Ava ॐ on Nostr: Thank you for bringing up this topic. Iodized salt is not crucial for anything. It ...

Thank you for bringing up this topic. Iodized salt is not crucial for anything. It was introduced in the United States in the 1920s to address goiter in regions like the Great Lakes and Appalachians, and later expanded to developing countries to help prevent iodine deficiency.

Iodine is very important for the thyroid and other glands, brain function and mental health. However, I do NOT use or recommend iodized table salt on food where healthier options are available, and most certainly not for remineralizing distilled water.

Where iodized salt is wanted for cooking or necessary for supplementation in cases where taking an iodine supplement or getting the RDA from food, then Celtic Sea Salt® with iodine is a much better alternative to table salt, which is highly processed fake salt.

As David Wolfe correctly points out:

"Iodized table salt is highly processed, essentially removing the trace minerals to make nearly pure NaCl (sodium chloride, or salt). And the rest is a mixture of various ingredients, such as:

- Anti-caking chemicals
- Iodine to prevent goiters
- MSG and/or white processed sugar to help stabilize the iodine
- And aluminum derivatives, such as sodium silico-aluminate

Furthermore, there are 18 food additives altogether that are allowed into table salt. Calling it salt is truly a gross misnomer!

All of this processed fake salt people use puts them at a higher risk of experiencing cardiovascular events and chronic diseases. This is due to elevated blood pressure and arteriosclerosis. And processed salt will lead to your body retaining fluids. And those who use table salt are more likely to develop diabetes, gout and obesity more so than those who do not use it.

Moreover, a lot of table salt is iodized, which puts you at risk for over-iodization. This leads to a thyroid disorder, such as an enlarged gland and other thyroid-related issues. And too much iodine can also lead to nausea, headaches and imbalanced hormone levels."

According to Harvard Health Publishing:

"To get all your iodine from salt, you would need more than half a teaspoon of iodized salt a day. That's two-thirds of the daily allotment of sodium (1,500 milligrams) recommended by the American Heart Association.

It makes more sense to get your iodine from food. That way you can cut back on salt and not worry about losing out on this important element. Ocean-caught or ocean-farmed fish and shellfish tend to be naturally rich in iodine. Other good sources include milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, and vegetables grown in iodine-rich soil. Multivitamin pills that also contain minerals usually provide 150 micrograms of iodine."

Here's what the American Heart Association has to say:

"Americans consume far too much sodium — about 3,500 milligrams daily. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg a day and moving toward an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 mg per day for most adults."

The standard RDA for iodine is 150 mcg:

- FDA: Sets the Daily Value (DV) at 150 mcg for adults and children aged 4+.

- WHO: Recommends 50 mcg/day for infants under 12 months.

- Dr. Mercola: Acknowledges the standard RDA of 150 mcg for adults but markets supplements containing 1,500 mcg (10× the RDA) FOR THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES.

- Dr. Gabriel Cousens: Advocates for higher doses, suggesting 7–50 mg/day (7,000–50,000 mcg) FOR THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES.

First: I recommend most people to cut out or dramatically reduce salt and sodium intake, as excess sodium contributes to cardiovascular risks, and instead focus on eating a diet rich in iodine.

In addition to ocean-caught or ocean-farmed fish and shellfish, which are naturally rich in iodine, other good sources include milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, and vegetables grown in iodine-rich soil. Sea vegetables like dulse and kelp have particularly high iodine levels, as they absorb minerals from seawater. These marine plants also provide a variety of essential trace minerals. Additional iodine-rich foods encompass asparagus, blueberries, Brussels sprouts, root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, rutabaga), leafy greens (kale, spinach, Swiss chard), herbs like garlic and chives, fruits such as strawberries and watermelon, and grains like oats. Cucumbers, eggplant, squash, tomatoes, green peppers, okra, and coconut also contribute to dietary iodine intake.

It is worth noting that despite the widespread availability of iodized salt, iodine deficiency is actually re-emerging as a concern in some parts of the United States. This makes consuming iodine-rich foods even more important for those living in these regions.

Second: Where iodine supplementation is necessary, I recommend consulting a certified nutritionist and health professional.

It is worth noting that Dr. Cousens has a very powerful bioavailable iodine supplement for therapeutic purposes.

"~100% bioavailable, Illumodine, a scalarized 2% tincture of singlet atoms of iodine (I-), 400 mcg per drop. Far different from less bioavailable iodine such as diatomic molecules (I2), compounds (potassium iodide (KI) or sodium iodide (NaI)), or complexes (povidone iodine from pharmacies)."

Again, if you are not iodine deficient, it is easy to overdose on iodine when taking supplements, so I highly recommend getting your RDA of iodine from healthy (preferably vegan/vegetarian) food. Where minerals are necessary, then a high quality, non-iodized, unprocessed salt like Himalayan pink salt, Celtic Sea Salt®, or Transformational Salts (as shown above).

Third: It is important to have your levels checked regularly as a part of your wellness routine.

As Dr. Cousens puts it in his article:

"Iodine is an essential element. Although its main function is in the production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland, other organs in the body have a need for iodine in order to function normally. Iodine builds jing and chi.

Several studies have demonstrated the relationship not only between iodine and the thyroid gland, but also between low iodine and fibrocystic disease of the breast (FDB), and breast cancer. Studies showed Japanese women living in Japan consumed a daily average of 13.8 mg of elemental iodine and then experienced one of the lowest risk for breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer (1 in 20).

Iodine is the metabolic mineral. Iodine is very important for the thyroid and a variety of different glands and brain function. It prevents goiter and helps with cell metabolism. Iodine is very important in the body for the assimilation of the key minerals calcium, silica, chlorine, and fluorine. Iodine is important for brain function and teeth and bone metabolism. It is found also in high concentrations in the spleen, blood, saliva, perspiration, and tears. An excess of iodine will show up with the symptoms of nervousness and anxiousness, bulging eyeballs, and acute sense of touch. Psychological symptoms are fear of the future, oversensitivity, and nervous tremor. Signs of iodine deficiency can also include nervousness, but with increased cholesterol, weight gain, restlessness, slow mind, slow metabolism, fearfulness, goiter, awkwardness, much mucus, and heart and lung difficulties.

Iodine seems to work as a monitor, or controller, for calcium metabolism. It’s one of the key minerals. Iodine has the highest frequency of all of Nature’s essential minerals. It supports enzyme systems that help the functioning of certain thyroid hormones and assists in regulating cellular metabolic rates. It may be helpful in protecting against breast cancer. It is important for normal mental and physical development in children because of the importance of normal thyroid in a child’s growth and development. Lack of iodine may also be associated with retarded growth in children, poor bone development, bad teeth, and dull mental functioning.

As far back as 1915, as many as 90 percent of the American population were considered deficient in iodine. Iodine appears to be one of the minerals that get burned up by stress, and so whenever there’s anxiety, tension, and depression, there may be a need for iodine. Iodine acts in the body as a cleanser. It protects the brain by destroying toxins in the blood before it passes the blood brain barrier and increases the assimilation of salts for normal metabolism. Iodine, because it is water-soluble, works with the lymph, travels to every cell in the body, works as a disinfectant, balances the metabolism, and creates electrical balance in the body. It is best to think about the minerals in synergistic patterns. Iodine is a very good example of that because these key elements work in patterns to make the organs and tissue work in an optimal way. The pattern is just a little bit different for each person. An example of this is cataracts, which seem to be connected to calcium being pulled out of the pattern because of a lack of iodine. Iodine also works in relationship with phosphorous to activate the brain’s clarity. Dulse may be a better choice for supplying iodine than kelp because dulse has a little bit more manganese than kelp, and manganese is an important element for the functioning of iodine in the system..."

— Ava ॐ

https://www.davidwolfe.com/health-benefits-sea-salt/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/cut-salt-it-wont-affect-your-iodine-intake

https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sodium/how-much-sodium-should-i-eat-per-day

https://holisticpeople.com/product/illumodine-iodine-supplement-2-fl-oz/

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional (in the US most doctors only have ~23 hours of basic Standard American Diet (SAD) nutrition training as a part of their schooling). I am also not a certified nutritionist—nor do I play one on TV. These statements are for information purposes only—based on my decades of research and practice. As always, you should consult a certified health professional before attempting any new exercise routine or supplementation practice.

#IKITAO #HealthAndWellness