Every morning, I add Celtic Sea salt to my water in order to assist in the displacement of halides. If you’re not already drinking water as soon as you wake up, you should be, and it’s also important to consider making sure your morning water is doubly benefiting you.
So, why would one choose to displace halides?
Halides are elements in the halogen family on the periodic table. They are highly reactive elements and easily can gain an electron by reacting with atoms of other elements. Fluorine is one of the most reactive elements.
Why is this important to our health?
Halogen Elements, Explained
First, take a look at the Halogen elements on the Periodic Table, outlined in green here:
The halogen elements are fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), astatine (At), and tennessine (Ts).
The elements of the halogen family are found in common use in everyday life. Fluorine is used in compounds to strengthen the enamel of your teeth against decay. It is also used in acid form to etch glass. Chlorine is used in our drinking water and in swimming pools to inhibit bacterial growth. Both chlorine and bromine are used as disinfectants for drinking water, swimming pools, fresh wounds, spas, dishes, and surfaces. They kill bacteria and other potentially harmful microorganisms through a process known as sterilization. Chlorine and bromine are also used in bleaching. Bromine has been added to flour since the 1980’s as a dough conditioner and may be found in breads and other processed foods. Bromine has been added to clothing, furniture and mattresses as a fire retardant.
“Humans can absorb organic bromines through the skin, with food and during breathing. Organic bromines are widely used as sprays to kill insects and other unwanted pests. But they are not only poisonous to the animals that they are used against, but also to larger animals. In many cases they are poisonous to humans, too.
The most important health effects that can be caused by bromine-containing organic contaminants are malfunctioning of the nervous system and disturbances in genetic materials.” – Lenntech
The key halogen our body’s need is Iodine. Every cell needs iodine, and thyroid and hormonal tissues need it the most. When other halogens are exposed to our body, they tend to fill the spaces where iodine would normally be found. Yet they do not perform the same function as Iodine.
Therefore, with all the halogens in our environment via foods, carpets, water and more there is a high tendency to be deficient in iodine. The Goiter belt has been known to science since the 1900’s – it’s an area (most of the United States) where the land’s soil does not contain enough iodine, thus leading to a lack of iodine in our foods and creating widespread deficiency, which often leads to thyroid issues. An estimated 2.2 billion people live in iodine-deficient areas, which makes iodine deficiency a severe global public health issue.
Could you be deficient in Iodine?
Iodine deficiency symptoms:
- Cold hands and feet
- Hair falling out
- Brain fog
- Energy
- Goiter
- Pale
- Inability to lose weight
- Thinning of the outer third of your eyebrow
You may check your need for iodine with a simple skin test:
Paint 3” x 3” patch of Lugol’s 2% or 5% iodine on soft spots of your body such as your stomach, inner thigh or arm. Ideally the painted coloration will last 3 days. Quite often it is gone in less than 12 hours. When this occurs, it is generally a sign of a deficiency.
Iodine works in detoxification of the body as well and therefore supplementation is not simply a straightforward intake, as one needs to be aware and cautious of potential die-off symptoms and dosing is individual.
- When taking iodine internally, it is important to precede internal iodine for two weeks with salt loading (1/4 a teaspoon twice daily, or ½ a teaspoon once daily if loose stools are not encountered) and 200 mcg selenium. After the two weeks, these are continued while taking internal iodine. Taking mineral salt is not to be confused with taking processed salt, a foodish item which is not GAPS compliant. Celtic Grey Salt is most fitting to support the thyroid.[x], [xi]
- If selenium is not included in the protocol of increasing internal iodine, you can give yourself Hashimoto’s, a thyroid disease.[xii]
- If mineral salt is not included in the protocol, you can give yourself Bromism.[xiii] Bromism generally presents with the person feeling awful, sometimes angry, exhausted, ghost white in color and often freezing cold and sometimes they can’t get out of bed. Bromism simply means you need more salt, as described by Dr. David Brownstein in his book Iodine, Why You Need it, Why You Can’t Live Without It and in Lynn Farrow’s book The Iodine Crisis.
- If you are on the GAPS diet and beginning to address iodine deficiency, first research Dr. Natasha’s Recommendations. GAPS Practitioners (Gut & Psychology Syndrome) have been taught an iodine protocol which will gently and safely introduce iodine. Many of us live these protocols so we can share from firsthand experience.
Moving Forward
The above recommendations are intended as a starting place. Please contact me if you’re looking for advice about how to address iodine deficiencies, and consult the following resources for more information.
- Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride’s Recommendations
- Dr. Brownstein’s Website
- Lynne Farrow’s Resources
- Dr. Tenpenny’s Resources
I wish you the best in your journey to maintain healthy iodine levels.
The post Halides & Your Health: What Iodine Deficiency Means for You appeared first on Renee Renz.
