Life Essentials - Multi-Vitamin & Mineral

One gram of refined iodized table salt, which has a high chloride content, contains 77 mcg of iodine. