['lizbeth]

R.B.

Are you reading IODINE, Why you need it, Why you can't live without it by David Brownstein, MD?

On page 45 of the 4th edition:

Diets that cause Iodine Deficiency

1. Diets without ocean fish or sea vegetables
2. Inadequate use of iodized salt including low sodium diets
3. Diets high in the consumption of bakery products (e.g. breads, pastas) which contain bromide
4. Vegan and vegetarian diets

The most significant change in the iodine status of recent time occurred with the changing of the food industry. In the 1960's, iodine was added to the commercial baking industry as a dough conditioner. This single addition to baked goods significantly increased the iodine intake of the U.S. populations, as one slice of bread contained the RDA for iodine of 150ug.13 Article from the NIH were published which questioned the safety of using iodine in baking products. Some researchers felt that this level of iodine in baking products would cause a malfunctioning of the thyroid gland.

Twenty years later, bromine replaced iodine in the baking industry. Bromine is a halide (as is iodine, fluoride, and chloride). All halides compete with one another for absorption and receptor binding in the body. Bromine interferes with iodine utilization in the thyroid as wells as wherever else iodine would concentrate in the body.14

Due to the interference of iodine binding in the body, bromine is a known “goitrogen” – it promotes the formation of goiter in the body. Bromine is a toxic substance that has no therapeutic use is our bodies. Bromine also can bind to the iodine receptors in the breast and is a known carcinogen to the breast. On the other hand, iodine has anticarcinogenic properties. . .

Perchlorate is a substance that is found in nature and is a man-made substance. Perchlorate is manufactured for rocker fuel and many industrial uses. Perchlorate contains one atom of chlorine and four atoms of oxygen. Chlorine is part of the halide family (iodine, bromine and chlorine). Excess perchlorate levels can displace iodine in the body and damage the transport of iodine into the cells.

It is an interesting book.