Iodine in Sea vegetables Useful for Mercury Detox and Thyroid Function

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Iodine in Sea vegetables Useful for Mercury Detox & Thyroid Function

 

Sea vegetables - thyroid

JoAnn Guest

Jun 12, 2004 13:21 PDT

 

 

 

The thyroid gland, situated in the front of the neck, is responsible

for producing hormones which control our metabolism.

 

 

Toxins from the environs may alter thyroid function. Eduardo Gaitan

from Univ Mississipi found that drinking water contaminated with

petrochemicals results in " blocked activity " of thyroid hormones.

 

( Ref Jounal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 1983 Vol. 56)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) can alter thyroxine levels and

result in symptoms of thyroid disorders (Science, vol.267)

 

It is now understood that the environment, diet and nutrition

influence thyroid function in a

number of ways and may relate to thyroid disorders of non specific

origin (Annual Review of Nutrition -1995 Vol 15)

The good news is that correcting the underlying thyroid deficiency

can have dramatic effects on energy, mood, and cognitive function in

the over-60 population.

 

Thyrotoxic patients should avoid any stimulants such as

caffeine,chocolate, coffee,amphetamines and nicotine in order to

normalize thyroid function.

 

---

Sea vegetables are really not a vegetable but large marine algae

that grow in the coastal waters of many countries.

They include thousands of species from microscopic plants called

phytoplankton to huge floating/anchored plants

commonly seen washed up on shore.

 

Various kinds of seaweed are eaten by ethnic cultures because they

are full of vitamins and iodine.

 

Asian cultures use seaweed like green beans and carrots are used in

the United States.

 

One of seaweed's most prominent health benefits is its

ability to remove radioactive strontium and other heavy metals from

our

bodies. Whole brown seaweeds (not granulated) such as kelp contain

alginic acid which binds with the toxins in the intestines rendering

them indigestible and carries them out of the system. Oriental

herbalists have been exploring the medicinal powers of sea

vegetables for centuries.

 

They have long recognised their potential to enhance general well-

being and in particular the health of thenervous system.

 

But most recent interest has centred on the ability

of the plants to cleanse the body of toxins.

 

According to research

from Dr. Tanaka at McGill University in Canada, the alginic acid

present in sea vegetables binds with " heavy metal pollutants " in our

intestines

- such as lead and mercury

- preventing them from being absorbed.

 

Sea vegetables are virtually fat-free, low calorie and one of the

richest sources of minerals in the vegetable kingdom as they have

ready

access to the abundance of minerals found in the ocean.

 

Nourishment is acquired across the sea vegeable's entire surface

through the gentle wave action of underwater currents. Sea water &

human blood contain many of the same minerals in very similar

concentrations.

 

Sea vegetables contain high amounts of calcium and phosphorous and

are extremely high in magnesium, iron, iodine and sodium.

 

For example, 1/4 cup of cooked hijiki contains over half the calcium

found in a cup of milk and more iron than in an egg, important

concerns

for vegans, those who refrain from eating any animal-based products.

They also contain vitamins A, B1, C and E, as well as protein and

carbohydrates.

 

Protection against tumors, radiation and environmental pollutants

 

Excerpts from the book: " Fighting Radiation with Foods, Herbs and

Vitamins: Documented Natural Remedies That Boost Your Immunity and

Detoxify "

 

" The chemical pollution in air, soil and water is particularliy

serious,

since the pollutants find their way into the food chain and their

absorption into the body can be hazardous ... Our investigation has

shown that alginate can bind radioactive strontium .. binds with

other

metal pollutants such as excess barium, cadmium and zinc. "

 

" There is no family of foods more protective against radiation and

environmental pollutants than sea vegetables ... sea vegetables can

prevent assimilation of different radionuclitides, heavy metals such

as

cadmium, and other environmental toxins. "

 

 

They have a delicious mellow `sea' flavour, which varies from mild

to barely perceptible according to the variety.

 

Agar (Agar Flakes)

Arame

Dulse

Hijiki

Kombu

Nori Strips

Sea Salad (Dulse, Sea Lettuce, Nori - Breton)

Wakame

 

Governments world-wide are now stockpiling a supplement that

protects the thyroid from radiation fallout (radioiodine). Amongst

them are Japan, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Poland,

Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Sweden, etc., but not the

U.S.

 

Learn how to protect your thyroid gland.

