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Iodine : Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It
Iodine is the most misunderstood nutrient. After 17 years of practicing medicine, I can say that it is impossible to achieve your optimal health if you do not have adequate iodine levels. I have yet to see any item that is more important to promoting health or optimizing the function of the immune system than iodine. Learn what forms of iodine you need and why there is not enough iodine in salt. See how iodine can help: breast cancer, fibrocystic breast disease, detoxification, fatigue, Graves' disease, and Hashimoto's disease. Find out why iodine deficiency may be the root cause of thyroid problems including hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer. Discover how to get iodine in your diet and improve your immune system.
306 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
66 people are currently reading
1024 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
May 15, 2019
fantastic. I read this 7 years ago, applied its principles / protocol and it changed my life!
"Iodine is the most misunderstood nutrient. After 20 years of practicing medicine, I can say that it is impossible to achieve your optimal health if you do not have adequate iodine levels. I have yet to see any item that is more important to promoting health or optimizing the function of the immune system than iodine." Dr. David Brownstein, M.D. I have recommended and/or loaned this book to many friends & family who have read it with gratitude and called it a lifesaver. This is my 2nd reread.
"Iodine is the most misunderstood nutrient. After 20 years of practicing medicine, I can say that it is impossible to achieve your optimal health if you do not have adequate iodine levels. I have yet to see any item that is more important to promoting health or optimizing the function of the immune system than iodine." Dr. David Brownstein, M.D. I have recommended and/or loaned this book to many friends & family who have read it with gratitude and called it a lifesaver. This is my 2nd reread.
June 9, 2016
Crucially important information. Excruciatingly poor writing style and presentation.
This book is just as poorly written as the one on salt, and I admit that I found it very hard to get through it just because of the grade school level, repetitive and painfully boring writing style. The little bit of information it contains, however, has made this struggle worth it, I believe. Nevertheless, it can also be summarise in a single line: Everyone should supplement with milligram doses (not microgram as the RDA suggests) of Iodine/Iodide in order to maintain adequate levels of this crucial element on which depend every single cell in the body, but especially the glands: thyroid, mammary, prostate, pancreas, etc, all of which concentrate and need a lot more iodine than regular tissues. Best and by far the least expensive form is Lugol's generic liquid solution or the proprietary tableted form called Iodoral (by Optimox). Brownstein suggests that for some people better results are obtained if combined with ATP cofactors (simple B2 and B3 combo, also made by Optimox).
This book is just as poorly written as the one on salt, and I admit that I found it very hard to get through it just because of the grade school level, repetitive and painfully boring writing style. The little bit of information it contains, however, has made this struggle worth it, I believe. Nevertheless, it can also be summarise in a single line: Everyone should supplement with milligram doses (not microgram as the RDA suggests) of Iodine/Iodide in order to maintain adequate levels of this crucial element on which depend every single cell in the body, but especially the glands: thyroid, mammary, prostate, pancreas, etc, all of which concentrate and need a lot more iodine than regular tissues. Best and by far the least expensive form is Lugol's generic liquid solution or the proprietary tableted form called Iodoral (by Optimox). Brownstein suggests that for some people better results are obtained if combined with ATP cofactors (simple B2 and B3 combo, also made by Optimox).
March 3, 2023
My biggest complaint is that it's repetitive. But I found it informative- I did not know most of this before I read the book, other than the connection between iodine deficiency and breast cancer. I did have questions that weren't answered by the book, but some of those questions are probably only answerable on an individual basis with a practitioner.
January 2, 2018
There’s a reason why Dr. Brownstein used capitol letters only in the title of this book: EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ IT.
There’s no cell in your body that doesn’t need iodine; and therefore, no person alive that doesn’t need to ingest it. The lies I have believed about iodine my whole life have kept me from supplementing with this much needed element, and quite possibly caused my cancer in some part.
As the book will explain, cancer patients, women who may become pregnant, and adolescents need more iodine than most people... and table salt is not only toxic, but it is not even slightly close to the amount of iodine we need in this chemically overloaded world. The halides in many of the products we use, the poisons on crops, the runoff in our drinking water, the chlorine in pools... all of these things compete with iodine in the body, making us need more than ever before.
I highly recommend reading this book, seeking out a health provider who will actually help you seek GOOD HEALTH (and not just prescribe chemicals you are not deficient in), and getting started on a supplement program that will surely change your life for the better.
96% of Brownstein’s 5,000 patients who tested deficient in iodine would agree with me!
There’s no cell in your body that doesn’t need iodine; and therefore, no person alive that doesn’t need to ingest it. The lies I have believed about iodine my whole life have kept me from supplementing with this much needed element, and quite possibly caused my cancer in some part.
As the book will explain, cancer patients, women who may become pregnant, and adolescents need more iodine than most people... and table salt is not only toxic, but it is not even slightly close to the amount of iodine we need in this chemically overloaded world. The halides in many of the products we use, the poisons on crops, the runoff in our drinking water, the chlorine in pools... all of these things compete with iodine in the body, making us need more than ever before.
I highly recommend reading this book, seeking out a health provider who will actually help you seek GOOD HEALTH (and not just prescribe chemicals you are not deficient in), and getting started on a supplement program that will surely change your life for the better.
96% of Brownstein’s 5,000 patients who tested deficient in iodine would agree with me!
Read
August 10, 2023"Of all the elements known so far to be essential for human health, iodine is the most misunderstood and the most feared. Yet iodine is the safest of all the essential trace elements, being the only one that can be administered safely for long periods of time to large numbers of patients in daily amounts as high as 100,000 times the RDA. However, this safety record only applies to inorganic nonradioactive forms of iodine. The reduced form of iodine is iodide with an extra electron. Based on a review of the literature, both forms, iodine/iodide are needed for optimal function of every organ and cell of the human body.
Some organic iodine containing drugs are extremely toxic and prescribed by physicians. The severe side effects of these drugs are blamed on inorganic iodine although studies have clearly demonstrated that it is the whole molecule that is toxic, not the iodine released from it." (7)
"When I lecture to physicians, I make the following statement: 'Iodine is truly the most misunderstood nutrient.' In medical school there is little mention of any therapeutic value of supplementing with iodine. The only use conventional medicine has for iodine is as a diagnostic agent in radiological exams and as a therapeutic agent via radioactive iodine in order to destroy the thyroid. There is still too much fear and misinformation about iodine." (15)
"Iodine is not only necessary for the production of thyroid hormone, it is also responsible for the production of all of the other hormones of the body. Adequate iodine levels are necessary for proper immune system function. Iodine contains potent antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral, and anticancer properties. Iodine is also effective for treating fibrocystic breasts and ovarian cysts." (21)
"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. population, as one slice of bread contained the RDA for iodine of 150ug. . . 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 well as wherever else iodine would concentrate in the body." (45)
"For over 60 years, it has been known that iodine concentrates in and is secreted by the mammary glands. The breasts are one of the body's main storage and utilization sites for iodine. An adequate iodine level is necessary for the development and maintenance of normal breast architecture. Milk from lactating breasts contains four times more of the ingested iodine than the amount taken up by the thyroid gland." (64)
"Iodine has been shown to induce apoptosis (death) in breast and thyroid cancer cells. However, this apoptotic effect will be negated if a goitrogen is given." (65)
"As with Vitamin C, iodine can function as both an antioxidant as well as an oxidant in the body. This dual effect makes it a strong anticancer agent. One of the best signs of health in the body is a balance between antioxidants and oxidants. Items like iodine and Vitamin C can help maintain that balance, and therefore, are some of the most powerful anticancer agents known." (66)
"When there are imbalances in estrogen production, such as lowered amounts of estriol and larger amounts of estrone and estradiol, problems such as fibrocystic breasts, cancer, and weight gain may develop." (70)
"The relationship between hypothyroidism and breast cancer has been reported for over 100 years. In fact, the first reported connection between these two illnesses was mentioned in 1896." (77)
"When hypothyroidism is present, the body is in a hypometabolic state. In other words, all bodily function slow down and the consequences of this state include cold extremities, dry skin, fatigue, brain fog and weight gain. When thyroid hormone is given, it results in an increased metabolic state which reverses all of the above conditions. . . Thyroid hormone utilizes ATP to increase the body's metabolic rate. This increased metabolism helps the body produce more heat, lose weight, overcome fatigue, etc. If thyroid hormone is given to an iodine-deficient patient, the increased metabolic rate due to thyroid hormone will actually increase the body's need for iodine as well as decreasing the ability of the cells of the body to concentrate iodine.
Iodine uptake by the cells is an energy dependent process which requires ATP. Thyroid hormones use the energy available for the synthesis of ATP to produce heat. This effect lowers the available ATP for cellular uptake of iodine by the target cells." (78)
"Fluoride, bromine, iodide, chloride and astatide make up this family. Iodine and chloride are the only halides that have therapeutic effects in the body.
Bromide is a toxic element that has a chemical structure very similar to iodine. This similarity can cause bromine to bind to iodine receptors and possibly interfere with iodine transport in the body." (82)
"The thyroid gland, the breasts, the salivary glands, etc., all have iodine receptor sites. The consequence of bromine binding to the iodine receptors in these tissues is disastrous. I the case of the thyroid gland, thyroid hormone production will be inhibited. The ingestion of bromine in an iodine-deficient state will further exacerbate thyroid illness." (103)
"In order to improve one's endocrine and immune system, a practical way of helping the body detoxify from bromine must be found.
There are simple ways of lowering the levels of bromine in the body.Primarily, we must stop ingesting bromide-containing food and medicines. That means eating organic food, grown without pesticides. Also, it means limiting bakery production that contain bromine.
However, once bromide is absorbed, it binds tightly to the iodine receptors in the body. In addition. bromine can bind to the transport cells for iodine (sodium-iodide symporter - NIS) and damage the transporter cells. The oxidized form of bromide - bromine - is stored in the fat tissues. Taking iodine in physiologic doses can help to competitively inhibit the binding of bromine, while retaining iodine. . . Dr. Abraham showed that increasing the intake of iodine would additionally increase the urinary excretion of other toxic halides. In fact, Dr. Abraham has shown that iodine supplementation can result 'in the whole body being detoxified' from the toxic elements bromide and fluoride. Research done in my office verified this statement from Dr. Abraham.
Salt can also help with the removal of bromide. The chloride in salt is part of the halide family (iodide, chloride, fluoride and bromine). Chloride can competitively inhibit bromide and help the kidneys excrete bromide. In fact, nearly 100 years ago, 'salting the bromide out' was used in medicine to help lower bromine toxicity." (103)
"Fluoride, like bromide, is in the family of halogens. For over 50 years, the American Dental Association has advocated the addition of fluoride to drinking water as a preventative measure against dental caries.
However, there is much evidence to suggest that fluoride added to the water supply is ineffective at preventing caries. A study in New Zealand found that there was no difference in tooth decay rates between the fluoridated and the non-fluoridated areas. This study has been repeated elsewhere. Many European countries have recognized the fallacy of adding fluoride to the water supply and have stopped the practice. The fluoridation of the water supply has been based on terrible science and is causing much more harm than good.
Fluoridation has been linked to dental fluorosis (discoloration of the teeth), hip fractures, bone cancer, lowered intelligence, kidney toxicity and other negative effects. There have been no studies which prove that long-term ingested fluoride has any positive effect." (107)
"Perchlorate is known to cross the placenta and can cause in-utero thyroid abnormalities. Thyroid abnormalities in-utero or at birth are the leading cause of preventable mental retardation." (112)
"Significant amounts of perchlorate were found in 83% of the lettuce samples [grown in fall/winter months] tested. There was virtually no difference between organically and conventionally grown lettuce. It is estimated that by eating lettuce during the winter months, 1.6 million American women of childbearing age are exposed to more perchlorate than the EPA's recommended safe dose." (112)
"If the goal of treating an autoimmune thyroid disorder is to destroy the thyroid gland, then yes, radioactive iodine is effective. It is well known that iodine is taken up by the thyroid gland. By using a radioactive form of iodine, the theory is that wherever the radioactive form of iodine binds, the radioactivity will destroy the surrounding cells. In the case of autoimmune thyroid disorders, the binding of the radioactive iodine to the thyroid gland will result in the destruction of thyroid tissue by the radioactive isotope.
If the cause of autoimmune thyroid disorders is too much thyroid tissue that needs to be destroyed, then the use of radioactive iodine could be considered effective. However, excess thyroid tissue is not the cause of autoimmune thyroid disorders; it is a consequence of the illness. . . Not only will radioactive iodine bind to the thyroid gland destroying thyroid cells, it will also bind to other sites in the body besides the thyroid gland. It was established in Chapter 1 that iodine is present in all of the cells of the body. Radioactive iodine will be concentrated where iodine accumulates int he body, including the breasts in women. With breast cancer at epidemic rates (1/7 women), I don't believe a therapy should be used that may potentially increase this rate.
Researches have reported a 400% increased incidence of death from thyroid cancer due to radioactive iodine." (139)
"However, TSH has another function besides stimulating thyroid hormone production. It also helps stimulate the body's production of the iodine transport cells (sodium-iodide symporter-NIS). Without adequate amounts of NIS, iodine would not be able to enter the cells and be utilized. . . My experience has shown an elevated TSH, without clinical signs of hypothyroidism (i.e., fatigue, hair loss, headaches, etc.) and normal T3 and T4 levels do not indicate a hypothyroid condition. On the contrary, this elevated TSH is the body's appropriate and necessary response to the initial ingestion of iodine. My experience has shown that TSH may remain elevated for up to 6 months before lowering to normal." (145)
"When iodine is taken in amounts at least 200x the RDA (>15mg/day), iodine can now also bind to other molecules including lipids (i.e., fats) and proteins. The binding of iodine to the fat molecule lactone results in a fat-like substance known as δ-iodolactone. δ-iodolactone is a key regulator of apoptosis and cellular proliferation of the thyroid gland. In other words, δ-iodolactone is an anti-cancer substance." (157)
"It is important to emphasize that the apoptotic (i.e., anticancer) effect of iodine only occurs when iodine is ingested with doses in excess of the RDA for iodine. Similar effects have also been shown to occur in animals (dogs) as well." (158)
"Optimal iodine supplementation varies in each individual; however average doses to achieve the best effect (including cancer prevention) occur with daily doses ranging from 6-50 mg/day for the vast majority of adults." (160)
"Every child with a diagnosis or symptoms of ADHD needs to have a complete nutritional and hormonal evaluation. The use of psychoactive drug therapies to treat this condition should only be used as a last resort. Many of these young patients suffering from ADHD will respond positively to a holistic approach which includes cleaning up the diet." (194)
"Both thyroid hormone and human growth hormone are essential for normal growth and development. In children (or an individual not fully grown), human growth hormone stimulates growth in length. In adults, human growth hormone does not stimulate growth in length but has a whole host of beneficial effects in the body including stimulating muscle growth, fat metabolism, and energy production." (198)
"I believe ADHD is over-diagnosed and over-treated. However, many educators that have been teaching for a number of years report an increase in ADHD behaviors during their tenure. Something is clearly going on in many children today that is not allowing them to focus properly and causing them to act out with inappropriate behavior.
