Re: question about iodine

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/2/2003 2:59:22 PM Pacific Standard Time,

karlynn17@... writes:

> I'm reading the book " Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type " . I really

> love this book. The author says that type O's are prone to thyroid

> dysfunction (and autoimmune disease) b/c inadequate levels of iodine. I've

>

> heard conflicting things about that. What are your thoughts on this??

>

Dear ,

This is the one of the things that bugs me about his book! While it may be

true that supplementing with iodine in some Type Os will help them regulate

their thyroid, for me it's the opposite! I get a lot more hypo symptoms,

especially my eyes hurting, if I take supplemental iodine. And this is AFTER

haveing allergy to iodine cleared and years of abstaining from supplemental

iodine in any form.

I think the general idea that different foods are better for different blood

types is good, but the specifics of his blood type diet don't seem to work

for me. For instance, I am able to cut down on stomach aches and heartburn

drastically by avoiding wheat and corn, which he says are bad for Type Os.

But one thing that has always helped me is aloe juice, which he also said is

bad for Os. After a period of abstinence from aloe, I went back to it

recently and it really settles down my blood sugar and my food cravings.

He also says that Type Os need to eat broccoli, spinach, cabbage, etc., which

are such known goitrogens and suppressive of the thyroid that I just can't

understand how he can say they are helpful to Type Os when he also knows we

have natural low thyroid function. Plus, he states that flaxseed is highly

beneficial for Type Os. But flax is very high in phystoestrogens which

suppresses thyroid function again. These inconsistencies make his advice

seem nonsensical and contradictory to me!

JMO,

in LA

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/3/2003 12:16:27 PM Pacific Standard Time,

karlynn17@... writes:

> >>Plus, he states that flaxseed is highly beneficial for Type Os. But flax

> >>is very high in phystoestrogens which suppresses thyroid function again.

>

> Really??????

Yep. Sad to say. Since I LOVE the stuff--that crunchy, nutty taste. Plus,

it was keeping my hot flashes down. I was grinding it up and putting in my

breakfast shake each morning and couldn't figure out why I was feeling sicker

and sicker, thyroid wise. Then one morning I was reading emails to this

board at the same time I was drinking my breakfast when I read that flax was

a goitrogen! I nearly spit my drink all over the computer screen! It took

me awhile to get over mourning not being able to have it. But I definitely

feel better since I quit using it.

Aargh!

[Guest guest]

>>He also says that Type Os need to eat broccoli, spinach, cabbage, etc.,

>>which are such known goitrogens and suppressive of the thyroid that I just

>>can't understand how he can say they are helpful to Type Os when he also

>>knows we have natural low thyroid function.

I e mailed the doctor about this already. I'm waiting for a response.

>>Plus, he states that flaxseed is highly beneficial for Type Os. But flax

>>is very high in phystoestrogens which suppresses thyroid function again.

Really??????

_________________________________________________________________

MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE*

http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus

[Guest guest]

--- CHRISTINE TAYLOR <trays.family@...> wrote:

> Lately I noticed I wasn't " catching up " , so I added sea-adine...

> taking 4 drops in addition to the kelp and liguid applied to my

> skin. Well, now the skin patch is disappearing even faster. I seem to

> be needing more and more, instead of less. What could be wrong?

,

Has it been proven that the speed of iodine absorption through the

skin is related to the body's need for iodine? I wonder about that,

as there my possibly be other permeability factors involved in the skin?

[Guest guest]

,

According to Zoe et all of www.iodine4health.com and the iodine

group, no one has technically proven the skin absorbtion/ iodine need

connection. It is widely reported anecdotally, however. Iodine painting

has been around a long time. Cayce was a proponent of the practice in

the 19th century (and he was from Appalachia).

,

Are you sure you're not pregnant?!? Iodine serves many functions in the

body. Why worry, unless you're exhibiting symptoms of iodine toxicity or

hyperthyroidism?

Desh-

[Guest guest]

--- <oz4caster@...> wrote:

> > Has it been proven that the speed of iodine absorption through the

> > skin is related to the body's need for iodine? I wonder about

> > that, as there my possibly be other permeability factors involved

> > in the skin?

>

--- CHRISTINE TAYLOR <trays.family@...> wrote:

> I was told that the speed of absorption is an indicator of your

> need...that the patch should last 12-24 hours...