 

In 1974 a report was published by I. Yamamoto et. al. in the

Japanese Journal of Experimental Medicine, (44: 543-46). These

scientists reported that several varieties of Kombu Mojaban (common

sea vegetables eaten in Asia and traditionally used as a decoction

for cancer in Chinese herbal medicine) were effective in the

treatment of tumors in laboratory experiments.

 

" In three of four samples tested, inhibition rates in mice with

implanted sarcomas ranged from 89-95%. " " The tumor underwent

complete

regression in half of the mice in each treated group. " Similar

experiments on mice with leukemia have also shown promising

results. "

 

In parts of the Far East they have never gone out of fashion, eaten

as much today as they ever were. Now, they are attracting attention

here in the West, as we begin to appreciate a food that delivers

both tasty, tangy flavour and unparalleled nutritional benefits

 

It's mainly about minerals. " Sea vegetables contain more minerals

than any other kind of food, " says Professor Arasaki of Tokyo

University, who has spent a lifetime studying them.

 

Because sea vegetables are virtually fat-free and low in

calories, you can eat generous helpings without piling on unwanted

pounds. They also offer a plentiful supply of fibre, cleansing the

intestines as they pass through the body.

In our era of processed foods and iodine-poor soils, sea greens and

sea foods stand alone as potent sources of natural, " balanced "

iodine.

 

www.edenfoods.com

 

---

Iodine is essential to life; the thyroid gland cannot make thyrozin,

the enzyme that " regulates " metabolism, without it. Iodine is an

important element of alertness and rapid brain activity, and a prime

deterrent to arterial plaque.

Thyroid hormones are made from iodine and the amino acid tyrosine.

 

Thyroglobulin, the mixture of tyrosine and iodine stored in the

thyroid gland, is transformed into " hormones " that regulate our

metabolism, protein, carbohydrate and carotene use, and cholesterol

(sea greens help lower cholesterol drastically).

 

The amount of thyroid hormone released into the bloodstream

determines the body's basic energy level and along with the adrenal

glands, the rate that sex hormones are made.

 

Sea plants nourish an underactive thyroid and normalize adrenal

functions.

---

Goiter, a thyroid disorder, develops when the pituitary gland

stimulates the thyroid to make more hormones but the thyroid can't

do it because of an iodine deficiency.

 

It enlarges in the attempt and goiter develops. The rate of goiter

in the U.S. is still relatively high - 6% of the population in some

areas. It's a strange situation, because few people in the U. S. are

iodine deficient (the average American intake of iodine is estimated

at over 600 micrograms daily from iodized salt).

 

Since the recommended adult allowance for iodine is quite small,

150 micrograms, experts believe that at least some of the high rates

of goiter are really connected to too much refined sugar,

alcohol,bad fats such as hydrogenated vegetable oils and

caffeine, or to eating a lot of goitrogen foods, which " block "

iodine 'absorption'.

 

Cooking 'neutralizes' the thyroid-blocking components in

some foods, especially cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, kale,

Brussels

sprouts, broccoli, peanuts and cauliflower) which contain natural

goitrogens,

chemicals that cause the thyroid gland to enlarge by interfering

with

thyroid hormone synthesis. Cooking has been reported to inactivate

this effect in cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.

 

Cassava, a starchy root that is the 'source of tapioca', can also

have this same effect.

 

Other " goitrogens " include corn and corn derivatives (HFCS), sweet

potatoes and lima beans. Some

practitioners recommend that people with hypothyroidism (an

underactive

thyroid gland) avoid these foods, even though most have not been

proven to cause hypothyroidism in humans.

 

Because of the thyroid's effect on insulin secretion, prolonged

intake of refined simple carbohydrates such as sugar, chocolate and

other sweets can cause the overtaxing

of your thyroid gland and lead to dysfunction.

 

Our bodies were not designed to handle large amounts of refined

food products and

physiologically we pay the consequences when overindulging.

 

Because of the resultant change in " endocrine output " taking birth

control pills, epinephrine and cortisone, can also lead to thyroid

dysfunction.

 

Taking synthetic thyroid hormone for an inactive thyroid gland

will tend to make your thyroid rely more on this outside source and

will thus lead to further " inactivity " .

 

It makes so much more sense to the author to find out and correct

the cause of the dysfunction thus allowing the thyroid to heal and

return to normal functioning.

 

Overeating, especially refined inferior fats and sugars over

prolonged periods of time will make

the body produce more thyroid hormones (to increase fat burning and

glucose uptake) than it can comfortably produce. This may inevitably

lead to hypothyroidism.

 

X-rays striking the thyroid (including dental x-rays) can damage

the thyroid.

 

Due to a decrease in the burning of fats, thyroid patients may tend

to build

up cholesterol deposits and be more prone to heart troubles. The

sluggish circulation will also manifest in having cold hands and

feet.

 

Another stage of life at which thyroid disorders are more common is

at

menopause. Many women who experience depression and " brain fog "

during menopause are told that these symptoms are caused by

plummeting levels of estrogen.

 

Yet " low levels " of thyroid hormone can produce 'identical

symptoms'.

 

(Other common signs of low thyroid function — at any age — include

hair loss, weight gain, dry skin, slow heartbeat, and cold hands and

feet.)

If you're going through menopause and are suffering from depression,

it's crucial to rule out hypothyroidism, because left untreated,

hypothyroidism can " cause " dangerously high 'cholesterol levels'.

 

An imbalance in the amount of estrogen in the body (be it due to

pituitary, liver, ovary, or adrenal malfunction) can 'alter' thyroid

function.

 

Too little thyroid hormone production can lead to an imbalanced

output of estrogen and progesterone by the ovaries, leading to

prolonged and painful periods in women, with an increased tendency

toward 'water retention'.

--

 

Thyroid Hormone Receptors

 

According to Dr. Erasmus, essential fatty acids are critical to

thyroid function because, first, they are required for the integrity

of the structure for every membrane of every cell.

 

Second, they increase energy levels in the cell.

 

And third, there is some evidence that essential fatty acids,

especially Omega 3s, improve the " efficiency " of the hormones on the

receptor sites.

 

To understand the importance of the receptor issue, think about the

situation of diabetes.

Pre-diabetes, the condition that is considered a

marker for future diabetes, is also known as insulin resistance.

Insulin is in the body, but it isn't being utilized because

saturated fats block insulin receptor function, and ultimately

receptors become desensitized

-- and ultimately immune to and unable to receive -- insulin.

 

Essential fatty acids are required for receptor function and can

make

diabetics more insulin sensitive. So diabetics taking essential

fatty acids may need less receptors, and ultimately, less insulin.

 

Dr. Erasmus believes that this same mechanism takes place with other

hormonal functions, such as the androgens, pineal glands, adrenal

glands

-- and specifically, the thyroid.

 

There are practitioners who believe that thyroid hormone resistance

is not a rare occurrence, and is actually a more common sign of

impending

thyroid disease, much like insulin resistance is a precursor to

diabetes.

 

This issue of receptors is critical, because according to Dr.

Erasmus,

" With proper essential fatty acid nutrition, what will sometime

happen is that you get fewer receptors but they " work better " . "

 

This would mean that proper levels of essential fatty acids might

make

the thyroid hormone receptors work better, so that thyroid hormone

actually accomplishes its mission.

 

Omega 3 fatty acids come from foods like green leafy

vegetables, and cold water fish such as water packed

sardines, and alaskan salmon, coho, Pacific and Atlantic herring,

Atlantic mackerel, and lake trout.

 

Omega 6 fatty acids are found in sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds

and other raw seeds and nuts.

 

 

When it comes to fish, Dr. Erasmus always prefers the fish

themselves to fish oil supplements.

According to Dr. Erasmus, since 1900, Omega 6 consumption has

increased by about 20 times the previous levels,

primarily because of increased use of certain " rfined " vegetable oils

in

food preparation, while Omega 3s are now only 1/6 of previous levels.

 

 

This means that we get too much Omega 6 and too little Omega 3 fatty

acids.

 

www.udoerasmus.com

 

---

L-Tyrosine

 

is a direct precursor to Thyroxine, a primary thyroid hormone, as

well as Adrenaline and Nor-adrenaline. Thyroxine has been found to

increase metabolic rate and control growth rate.

 

L-Tyrosine is a necessary amino acid in the production of

neurotransmitters including epinephrine, norepinephrine, and

dopamine.

 

L-Tyrosine also appears to have a mild stimulatory effect on the

central nervous system.

 

Patients with a Thyroxine deficiency have symptoms including excess

weight gain, cold hands and feet, and decreased basal metabolism.

 

L-Tyrosine has been found to assist in optimizing thyroid hormone

levels, increased mood, concentration, and productivity.

 

L-Tyrosine is used to treat conditions including depression or mood

disorder, poor coping ability, fatigue, low sex drive, low

metabolism,

and drug abuse (when combined with Tryptophan). It can also improve

endurance under stress and is effective as an appetite suppressant.

 

When taken properly, L-Tyrosine can assist a sluggish thyroid and

aid the dieter in losing excess, unwanted pounds.

The suggested dosage for healthy adults ranges from 500 to 1500 mg

per day.

 

Also beneficial -

 

Flaxseed & Eveningprimrose oils– 2 capsules twice daily with food.

---

 

Selenium tablets -xcellent source of trace minerals including

selenium for those with a thyroid condition.

 

Selenium is vital for the conversion of thyroxine (T4) thyroid

hormone

to its more active T3 form. The conversion of thyroxine to T 3 is

controlled by the essential trace mineral selenium (Ref Am J.

Clinical Nutrition 1993, Vol. 57)

 

www.weightcontroldoctor.com

---

 

Soybeans are high in phytic acid,a substance that can block the

uptake of essential minerals -While it is true that soybeans are

high in phytates, so are many plant

foods such as other beans, grains, nuts and seeds, and it is true

that phytates can block the uptake of essential minerals, and

particularly zinc.

This would be a problem if a person consumed large amounts of

phytates; for example, if they ate nothing but soybeans or wheat

bran.

But the phytic acid levels found in a plant-based diet including a

serving or two of soy a day are not high enough to cause mineral

absorption problems for most people eating varied diets.

 

Furthermore, when soy products are fermented - as they

are in tempeh, miso, and many other soyfoods - phytate levels are

reduced to about a third their initial level.

Other methods of soy preparation such as soaking, roasting and

sprouting

also significantly reduce phytate content.

 

While phytates can compromise mineral absorption to some degree,

there is absolutely no reliable evidence that vegetarians who eat

soyfoods " risk severe mineral deficiencies. "

 

The complete adequacy of vegetarian diets is now so thoroughly

proven and documented that even the National Cattlemen's Beef

Association has acknowledged the legitimacy of meatless diets.

 

In an official statement, these representatives of the beef industry

declared, " Well planned vegetarian diets can meet dietary

recommendations for essential nutrients. "

 

While animal studies dating back to the 1950s suggest a link between

soy and thyroid enlargement (goiter), the evidence that soy impairs

thyroid

function in humans is largely theoretical. In other words, we know

that compounds in soy can affect thyroid tissue in laboratory

studies, but what this means for living, breathing humans is less

clear.

Population studies do not show a greater prevalence of thyroid

disease in countries with a high intake of soy, and while some

clinical studies

have found that soy depresses thyroid function in adults, other

research has shown it actually *enhances* it. That debate aside, most

researchers agree that consuming soy at the level needed to get its

heart protecting benefits (about 25 grams per day) is unlikely to

impair thyroid function.

However, if you have a thyroid disorder such as hypothyroidism, a

bit of caution may be in order. Try to keep your soy intake fairly

constant,

have your thyroid hormone levels monitored periodically, and if your

levels fall below normal, consider reducing or eliminating soy from

your diet.

Also be aware that taking thyroid medication at the same time as

soy foods or soy supplements may decrease the drug's absorption, so

avoid taking the two together.

 

It's true that excess consumption of soy can affect thyroid

function, but this is of concern only if you have a thyroid problem

to begin with. All told, I find the epidemiological data on soy

foods very reassuring.

I do not recommend soy *supplements* because of their high

isoflavone content and the lack of epidemiological evidence for

their long-term safety, especially if taken on top of soy foods and

isoflavone -spiked nutraceuticals.

The only people who might need soy isoflavone supplements are those

who are allergic to soy, but they should first try eating tiny

amounts of whole foods regular basis, then gradually increase the

amount of soy to try to develop a tolerance.

 

Excess consumption of soy can affect thyroid function, but is

usually

only a problem in those taking synthroid or other thyroid

replacement medication.

 

www.drwhitaker.com

--

 

Chocolate is high in copper. It does not seem to be a good food for

hyperthyroid patients as the high copper content would suggest.

 

I developed a suspicion that

chocolate is high in cadmium. Searching for medical studies on

cadmium and chocolate led me to only two studies. The first study

below is very suggestive that my suspicion is correct

and that cocoa beans may be high in both cadmium and lead.

 

The second study confirms that chocolate is high in cadmium (and

also nickel). It's possible that the cadmium is introduced to the

cocoa during processing, possibly by contact with galvanized

containers, and is not natural to the food.

Nahrung 1987;31(5-6):635-6