I do not believe that ADHD is a condition caused by a lack of a mood-altering drug such as Ritalin or Concerta. I believe ADHD is a condition caused in large part from nutritional and hormonal imbalances as well as toxicities." (198)
"I believe that the iodine requirements for children have increased over the last 30 years, just as they have increased for adults. The main reason the requirements have increased is due to the increased exposure to goitrogens such as bromide, fluoride, and chlorine derivatives. Iodine supplementation can act as the antidote for goitrogen exposure." (203)
Some organic iodine containing drugs are extremely toxic and prescribed by physicians. The severe side effects of these drugs are blamed on inorganic iodine although studies have clearly demonstrated that it is the whole molecule that is toxic, not the iodine released from it." (7)
"When I lecture to physicians, I make the following statement: 'Iodine is truly the most misunderstood nutrient.' In medical school there is little mention of any therapeutic value of supplementing with iodine. The only use conventional medicine has for iodine is as a diagnostic agent in radiological exams and as a therapeutic agent via radioactive iodine in order to destroy the thyroid. There is still too much fear and misinformation about iodine." (15)
"Iodine is not only necessary for the production of thyroid hormone, it is also responsible for the production of all of the other hormones of the body. Adequate iodine levels are necessary for proper immune system function. Iodine contains potent antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral, and anticancer properties. Iodine is also effective for treating fibrocystic breasts and ovarian cysts." (21)
"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. population, as one slice of bread contained the RDA for iodine of 150ug. . . 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 well as wherever else iodine would concentrate in the body." (45)
"For over 60 years, it has been known that iodine concentrates in and is secreted by the mammary glands. The breasts are one of the body's main storage and utilization sites for iodine. An adequate iodine level is necessary for the development and maintenance of normal breast architecture. Milk from lactating breasts contains four times more of the ingested iodine than the amount taken up by the thyroid gland." (64)
"Iodine has been shown to induce apoptosis (death) in breast and thyroid cancer cells. However, this apoptotic effect will be negated if a goitrogen is given." (65)
"As with Vitamin C, iodine can function as both an antioxidant as well as an oxidant in the body. This dual effect makes it a strong anticancer agent. One of the best signs of health in the body is a balance between antioxidants and oxidants. Items like iodine and Vitamin C can help maintain that balance, and therefore, are some of the most powerful anticancer agents known." (66)
"When there are imbalances in estrogen production, such as lowered amounts of estriol and larger amounts of estrone and estradiol, problems such as fibrocystic breasts, cancer, and weight gain may develop." (70)
"The relationship between hypothyroidism and breast cancer has been reported for over 100 years. In fact, the first reported connection between these two illnesses was mentioned in 1896." (77)
"When hypothyroidism is present, the body is in a hypometabolic state. In other words, all bodily function slow down and the consequences of this state include cold extremities, dry skin, fatigue, brain fog and weight gain. When thyroid hormone is given, it results in an increased metabolic state which reverses all of the above conditions. . . Thyroid hormone utilizes ATP to increase the body's metabolic rate. This increased metabolism helps the body produce more heat, lose weight, overcome fatigue, etc. If thyroid hormone is given to an iodine-deficient patient, the increased metabolic rate due to thyroid hormone will actually increase the body's need for iodine as well as decreasing the ability of the cells of the body to concentrate iodine.
Iodine uptake by the cells is an energy dependent process which requires ATP. Thyroid hormones use the energy available for the synthesis of ATP to produce heat. This effect lowers the available ATP for cellular uptake of iodine by the target cells." (78)
"Fluoride, bromine, iodide, chloride and astatide make up this family. Iodine and chloride are the only halides that have therapeutic effects in the body.
Bromide is a toxic element that has a chemical structure very similar to iodine. This similarity can cause bromine to bind to iodine receptors and possibly interfere with iodine transport in the body." (82)
"The thyroid gland, the breasts, the salivary glands, etc., all have iodine receptor sites. The consequence of bromine binding to the iodine receptors in these tissues is disastrous. I the case of the thyroid gland, thyroid hormone production will be inhibited. The ingestion of bromine in an iodine-deficient state will further exacerbate thyroid illness." (103)
"In order to improve one's endocrine and immune system, a practical way of helping the body detoxify from bromine must be found.
There are simple ways of lowering the levels of bromine in the body.Primarily, we must stop ingesting bromide-containing food and medicines. That means eating organic food, grown without pesticides. Also, it means limiting bakery production that contain bromine.
However, once bromide is absorbed, it binds tightly to the iodine receptors in the body. In addition. bromine can bind to the transport cells for iodine (sodium-iodide symporter - NIS) and damage the transporter cells. The oxidized form of bromide - bromine - is stored in the fat tissues. Taking iodine in physiologic doses can help to competitively inhibit the binding of bromine, while retaining iodine. . . Dr. Abraham showed that increasing the intake of iodine would additionally increase the urinary excretion of other toxic halides. In fact, Dr. Abraham has shown that iodine supplementation can result 'in the whole body being detoxified' from the toxic elements bromide and fluoride. Research done in my office verified this statement from Dr. Abraham.
Salt can also help with the removal of bromide. The chloride in salt is part of the halide family (iodide, chloride, fluoride and bromine). Chloride can competitively inhibit bromide and help the kidneys excrete bromide. In fact, nearly 100 years ago, 'salting the bromide out' was used in medicine to help lower bromine toxicity." (103)
"Fluoride, like bromide, is in the family of halogens. For over 50 years, the American Dental Association has advocated the addition of fluoride to drinking water as a preventative measure against dental caries.
However, there is much evidence to suggest that fluoride added to the water supply is ineffective at preventing caries. A study in New Zealand found that there was no difference in tooth decay rates between the fluoridated and the non-fluoridated areas. This study has been repeated elsewhere. Many European countries have recognized the fallacy of adding fluoride to the water supply and have stopped the practice. The fluoridation of the water supply has been based on terrible science and is causing much more harm than good.
Fluoridation has been linked to dental fluorosis (discoloration of the teeth), hip fractures, bone cancer, lowered intelligence, kidney toxicity and other negative effects. There have been no studies which prove that long-term ingested fluoride has any positive effect." (107)
"Perchlorate is known to cross the placenta and can cause in-utero thyroid abnormalities. Thyroid abnormalities in-utero or at birth are the leading cause of preventable mental retardation." (112)
"Significant amounts of perchlorate were found in 83% of the lettuce samples [grown in fall/winter months] tested. There was virtually no difference between organically and conventionally grown lettuce. It is estimated that by eating lettuce during the winter months, 1.6 million American women of childbearing age are exposed to more perchlorate than the EPA's recommended safe dose." (112)
"If the goal of treating an autoimmune thyroid disorder is to destroy the thyroid gland, then yes, radioactive iodine is effective. It is well known that iodine is taken up by the thyroid gland. By using a radioactive form of iodine, the theory is that wherever the radioactive form of iodine binds, the radioactivity will destroy the surrounding cells. In the case of autoimmune thyroid disorders, the binding of the radioactive iodine to the thyroid gland will result in the destruction of thyroid tissue by the radioactive isotope.
If the cause of autoimmune thyroid disorders is too much thyroid tissue that needs to be destroyed, then the use of radioactive iodine could be considered effective. However, excess thyroid tissue is not the cause of autoimmune thyroid disorders; it is a consequence of the illness. . . Not only will radioactive iodine bind to the thyroid gland destroying thyroid cells, it will also bind to other sites in the body besides the thyroid gland. It was established in Chapter 1 that iodine is present in all of the cells of the body. Radioactive iodine will be concentrated where iodine accumulates int he body, including the breasts in women. With breast cancer at epidemic rates (1/7 women), I don't believe a therapy should be used that may potentially increase this rate.