,

I did a quick google check and found this article:

" The bioavailability of iodine applied to the skin "

by Guy E. Abraham, M.D

http://optimox.com/pics/Iodine/updates/UNIOD-02/UNIOD_02.htm

=====================================================================

1) Is the application of iodine to the skin an acceptable way to

supplement iodine?

1. Free iodine penetrates through the unbroken skin.

2. Approximately 88 per cent of the iodine evaporate from the surface

within three days.

3. Colloidal iodine evaporates somewhat more quickly than tincture of

iodine; Lugol's solution is more stable than either of them.

4. The influence of ambient temperature on the evaporation of iodine

is significant: within the first minute, the losses of iodine by

evaporation are: 10-15% at 9° c; 18-25% at 24° c; and 35% at 37° c.

5. The remaining iodine on the skin following evaporation of 88% of

the total iodine, approximately 12 per cent, is at the disposal of the

body, and penetrates through the skin. The bioavailability of the

remaining 12% of the skin iodine is very gradual.

6. The fate of iodine in all above experiments is the same whether

iodine is applied to the skin in the form of an alcoholic solution or

in colloidal suspension. (For the reader's information, the alcoholic

solution is tincture of iodine and the colloidal suspension is a

saturated aqueous solution of diatomic iodine, I2 ).

2) Are there any data confirming the validity of the iodine skin patch

test to assess body sufficiency for iodine?

From the published data, the skin iodine patch test is not a reliable

method to assess whole body sufficiency for iodine. Many factors play

a role in the disappearance of the yellow color of iodine from the

surface of the skin. For example, if iodine is reduced to iodide by

the skin, the yellow color of iodine will disappear because iodide is

white. In order to regenerate iodine on the skin, one needs to apply

an oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide, complicating the test further.

The evaporation of iodine from the skin increases with increased

ambient temperatures and decreased atmospheric pressure due to weather

conditions and altitude. For example, the yellow color of iodine will

disappear much faster in Denver, Colorado at 5,000 feet above sea

level then Los Angeles, California at sea level, irrespective of the

amount of bioavailable iodine. The iodine/iodide loading test is much

more accurate and it is now available from two laboratories.

=====================================================================

So, appartently about 12% of iodine applied to the skin is actually

absorbed for use by the body, but using a skin iodine patch test may

not be a reliable way to determine if you really need extra iodine.

The Linus ing Institute article on iodine says:

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/iodine/

=====================================================================

The iodine content of most foods depends on the iodine content of the

soil in which it was raised. Seafood is rich in iodine because marine

animals can concentrate the iodine from seawater. Certain types of

seaweed (e.g. wakame) are also very rich in iodine. Processed foods

may contain slightly higher levels of iodine due to the addition of

iodized salt or food additives, such as calcium iodate and potassium

iodate. Dairy products are relatively good sources of iodine because

iodine is commonly added to animal feed in the U.S. In the U.K. and

northern Europe, iodine levels in dairy products tend to be lower in

summer when cattle are allowed to graze in pastures with low soil

iodine content.

Some foods contain substances that interfere with iodine utilization

or thyroid hormone production, known as goitrogens. The occurrence of

goiter in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been related to the

consumption of casava, which contains a compound that is metabolized

to thiocyanate and blocks thyroidal uptake of iodine. Some species of

millet and cruciferous vegetables (for example, cabbage, broccoli,

cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts) also contain goitrogens. The soybean

isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, have also been found to inhibit

thyroid hormone synthesis. Most of these goitrogens are not of

clinical importance unless they are consumed in large amounts or there

is coexisting iodine deficiency. Recent findings also indicate that

tobacco smoking may be associated with an increased risk of goiter in

iodine deficient areas.

While the risk of iodine deficiency for populations living in

iodine-deficient areas without adequate iodine fortification programs

is well recognized, concerns have been raised that certain

subpopulations may not consume adequate iodine in countries considered

iodine-sufficient. Vegetarian and nonvegetarian diets that exclude

iodized salt, fish, and seaweed have been found to contain very little

iodine. Urinary iodine excretion studies suggest that iodine intakes

are declining in Switzerland, New Zealand, and the U.S., possibly due

to increased adherence to dietary recommendations to reduce salt

intake. Although iodine intake in the U.S. remains sufficient, further

monitoring of iodine intake has been recommended.

=====================================================================

Since many of us use non-iodized salt, eat grass-fed dairy, eggs, and

meat, and eat cruciferous vegetables, there could be some potential

for iodine insufficiency, depending on the soil status where the

animals graze and where vegetables are grown. I am not familiar with

the iodine/iodide loading test, but it may be a more reliable way to

determine iodine status in the body than a skin patch test.

