mercola “….So, these findings suggest it might not be wise to get more than about 800 mcg of iodine per day, and supplementing with as much as 12-13 mg (12,000-13,000 mcg’s) could potentially have some adverse health effects. The iodine drops that I have on hand (but have been to nervous to take!) re Nascent Iodine. 1 drop = 650 mcg.
So if I got up to the 45 drops you mentioned, I’d be getting 29,250 mcg or 29.25 mg per day.
Hi Kathryn,please did anybody answered you.
I findeda very important question to know
-So if I got up to the 45 drops you mentioned, I’d be getting 29,250 mcg or 29.25 mg per day.-
Or did you find out on your own.
if so,please let me know
Allso do you know ifit is better Nascent or Lugol
thanks
Where can I buy the type of Iodine talked about in artical?
I have been taking nutri west iodine tablets for some time now..
I have respiratory issues ,what is the right dose of potassium iodide, heard it is used for mucus build up.
Will it help with my breathing
So how do you know whether to use Lugol’s or nascent iodine?
I also am wondering what type of iodine should I take it I have a hyperthyroid?
Avoid Lugol’s Iodine as it has been bonded with potassium chloride, which is harder for the body to breakdown. Also potassium chloride is a processed sodium. Use the purer iodine, which does not combine such substances together. It is easier for your body to absorb and more effective.
Nowhere in this article or in any of the responses has anyone said exactly which brand of Iodine to buy!!!! I understand organic nascent Iodine is the best… that’s fine! …. but can someone please confirm: a) the actual best brand (sounds like liquid is better than pill or capsule b) correct dosage (yes I understand you go from 1 drop upwards gently increasing) c) how long for (is it a 6 month process?) thanks so much I’m advance. 😀😇
Hi Rob,
We cannot recommend a specific brand at this time. We also cannot provide you with a specific dosage or length of time to take iodine because this would be considered medical advice. The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Another great source of iodine is Atomidine. It was also recommended by Edgar Casey. Can’t go wrong with that. Stay Frosty.
Hi and thanks for info !! I’m new to all this stuf, I’ve only been investigating this toxic crap we’re all buried in about the last 2-3 years and I’ll tell you what , I’m discussed . Im shocked and appalled at our countrys leaders over the last 70-100 years , what’s allowed on the shelves now days and kept/hidden from us .. I mean WTH ! Really ? Wow . Ive been looking for something to prove all this wrong But I’m only getting verification .. shame on them and God bless you for running against the grain ! If you didn’t push on getting us the information we’d all be sick eventually . Anyway just wanted to say Thanks Much for tour time putting these videos together . You are changing lives .
Hi! I am allergic to iodine so what should I do? This was discovered during a CAT scan some 30 plus years ago. I broke out in hives but a few years earlier, when I was 18, I did have shrimp and was fine. Anyway, my doctor told me to avoid shellfish and iodine from then on out, and I have.
Thanks for all the great information posted.
Does anyone have any ideas about how to make my soil (here in the deficient USA upper midwest) have more iodine? Is there something I could apply, especially in my strawberry beds, to increase the iodine availability? I try to apply fertilizer purportedly containing sea minerals, but who knows what’s really in there … Does anyone have knowledge of trying to use iodine drops in water, as an occasional doil amendment?