Researches have reported a 400% increased incidence of death from thyroid cancer due to radioactive iodine." (139)
"However, TSH has another function besides stimulating thyroid hormone production. It also helps stimulate the body's production of the iodine transport cells (sodium-iodide symporter-NIS). Without adequate amounts of NIS, iodine would not be able to enter the cells and be utilized. . . My experience has shown an elevated TSH, without clinical signs of hypothyroidism (i.e., fatigue, hair loss, headaches, etc.) and normal T3 and T4 levels do not indicate a hypothyroid condition. On the contrary, this elevated TSH is the body's appropriate and necessary response to the initial ingestion of iodine. My experience has shown that TSH may remain elevated for up to 6 months before lowering to normal." (145)
"When iodine is taken in amounts at least 200x the RDA (>15mg/day), iodine can now also bind to other molecules including lipids (i.e., fats) and proteins. The binding of iodine to the fat molecule lactone results in a fat-like substance known as δ-iodolactone. δ-iodolactone is a key regulator of apoptosis and cellular proliferation of the thyroid gland. In other words, δ-iodolactone is an anti-cancer substance." (157)
"It is important to emphasize that the apoptotic (i.e., anticancer) effect of iodine only occurs when iodine is ingested with doses in excess of the RDA for iodine. Similar effects have also been shown to occur in animals (dogs) as well." (158)
"Optimal iodine supplementation varies in each individual; however average doses to achieve the best effect (including cancer prevention) occur with daily doses ranging from 6-50 mg/day for the vast majority of adults." (160)
"Every child with a diagnosis or symptoms of ADHD needs to have a complete nutritional and hormonal evaluation. The use of psychoactive drug therapies to treat this condition should only be used as a last resort. Many of these young patients suffering from ADHD will respond positively to a holistic approach which includes cleaning up the diet." (194)
"Both thyroid hormone and human growth hormone are essential for normal growth and development. In children (or an individual not fully grown), human growth hormone stimulates growth in length. In adults, human growth hormone does not stimulate growth in length but has a whole host of beneficial effects in the body including stimulating muscle growth, fat metabolism, and energy production." (198)
"I believe ADHD is over-diagnosed and over-treated. However, many educators that have been teaching for a number of years report an increase in ADHD behaviors during their tenure. Something is clearly going on in many children today that is not allowing them to focus properly and causing them to act out with inappropriate behavior.
I do not believe that ADHD is a condition caused by a lack of a mood-altering drug such as Ritalin or Concerta. I believe ADHD is a condition caused in large part from nutritional and hormonal imbalances as well as toxicities." (198)
"I believe that the iodine requirements for children have increased over the last 30 years, just as they have increased for adults. The main reason the requirements have increased is due to the increased exposure to goitrogens such as bromide, fluoride, and chlorine derivatives. Iodine supplementation can act as the antidote for goitrogen exposure." (203)
May 26, 2019
This was a fascinating read! My thyroid doc back in the 90s recommended supplementing with iodine, and he even wrote a book on iodine and breast cancer: Breast Cancer and Iodine: How to Prevent and How to Survive Breast Cancer. I am hypothyroid and have a goiter, and I'm planning to resume supplementation of iodine with other supplements recommended by Dr. Brownstein.
August 25, 2025
Excellent! Dr. Brownstein’s research on Iodine is informative and eye-opening. Anyone one struggling with thyroid disease should read this book.
April 24, 2023
Dr. Brownstein is probably the leading living expert on Iodine therapy and thyroid disorders and laid much of the foundation of the book Iodine Crisis, which I recently read and enjoyed. This book fills in many of the gaps of that book and gives the reader a good overview of how Iodine works in the body and how its lack is related to many illnesses.
I read his book on leaky gut randomly through Kindle suggestions. He was coincidentally one of the leading figures of the Iodine movement as described in Iodine Crisis, which I picked up because, for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about Iodine, Fluoride, and Chlorine after it was discussed briefly in the Boy Crisis in the topic of ADHD. Dr. Brownstein comes across as genuinely knowledgeable and trustworthy, and it's great to have found yet another beacon of truth in the world of health.
While the topic of Iodine itself is interesting - an equally vital aspect is that by learning about this stuff, you're exposed to just how awful shallow conventional medicine is and how utterly incompetent the public health authorities are - we'll get to this later.
The recommended dose of Iodine in the U.S. and from the Norwegian Department of Health (Helsedirektoratet) is 150 ug to 500 ug, whereas 600 ug is considered dangerous by our medical authorities.
That being said, the average daily intake in Japan is hundreds of times that because of their love for seafood, especially seaweed. The funny thing is that they don't suffer the exact epidemic of breast cancer, ADHD, or autism, and they don't suffer anymore from hyperthyroidism or goiter any more than the U.S., so I mean, come on.
The recommended daily dose (150 ug) is based on preventing goiter. This recommendation is like saying the recommended calorie intake is 500 calories a day because that's what's necessary to avoid starvation.
There's a distinction between inorganic and organic Iodine. Counter-intuitively, inorganic Iodine is safe to consume at high levels, whereas organic Iodine is not. You get inorganic Iodine from seafood, water, and soil found in supplements. Organic Iodine is what the body produces and is located in the thyroid hormones T4 and T3. For example, you get organic Iodine from X-rays and food additives - this is bad.
The failure to distinguish between these is one of the reasons for fear of Iodine.
Due to the rising threat of nuclear accidents, there has been a raised awareness of Iodine. However, the recommendations seem too low because of Iodinephobia. We're told to take 130mg of K.I., which is ~100mg of Iodine, ONCE, to saturate the thyroid gland with Iodine to consume minimally radioactive Iodine. But … Why should we only have sufficient levels of Iodine in case of a nuclear accident and not all the time? And why should we only take Iodine once? It's not as if it's stored indefinitely. So I'd probably take 130 mg on the day of the accident and take 50 - 25 mg every day afterward.
Conventional medicine doesn't care about the cause of a problem; they want to eliminate the symptom. So how do they deal with a patient with too much thyroid tissue? They insert radioactive, highly toxic Iodine into their bodies to destroy the thyroid gland, destroying the cells and tissue. It has never occurred to them that they might suffer from allergy or insufficient Iodine. While studies show that patients undergoing these treatments have a higher risk of thyroid cancer - and a general threat of mortality, we should rely on some common sense here.
It's hard to believe that so many doctors lack common sense.
Brownstein lays out a compelling case for the connection between Iodine and breast cancer. He explains the mechanism and provides many studies and populations indicating the correlation. Iodine has been shown to induce apoptosis which is the death of breast and thyroid cancer cells.
Iodine plays an important role in estrogen and general breast health, as the breasts are a large deposit of Iodine. (That's why women need more than men.) And he shows an example where there is a correlation between breast cancer and iodine sufficiency in populations. Further, he provides case examples of his patients that have stalled and reverted the development of breast cancer by taking high doses of Iodine-Iodide supplements. He's not claiming Iodine is the answer to everything - but it is a vital piece of the puzzle.
As a side note, is it not bewildering that chemotherapy and radiotherapy are still recommended for cancer patients despite their low survival rate and how devastating they are on the body?
Interestingly, Brownstein claims that there is little evidence that Fluoride prevents dental caries - and it is making teeth worse. I'm not sure if I can agree with that. I have to look into that.
When I was reading Iodine Crisis, I checked out Helsedirektoratet's recommendation for Iodine, which was based on Laurberg's 2009 paper, which I read - which concluded that "Too much iodine much be avoided as it contributes to 'disease'" based on Suzuki's study on Hokkaido in the 1960s, which I couldn't help but find astonishing - not only that to conclude such a thing - but that WHO/UNICEF/Helsedirektoratet sheepishly sources it and it seems like nobody even questions the validity of the study.
Brownstein, thank god, also points out this study and gives me hope I'm not insane in thinking that these conclusions are absolutely bonkers.
