Re: Bromide in Seaweed (was Just got FNA results back - Scared - Advice Please!)

[Guest guest]

RE: " Be careful of sea veggies because they can be loaded with

bromide which is a thyroid toxin. "

Steph, I agree that the source of seaweed is important, but I doubt

that natural seaweed is loaded with bromide in a dangerous form.

Judging from a search on how bromide is extracted, I suspect that

the bromide found in seaweed is different from the stuff that causes

us grief. Chemists have to do things to isolate it - apply acids,

etc. Chemically it gets changed, and that's where the problem lies

(my guess). Found a few things that may be of interest:

From breastcancerchoices.org:

" ...bromide is found in pesticides (methyl bromide), some bread

products (potassium bromate), brominated vegetable oil that may be

added to citrus-flavored drinks, hot tub cleansers, certain asthma

inhalers and prescription drugs, plastic products, some personal

care products, some fabric dyes, and as a fire retardant in

mattresses, carpeting, etc. "

http://www.breastcancerchoices.org/bromidedominancetheory.html

We all keep hearing about how healthy the Okinawans are in old age.

They consume TONS of seaweed directly in foods and indirectly (used

as compost). A truly wonderful site on Okinawan Cuisine (made by

Okinawans themselves) gives a glimpse. Here's the link plus a few

excerpts:

http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/026/e/seaweed.html

Okinawan Cuisine

80% of Okinawa's elderly live independently, requiring no hospital

or nursing home care. Most older people have an independent spirit

and manage quite nicely on their own with support from family and

the community and in close and significant communication with those

around them.

Okinawa's leading longevity community, Ogimi Village, has declared

itself Japan's longevity " number one. " In a village population of

3,500, 1,056 people are over 65 and there are 80 people over 90.

Most of the older people live on their own, enjoying a balanced

lifestyle amid rich natural surroundings in a close-knit community

Vegetables of the Sea

Old Friend Kombu:

Kombu is the most-used ingredient in Ryukyu cuisine. Pork dishes are

impossible to find without it. Okinawa consumes more Kombu than any

place else in Japan.

Okinawans use it as a direct ingredient in various dishes and also

eat it as is. Kombu has virtually no calories and is rich in iron,

calcium and iodine. It is also an excellent source of natural fiber.

Combining it with pork and other animal products provides well-

balanced dishes. Mingling the flavor of Kombu with the flavor of

pork produces a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The taste

of each is enhanced and the dish becomes all the more delicious.

Recently it has been found that Kombu moderates blood pressure and

works to prevent heart attack and stroke. It also has anti-cancer

effects.

Also, in Appendix D of his book, Dr. D.C. Jarvis features a

Chemical Analysis of Kelp (as of 1958) which was obtained from

Cornell University Professor Cavanaugh. It lists a ton of

beneficial things but no bromide.

Personally I have been very happy with what I ordered from Maine

Seaweed Co. I get the soup mix and the compost. I think as long as

you are careful with the source, the benefits outweigh the risks.

http://www.alcasoft.com/seaweed/pages/catalog.html