This post is a follow-up to The Iodine and Hypothyroid Dilemma that discussed the safe use of supplemental iodine for thyroid health.
In this post, we’ll take a brief look at the role iodine plays in breast health.
Here are some interesting facts regarding iodine and the breast.
- Iodine desensitizes estrogen receptors in the breast.
- Iodine reduces estrogen production in overactive ovaries.
- Iodine has been shown to reduce fibrocytic breast disease … which often precedes cancer.
- Iodine causes cancer cell death, slows down tumor cell growth, and reduces blood vessel growth to tumors.
- Iodine has been shown to cause more cell death than the drug Flourouracil.
- Iodine prevented rats from getting cancer when they were fed the cancer causing toxin DMBA.
I’ll share a couple of my favorite iodine references. The most readable iodine book for me is The Iodine Crisis: What You Don’t Know About Iodine Can Wreck Your Life by Lynne Farrow. And then there’s also the more specific Breast Cancer and Iodine: How to Prevent and How to Survive Breast Cancer by Dr. David Derry.
I’ll end this post with a quiz that’s designed to point to iodine deficiency.
Iodine Deficiency Signs and Symptoms – A Quick Quiz
*Keep a count of your symptoms and compare to the score guide at the end.
Fibroids or cysts in uterus or ovaries
Fibrocystic breasts
Severe menstrual cramps
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Hair loss on scalp
Hair loss on legs or arms
Hair loss on eyebrows
Constipation
Dry skin
Dry eyes
Slow speech
Weight gain or unexpected weight loss
Hoarse speech
Thick tongue
Facial swelling
Eyelid swelling
Muscle aches and pains or Fibromyalgia
Tachycardia fast heart rate or atrial fibrillation
Heat intolerance
Excessive sweatiness or decreased ability to sweat
Lack of stomach acid
Tremors
High blood pressure
Depression, irritability or nervousness
The feeling of fullness in throat
Neck pain, swelling, or sore throat
High cholesterol
Heightened susceptibility to infectious disease, especially bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, and/or strep throat
Chronic fatigue or lethargy
Morning fatigue improving as the day proceeds
Chronic skin infections (boils, acne, fungal infections, etc) or itchy skin
Excess mucous and/or thick mucous in the throat
Stuffy sinuses
Cold hands and feet or cold intolerance
Muscular fatigue and/or cramps
Low morning body temperature
Mental sluggishness
Do you have an overactive or underactive thyroid?
Are you on a low sodium diet?
Do you have a low libido (sluggish sex drive)?
Do you have 20 or more pounds overweight and/or do you have a difficult time losing weight?
Are you a night owl?
Are you a total vegetarian?
Do you have a history of infertility and/or low sperm count?
Do you have cellulite?
Do you have high cholesterol?
Your score________________________________________
1 to 6 points Mild Iodine Deficiency
7 to 14 points Moderate Iodine Deficiency
15 and above Severe Iodine Deficiency
Steve is a retired Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture Physician, and HeartMath Trauma-Sensitive Certified Practitioner with over 35 years of clinical experience in Energy Medicine, Energy Psychology, and Biofeedback.