While the connection between high Iodine and goiter was highly dubious, to begin with, Brownstein further points out that 27 years later, the same consumption of Iodine and goiter had decreased. So there's something else in conjunction with the use of Iodine that is causing goiter - what that is is unknown at the moment - maybe vitamin C or Selenium, who knows.
The fact that international guidelines for the dosage of something vital as Iodine is so obviously erroneous is something I can't comprehend. What the hell is going on? Who are these people making these guidelines, reviewing this science? Does anyone even bother reading science? Are doctors and those responsible for public health even literate? Are their brains working? Are they corrupt? Big pharma? What is going on?
One thing I'd like to "challenge" Brownstein on is that while he says, "Breast cancer is not a result of a deficiency in Chemotherapy," thus we should find the cause of it instead of treating the symptoms. I think the same thing could be said for Iodine. "Iodine deficiency is not a result of lack of Iodoral®" I wish Brownstein emphasized the ideal of reaching healthy iodine levels naturally, namely eating more seafood and avoiding toxicity. I get that it's unrealistic, considering we're literally swimming in toxicity, but that would be ideal. From a spot test, Brownstein said the WHO defines iodide deficiency @ 50 ug / L, which is the same criteria as some health labs I've seen in Oslo. I would assume this is a fair measure considering Brownstein also didn't provide his standards.
I believe that ~13 mg of daily intake of Iodine in Japan is exaggerated - it does not seem like this is a "natural" dosage. It's more like ~5 mg. Regardless, mainstream medicine cannot rectify the fact that they are consuming above the recommended range and are still healthy.
Just airing some thoughts here… you see that the thyroid cancer rates are slightly higher in Japan, 1.4 per 100,000 in comparison to the U.S., 0.5 per 100,000, and so the iodinephobes would quickly link this to too much iodine consumption.
But don't forget that the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased markedly over a relatively short period of observation in all areas of Belarus and among all age categories. For example, between 1970 and 2001, the incidence of age-adjusted thyroid cancer increased from 0.4 per 100,000 to 3.5 per 100,000 among men and from 0.8 per 100,000 to 16.2 per 100,000 among women.
Guess what the areas near Belarus and Japan have in common? Nuclear accidents.
While I get that Chernobyl had a bigger outlet of radioactive Iodine, Japan has been remarkably resilient against thyroid cancer despite Fukushima. So I don't think you should blame seaweed for the slightly higher rates of thyroid cancer than in the United States.
I grilled ChatGPT after it said that:
Japan did not have significantly higher thyroid diseases.
Excess Iodine causes thyroid diseases.
Japan consumed Iodine above the RDA.
ChatGPT responded by hypothesizing that the Japanese population has adapted to tolerate high iodine consumption. Amusing.
Notes:
How to detoxify Bromine:
Selenium: 100 - 400 ug a day is a safe range. (If you eat plenty of organ meat, you should be good)
Vitamin C: 3000 - 6000 mg a day.
Sea salt: 1.5 teaspoons a day. (Chloride is an effective competitive inhibitor)
Random stats:
96% of over 6000 patients have an iodine deficiency.
100% of over 1000 patients tested have bromine toxicity.
Autism was diagnosed in 1 in 10.000 in 1980, and in 2008 it was 1 in 88. So while diagnostic criteria have changed - the actual rate has undoubtedly increased drastically - same with ADHD.
An alternative to drinking distilled water is to avoid fluoride/chlorine - the problem is that you lack the minerals. The problem is rectified by adding sea salt to it.
In conclusion, Brownstein seems highly competent, experienced, and trustworthy. He has stricken a rare balance between critical thinking and open-mindedness. He does a convincing job of showing how vital Iodine is and how conventional medicine misrepresents it and exposes how flawed many approaches in conventional medicine are in general.
I read his book on leaky gut randomly through Kindle suggestions. He was coincidentally one of the leading figures of the Iodine movement as described in Iodine Crisis, which I picked up because, for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about Iodine, Fluoride, and Chlorine after it was discussed briefly in the Boy Crisis in the topic of ADHD. Dr. Brownstein comes across as genuinely knowledgeable and trustworthy, and it's great to have found yet another beacon of truth in the world of health.
While the topic of Iodine itself is interesting - an equally vital aspect is that by learning about this stuff, you're exposed to just how awful shallow conventional medicine is and how utterly incompetent the public health authorities are - we'll get to this later.
The recommended dose of Iodine in the U.S. and from the Norwegian Department of Health (Helsedirektoratet) is 150 ug to 500 ug, whereas 600 ug is considered dangerous by our medical authorities.
That being said, the average daily intake in Japan is hundreds of times that because of their love for seafood, especially seaweed. The funny thing is that they don't suffer the exact epidemic of breast cancer, ADHD, or autism, and they don't suffer anymore from hyperthyroidism or goiter any more than the U.S., so I mean, come on.
The recommended daily dose (150 ug) is based on preventing goiter. This recommendation is like saying the recommended calorie intake is 500 calories a day because that's what's necessary to avoid starvation.
There's a distinction between inorganic and organic Iodine. Counter-intuitively, inorganic Iodine is safe to consume at high levels, whereas organic Iodine is not. You get inorganic Iodine from seafood, water, and soil found in supplements. Organic Iodine is what the body produces and is located in the thyroid hormones T4 and T3. For example, you get organic Iodine from X-rays and food additives - this is bad.
The failure to distinguish between these is one of the reasons for fear of Iodine.
Due to the rising threat of nuclear accidents, there has been a raised awareness of Iodine. However, the recommendations seem too low because of Iodinephobia. We're told to take 130mg of K.I., which is ~100mg of Iodine, ONCE, to saturate the thyroid gland with Iodine to consume minimally radioactive Iodine. But … Why should we only have sufficient levels of Iodine in case of a nuclear accident and not all the time? And why should we only take Iodine once? It's not as if it's stored indefinitely. So I'd probably take 130 mg on the day of the accident and take 50 - 25 mg every day afterward.
Conventional medicine doesn't care about the cause of a problem; they want to eliminate the symptom. So how do they deal with a patient with too much thyroid tissue? They insert radioactive, highly toxic Iodine into their bodies to destroy the thyroid gland, destroying the cells and tissue. It has never occurred to them that they might suffer from allergy or insufficient Iodine. While studies show that patients undergoing these treatments have a higher risk of thyroid cancer - and a general threat of mortality, we should rely on some common sense here.
It's hard to believe that so many doctors lack common sense.
Brownstein lays out a compelling case for the connection between Iodine and breast cancer. He explains the mechanism and provides many studies and populations indicating the correlation. Iodine has been shown to induce apoptosis which is the death of breast and thyroid cancer cells.
Iodine plays an important role in estrogen and general breast health, as the breasts are a large deposit of Iodine. (That's why women need more than men.) And he shows an example where there is a correlation between breast cancer and iodine sufficiency in populations. Further, he provides case examples of his patients that have stalled and reverted the development of breast cancer by taking high doses of Iodine-Iodide supplements. He's not claiming Iodine is the answer to everything - but it is a vital piece of the puzzle.
As a side note, is it not bewildering that chemotherapy and radiotherapy are still recommended for cancer patients despite their low survival rate and how devastating they are on the body?
Interestingly, Brownstein claims that there is little evidence that Fluoride prevents dental caries - and it is making teeth worse. I'm not sure if I can agree with that. I have to look into that.
When I was reading Iodine Crisis, I checked out Helsedirektoratet's recommendation for Iodine, which was based on Laurberg's 2009 paper, which I read - which concluded that "Too much iodine much be avoided as it contributes to 'disease'" based on Suzuki's study on Hokkaido in the 1960s, which I couldn't help but find astonishing - not only that to conclude such a thing - but that WHO/UNICEF/Helsedirektoratet sheepishly sources it and it seems like nobody even questions the validity of the study.
Brownstein, thank god, also points out this study and gives me hope I'm not insane in thinking that these conclusions are absolutely bonkers.
While the connection between high Iodine and goiter was highly dubious, to begin with, Brownstein further points out that 27 years later, the same consumption of Iodine and goiter had decreased. So there's something else in conjunction with the use of Iodine that is causing goiter - what that is is unknown at the moment - maybe vitamin C or Selenium, who knows.
The fact that international guidelines for the dosage of something vital as Iodine is so obviously erroneous is something I can't comprehend. What the hell is going on? Who are these people making these guidelines, reviewing this science? Does anyone even bother reading science? Are doctors and those responsible for public health even literate? Are their brains working? Are they corrupt? Big pharma? What is going on?
One thing I'd like to "challenge" Brownstein on is that while he says, "Breast cancer is not a result of a deficiency in Chemotherapy," thus we should find the cause of it instead of treating the symptoms. I think the same thing could be said for Iodine. "Iodine deficiency is not a result of lack of Iodoral®" I wish Brownstein emphasized the ideal of reaching healthy iodine levels naturally, namely eating more seafood and avoiding toxicity. I get that it's unrealistic, considering we're literally swimming in toxicity, but that would be ideal. From a spot test, Brownstein said the WHO defines iodide deficiency @ 50 ug / L, which is the same criteria as some health labs I've seen in Oslo. I would assume this is a fair measure considering Brownstein also didn't provide his standards.
I believe that ~13 mg of daily intake of Iodine in Japan is exaggerated - it does not seem like this is a "natural" dosage. It's more like ~5 mg. Regardless, mainstream medicine cannot rectify the fact that they are consuming above the recommended range and are still healthy.
Just airing some thoughts here… you see that the thyroid cancer rates are slightly higher in Japan, 1.4 per 100,000 in comparison to the U.S., 0.5 per 100,000, and so the iodinephobes would quickly link this to too much iodine consumption.
But don't forget that the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased markedly over a relatively short period of observation in all areas of Belarus and among all age categories. For example, between 1970 and 2001, the incidence of age-adjusted thyroid cancer increased from 0.4 per 100,000 to 3.5 per 100,000 among men and from 0.8 per 100,000 to 16.2 per 100,000 among women.
Guess what the areas near Belarus and Japan have in common? Nuclear accidents.
While I get that Chernobyl had a bigger outlet of radioactive Iodine, Japan has been remarkably resilient against thyroid cancer despite Fukushima. So I don't think you should blame seaweed for the slightly higher rates of thyroid cancer than in the United States.
I grilled ChatGPT after it said that:
Japan did not have significantly higher thyroid diseases.
Excess Iodine causes thyroid diseases.
Japan consumed Iodine above the RDA.
ChatGPT responded by hypothesizing that the Japanese population has adapted to tolerate high iodine consumption. Amusing.
Notes:
How to detoxify Bromine:
Selenium: 100 - 400 ug a day is a safe range. (If you eat plenty of organ meat, you should be good)
Vitamin C: 3000 - 6000 mg a day.
Sea salt: 1.5 teaspoons a day. (Chloride is an effective competitive inhibitor)
Random stats:
96% of over 6000 patients have an iodine deficiency.
100% of over 1000 patients tested have bromine toxicity.
Autism was diagnosed in 1 in 10.000 in 1980, and in 2008 it was 1 in 88. So while diagnostic criteria have changed - the actual rate has undoubtedly increased drastically - same with ADHD.
An alternative to drinking distilled water is to avoid fluoride/chlorine - the problem is that you lack the minerals. The problem is rectified by adding sea salt to it.
In conclusion, Brownstein seems highly competent, experienced, and trustworthy. He has stricken a rare balance between critical thinking and open-mindedness. He does a convincing job of showing how vital Iodine is and how conventional medicine misrepresents it and exposes how flawed many approaches in conventional medicine are in general.
September 11, 2025
Changed my perspective on iodine and how imperative it is. Talks about how it is a main root cause for thyroid, ovarian, breast cancer. Fascinating read. Starting taking Lugol’s Iodine and i already feel more energized. Anti cancer too.
September 8, 2014
This is the first book I've read that just focuses on Iodine, so I don't know how it compares to others that might be out there. This book is a really great resource for gaining a basic and moderate understanding about iodine and the way it affects the body.
The author, David Brownstein M.D., has worked extensively with thyroid illness throughout his career. From his experience, he details how important it is for people to have a healthy functioning thyroid, because it can affect so many critical areas of life, including energy levels, depression, weight, the immune system and much more.
As many people know, iodine is very important to the thyroid, but the author also points out that iodine is used extensively throughout the body, especially the breast and sex glands. He also mentions that iodine and iodide are used differently in the body, which is something I didn't know before.
The author also devotes a large part of the book to describe the reason why people need more iodine now than they did 100 years ago. The abundance of chemicals in the food and water supply, particularly bromine, flouride, and chloride compete for receptor sites in the body that would normally be occupied by iodine. These elements are pervasive in our society today, being in the water and food, especially for people who eat a diet rich in processed foods. Combined with a general deficiency of iodine in food or iodine-rich foods in the American diet, and there are bound to be many problems.
I could go on and on. This author touches on many important points, and I really appreciate him bringing attention to this important issue, especially since so many people, especially women, are susceptible to thyroid illness and iodine deficiency.
On another note, some of his statements could be more thoroughly backed up by research, in my opinion. Throughout much of the book, the author makes effort to do this, but there are definitely some parts that feel lacking. For example, one short section of the book is devoted to the inadequacies of iodized salt. What he said makes sense, but it also goes against mainstream medical understanding, which reasons that iodized salt is quite adequate to meet peoples' needs. Of course, "peoples' needs" is very subjective. My point is that since he is going against mainstream understanding, more references would be nice.
In the end, this would be a really great resource for anybody dealing with thyroid issues since it sheds light on many possible causes and also many possible ways to approach treatment. Also, it would be good for people with a family history of thyroid illness, because it is better to prevent it from happening than to deal with the after-affects.
The author, David Brownstein M.D., has worked extensively with thyroid illness throughout his career. From his experience, he details how important it is for people to have a healthy functioning thyroid, because it can affect so many critical areas of life, including energy levels, depression, weight, the immune system and much more.
As many people know, iodine is very important to the thyroid, but the author also points out that iodine is used extensively throughout the body, especially the breast and sex glands. He also mentions that iodine and iodide are used differently in the body, which is something I didn't know before.
The author also devotes a large part of the book to describe the reason why people need more iodine now than they did 100 years ago. The abundance of chemicals in the food and water supply, particularly bromine, flouride, and chloride compete for receptor sites in the body that would normally be occupied by iodine. These elements are pervasive in our society today, being in the water and food, especially for people who eat a diet rich in processed foods. Combined with a general deficiency of iodine in food or iodine-rich foods in the American diet, and there are bound to be many problems.
I could go on and on. This author touches on many important points, and I really appreciate him bringing attention to this important issue, especially since so many people, especially women, are susceptible to thyroid illness and iodine deficiency.
On another note, some of his statements could be more thoroughly backed up by research, in my opinion. Throughout much of the book, the author makes effort to do this, but there are definitely some parts that feel lacking. For example, one short section of the book is devoted to the inadequacies of iodized salt. What he said makes sense, but it also goes against mainstream medical understanding, which reasons that iodized salt is quite adequate to meet peoples' needs. Of course, "peoples' needs" is very subjective. My point is that since he is going against mainstream understanding, more references would be nice.
In the end, this would be a really great resource for anybody dealing with thyroid issues since it sheds light on many possible causes and also many possible ways to approach treatment. Also, it would be good for people with a family history of thyroid illness, because it is better to prevent it from happening than to deal with the after-affects.
May 12, 2013
i cannot recommend this book highly enough!!!! I started on this quest with natural thyroid medication over a month ago, and because I had heard about the iodine connection, got mine tested. it came back ZERO!!! I started iodine replacement 3 days ago and keep wanting to pinch myself to ,ale sure thus is real. making HUGE changes in my health!!!!!! everyone interested I health and nutrition should read this.
August 11, 2013
A real eye opener. No wonder all sorts of illnesses increased the last few decades, including cancers, thyroid problems and so on. Iodine is so important, but of course since it's so cheap and can't be trademarked, which means the big pharma companies can't make money from it. So of course, it's easier to give us different pills for every symptom that we have instead of helping the body cure itself with something as simple and as ancient as...iodine.
December 31, 2012
Being hypothyroid, I've read lots of books on the subject. This author is one of the few who clearly, and in plain English, explains the function and process of T4 and T3 in the body. The read is a bit repetitive at times but this just reinforced my learning. Great work, Dr. Brownstein. I feel like I'm living again and enjoying life again thanks to you and your research!
January 9, 2013
Finding more answers from Dr. Brownstein than I have been able to by going to typical medical doctors who give us a pill so we will be on our way. Iodine, simple, remarkable on what it can do for us. I finally feel like I have answers to problems I have had for awhile, fatigue, brain fog, aches and pains. Thank you Dr. Brownstein for pointing me in the right direction!
August 17, 2011
This book was the answer to the brain fog, fatigue and yucky feeling I had for years. It really changed my life.
I highly recommend it to anyone who is experiencing any kind of chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, thyroid conditions or any dis-ease that is considered progressive and incurable.
I highly recommend it to anyone who is experiencing any kind of chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, thyroid conditions or any dis-ease that is considered progressive and incurable.
March 28, 2013
Very informative/educational and very easy to read. Dr. Brownstein is worth following. He is an MD that realizes the importance of figuring out and treating the cause of disease and not just the symptoms.
March 21, 2015
Many people have followed Dr Brownstein's protocol with success to balance their thyroid hormones and regain their health. Every should read this.
June 17, 2016
While the information in the book was good, it was incredibly repetitive and could have conveyed the same information in a quarter the number of pages.
September 7, 2014
Another
Fascinating
Read. Very informative. Need to ask more questions on this.
Fascinating
Read. Very informative. Need to ask more questions on this.
November 17, 2020
This book, just like Lynne Farrow's "The Iodine Crisis: What You Don't Know About Iodine Can Wreck Your Life" really is critically important like anyone who has read it would agree. Anyone with thyroid problems or any other hormonal problems knows this. Breast cancer too. Iodine is a vital nutrient that the medical western world has for the most part forgotten because it cannot be patented therefore cannot be milked for profit. Every cell in our body needs iodine and what little we may find in food is also blocked by toxins from our environment and lifestyle. The title of this book says it all - we ALL need ORGANIC IODINE, a lot more of it! To learn how you can fill this Iodine deficiency, get organic Iodine and significantly improve your Quality of Life, I urge you to visit https://seawd.life/iodine-deficiency and look around my website - you may find answers which may prove vital to your health! Feel free to inquire more by sending me a message with specifics in terms of disease and you will find on my testimonials page a small part of the diseases you can drastically improve, put in remission or simply cure :) There are thousands of people that have already done so, and you can communicate with them should you wish to do so. It's time to take our health and energy into our own hands!
November 1, 2022
5,000 people were tested for iodine deficiency in the US, and 96% of them were iodine deficient.
There is not enough iodine in salt, and iodine is so important for the health of the thyroid, ovaries, many other organs of the body, energy levels, detoxification, relieving ADHD symptoms, and more.
Iodine is found in every cell of the body and is responsible for the production of every hormone. Iodine deficient people are more prone to thyroid problems and in severe cases, cancer.
I did internet searches to find more information about iodine and basically, the internet agreed with this book, that iodine is very important.
This book advocates for between 12.5mg to 50mg doses of iodine daily, depending on the person and situation. It gives many stories of people who gained energy and became more productive after taking iodine. People who were relieved of cysts from taking large doses of iodine regularly.
Highly, highly recommend this book to anyone with thyroid or energy problems. It answers a lot of questions about iodine in a clear, easy to read, and repetitive way. Some may find the repetition annoying, but I figured it was for the sake of people who might not read the whole book but only certain chapters of it.
This stuff is so important and more people need to know about it.
There is not enough iodine in salt, and iodine is so important for the health of the thyroid, ovaries, many other organs of the body, energy levels, detoxification, relieving ADHD symptoms, and more.
Iodine is found in every cell of the body and is responsible for the production of every hormone. Iodine deficient people are more prone to thyroid problems and in severe cases, cancer.
I did internet searches to find more information about iodine and basically, the internet agreed with this book, that iodine is very important.
This book advocates for between 12.5mg to 50mg doses of iodine daily, depending on the person and situation. It gives many stories of people who gained energy and became more productive after taking iodine. People who were relieved of cysts from taking large doses of iodine regularly.
Highly, highly recommend this book to anyone with thyroid or energy problems. It answers a lot of questions about iodine in a clear, easy to read, and repetitive way. Some may find the repetition annoying, but I figured it was for the sake of people who might not read the whole book but only certain chapters of it.
This stuff is so important and more people need to know about it.
October 12, 2018
Read this book while in the bookstore before I purchased it. Iodine deficiency has been on the rise and the author cites bakery goods as one of the chief culprits: bakery goods are made with flour that has bromine added to it; bromine facilitates the depletion of iodine from the body. Now I understand what the 'We only use organic and umbromated flour in making our breads' sign means at my local bakery. But one thing I strongly disagree with is the advice given about drinking reverse osmosis water since it also filters out the fluoride, yet another culprit that contributes to iodine deficiency. Reverse osmosis (or purified) water is harmful and not fit for human consumption; it might work for things like sterilizing baby bottles or putting water into one's essential oil diffuser, but research over the past couple of decades has already shown reverse osmosis water to be harmful. This is an example of a doctor coming out with a book about a single topic (i.e. iodine) and not looking at health in a more holistic way. I'll gladly keep investing my own time and effort to do more comprehensive research about many health and nutrition related topics to get a more accurate picture about achieving optimum health.
November 14, 2024
Summary:
In this book, dr Brownstein presents compelling arguments on the necessity for supplementation of iodine and iodide (chemical compound that contains iodine mixed with calcium or potassium).
First, the book lists consequences of iodine deficiency: thyroid conditions (goiter, Hashimoto, Graves disease), cretinism, mental impairment, reduced intellectual ability, infertility, increased risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial and ovarian cancer. Next, the book explains the process of oxidification and organification of iodine. The book then proceeds to explain the reason behind severe iodine deficiency which has to do with our increased exposure to toxic halides. Finally, we also get information on iodine and iodide supplementation.
My opinion:
The book is written in a way that any layman with basic knowledge of biology and chemistry is able to follow so I've read it in one sitting. It is extremely worrying that this is not common knowledge, though knowing that organic element supplementation is not how big medication producers make money, I probably shouldn't be surprised. Fortunately, there are still good people out there who produce high-quality iodine & iodide supplements - I can't wait for my order to arrive.
In this book, dr Brownstein presents compelling arguments on the necessity for supplementation of iodine and iodide (chemical compound that contains iodine mixed with calcium or potassium).