<iodine - maybe one more way I'm insufficient>

[Guest guest]

--- Masterjohn <chrismasterjohn@...> wrote:

> It seems to me that cruciferous veggies are probably beneficial in

> small amounts, but probably shouldn't be a staple in the diet any more

> than potato skins should.

That sounds good to me. I eat about three or four 1/2 cup servings of

broccoli a week and I have no desire to eat more than that. I guess

cabbage and brussels sprouts would also count in the tally of

cruciferous vegies, but I don't eat more than one or two servings of

them a week. Maybe chinese cabbage is not a good routine choice for

potassium?

[Guest guest]

--- <oz4caster@...> wrote:

> > I eat about three or four 1/2 cup servings of broccoli

> > a week and I have no desire to eat more than that. I guess

> > cabbage and brussels sprouts would also count in the tally of

> > cruciferous vegies, but I don't eat more than one or two servings

> > of them a week. Maybe chinese cabbage is not a good routine

> > choice for potassium?

>

--- Masterjohn <chrismasterjohn@...> wrote:

> Maybe not. Do you have any information on the traditional

> consumption of these foods within healthy populations? I know that

> crucifers are traditional staples in some places, but I wonder if

> any of them actually have the kind of health Price found in the

> groups he studied, rather than being poor rural peasants with

> infectious diseases and goiter.

All I can say is that eating broccoli with butter several times a week

is appealing. But more than a few times is not appealing. Whether

this is good long term, I have no idea.

One of the blessings/curses in our modern life is that many people

have such easy access to so many foods compared to what most people

had available even 100 or 200 years ago. We are also a melting pot of

genes compared to then as well. Consequently, it's difficult to

predict what the long term outcome will be for most diets based on

looking at the past - unless you want to replicate a particular diet

that was best suited to your cultural heritage. But even that may not

be easy, because when you look at ancestry, just 10 generations back,

we had over 1,000 ancestors and that roughly corresponds to about 150

year.

[Guest guest]

--- Masterjohn <chrismasterjohn@...> wrote:

> Yes but there are likely to be universal principles at work.

Yes, it seems intuitive that there must be some universal principles

to an optimal diet, even though details may vary substantially,

depending on age, sex, health status, genes, etc. Getting an adequate

amount of nutrients is an obvious one, while at the same time

minimizing anti-nutrients. Getting good quality dietary probiotics

and perhaps prebiotics may be another. However, achieving these

principles is much easier said than done!

> Did ANY primitive group in stellar health eat two servings of

> brassicas per day on a year-round basis?

I'm not even sure how widespread brassicas were hundreds of years ago,

or where they are native. I'm guessing they were mainly in Europe and

Asia.

> Or, as Fuhrman recommends, two pounds of leafy vegetables per day,

> half raw and half cooked, every day, all year?

Gorillas maybe, if you skip the cooked part

> ANY of them (with demonstrated stellar health)?

Again, gorillas maybe

But most gorillas only live 30-50 years in the wild IIRC.

That many veggies is not appealing to me!

Neither is juicing large amounts of veggies as Mercola recommends.

<omnivores are number one!>

[Guest guest]

>

@@ Snip

>

> But you say that iodine is needed only in trace amounts. This is mainstream

medical wisdom at its best. My new doctor (an alternative M.D.) agrees with Dr.

Brownstein and others whose research shows that most in the United States are

deficient in iodine and that trace amounts are insufficient for thyroid health.

There is an exploding epidemic of thyroid disorders ranging from hypothyroid to

thyroid cancer that is being attributed to the lack of iodine in our diets as

well as the presence of halides like fluoride and bromide in our diets and our

environment. Have you read any of Dr. Brownstein's research or Guy

Abraham's research concerning the role of iodine in health?

>

> Pamela

>

@@ Hi Pamela,

Fluoride like other heavy metals is eliminated by good healthy Fats i.e butter ,

coconut oil ... etc .. as I'm certain you are aware of, being a former member

:-)

Too much Iodine can also be harmful to the Thyroid . Iodine is only needed in

trace amounts, which you can acquire from good Sea Salt .

See Bee's response to another member in regards to Brownstein and Iodine

supplementation .

Link :

/message/40374

Pamela, Bee may further address the information, tomorrow .

However, I believe the above information should relieve your concerns . You can

correct your health concerns by restarting the diet and recommended supplements

; if you haven't already.

Best 2 U,

Ed