First, the book lists consequences of iodine deficiency: thyroid conditions (goiter, Hashimoto, Graves disease), cretinism, mental impairment, reduced intellectual ability, infertility, increased risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial and ovarian cancer. Next, the book explains the process of oxidification and organification of iodine. The book then proceeds to explain the reason behind severe iodine deficiency which has to do with our increased exposure to toxic halides. Finally, we also get information on iodine and iodide supplementation.
My opinion:
The book is written in a way that any layman with basic knowledge of biology and chemistry is able to follow so I've read it in one sitting. It is extremely worrying that this is not common knowledge, though knowing that organic element supplementation is not how big medication producers make money, I probably shouldn't be surprised. Fortunately, there are still good people out there who produce high-quality iodine & iodide supplements - I can't wait for my order to arrive.
February 25, 2020
Wow.... So I am a person who has been dealing with atypical breast findings all my life. Recently I have been more concerned but didn't want to go the typical path... the cut and kill method of reaction to findings vs finding why this is happening to me and see if I can correct. I am here and I am not a victim of my body. I just need to give it what it needs.
I have been working with a naturalpath who recommended I use drops of Iodine transdermal. I recently traveled outside of the US and talked to different health persons to get suggestions. Iodine supplement was also recommended but I didn't realize there was a pill form. Dr Brownstein's name/book were discussed in Amazon reviews so I got it. It helped me to understand why Iodine and what Iodine has to offer. Perhaps could have been written in less pages ( 4 vs 5 stars) but the message is clear and I am grateful. Tragic this information is not widely distributed Hope more women find this book and continue to ask questions
I have been working with a naturalpath who recommended I use drops of Iodine transdermal. I recently traveled outside of the US and talked to different health persons to get suggestions. Iodine supplement was also recommended but I didn't realize there was a pill form. Dr Brownstein's name/book were discussed in Amazon reviews so I got it. It helped me to understand why Iodine and what Iodine has to offer. Perhaps could have been written in less pages ( 4 vs 5 stars) but the message is clear and I am grateful. Tragic this information is not widely distributed Hope more women find this book and continue to ask questions
January 24, 2022
Wow! I came upon a recommendation for this book on one of the "Health & Wellness" sites I frequent and decided to order it. I am so glad I did! It is not the kind of book you expect to be drawn into, but I literally picked it up every time I had a few spare minutes! There is so much information and the way Dr. Brownstein presents the information is relatively easy for a non-medical person to understand and his rationale and experience in treating patients with iodine supplements makes so much sense! He truly tells "why you need it and why you can't live without it!
I have been on a thyroid medication for years and I'm now wondering why none of my doctors have ever tested my iodine levels or recommended iodine supplements rather than putting me on increasing doses of prescription thyroid medication. When I go to my next doctor appointment in
February, I will ask those questions!
I would recommend this book to anyone with Thyroid, Hormonal, Endocrine, Neurological, etc. and even cancer issues. This book is a keeper for future reference.
I have been on a thyroid medication for years and I'm now wondering why none of my doctors have ever tested my iodine levels or recommended iodine supplements rather than putting me on increasing doses of prescription thyroid medication. When I go to my next doctor appointment in
February, I will ask those questions!
I would recommend this book to anyone with Thyroid, Hormonal, Endocrine, Neurological, etc. and even cancer issues. This book is a keeper for future reference.
May 13, 2018
The dosage range of iodine is 25 mg to 100 mg supporting vitamins Vitamin C – 2,000 – 5,000 mg
Selenium – 200 – 400 mcg / day – needed for detoxification and thyroid hormone creation.
Magnesium – 400 mgs / day – critical for over 300 enzyme reactions in the body. And 1/2 tsp of unrefined salt a day. You should look up selenium and salt loading to avoid detox effects like heart palpitations and or discomfort around the throat. I got this information from PDF - The-Guide-to-Supplementing-with-Iodine-Stephanie-Burst-ND. The book is interesting enough for is interesting for stories and why you should use iodine but very short on how because the author really wants you to work with a nutritionist, and you should.
Selenium – 200 – 400 mcg / day – needed for detoxification and thyroid hormone creation.
Magnesium – 400 mgs / day – critical for over 300 enzyme reactions in the body. And 1/2 tsp of unrefined salt a day. You should look up selenium and salt loading to avoid detox effects like heart palpitations and or discomfort around the throat. I got this information from PDF - The-Guide-to-Supplementing-with-Iodine-Stephanie-Burst-ND. The book is interesting enough for is interesting for stories and why you should use iodine but very short on how because the author really wants you to work with a nutritionist, and you should.
March 9, 2019
This book provided a thorough understanding of the importance of iodine. It is sad that although the importance of iodine in the health of the body has been known for 100 years or more, and a great deal of research has been done on it's role in healing disease, it is still often overlooked as a viable tool in healing the body. Brownstein has found the an iodine deficiency leads to an increased cancer risk in the breast, ovary, uterus, thyroid, and prostate. Low iodine levels lead to other diseases such as autoimmune thyroid illness (Graves, Hashimotos) hypothyroidism, a poorly functioning immune system, fatigue, ADHD, autism, and heart disease. He convinced me of the importance of having iodine levels tested and supplementing with iodoral, or Lugols iodine when necessary.
February 29, 2024
I think this book provided a lot of interesting and compelling information about supplemental iodine. I have begun supplementing and will report back if I have any remarkable improvements in my health. The book was easy to read and well written except that it was very repetitive, that’s why I removed one star. I can imagine the author repeated things so that someone could flip open to a section and get a good understanding of the topic without having to read the whole book. But having read it cover to cover in a couple days, I didn’t find all the repetitive information a bit tiring and had to skip some parts. But all in all a good book. I may pick up some of the author’s other books and try to learn more from him.
September 18, 2024
So good. I learned almost everything I needed/was looking to know from this book. I read this book after The Iodine Crisis and it filled in some missing info for me and reinforced my iodine journey!!
Dr. Brownstein seems excellent and knows what he's talking about. He's a good writer. He distilled more complicated chemistry/biology into something palatable for people who don't have a strong postsecondary science background.
I actually read this in 24 hours
I would recommend this book to anyone:
a) interested in iodine
b) with breast, thyroid, hormonal issues, or cancer
c) with gut issues, fatigue, brain fog
d) who wants to get healthier even if you don't have the specific issues mentioned above (iodine helps with so many things, I can't even begin to list them all).
Dr. Brownstein seems excellent and knows what he's talking about. He's a good writer. He distilled more complicated chemistry/biology into something palatable for people who don't have a strong postsecondary science background.
I actually read this in 24 hours
I would recommend this book to anyone:
a) interested in iodine
b) with breast, thyroid, hormonal issues, or cancer
c) with gut issues, fatigue, brain fog
d) who wants to get healthier even if you don't have the specific issues mentioned above (iodine helps with so many things, I can't even begin to list them all).
May 26, 2017
It is hard to give a rating to a book such as this, until you put into practice what it is suggesting and allowing some time to pass to see the results.
I have early stages of Hashimotos and was diagnosed not that long ago. I read up on the condition and discovered that the issue of iodine supplementation is very controversial. I went and saw a naturopath that suggested I give it a go. I was very resistant so she suggested I read up on it and mentioned Dr Brownstein.
The book is briefer than what I expected and there was a fair bit of repetition, though I didn't mind that. The points he makes make sense to me, so I've taken notes and am giving the iodine therapy a go. Fingers crossed.
I have early stages of Hashimotos and was diagnosed not that long ago. I read up on the condition and discovered that the issue of iodine supplementation is very controversial. I went and saw a naturopath that suggested I give it a go. I was very resistant so she suggested I read up on it and mentioned Dr Brownstein.
The book is briefer than what I expected and there was a fair bit of repetition, though I didn't mind that. The points he makes make sense to me, so I've taken notes and am giving the iodine therapy a go. Fingers crossed.
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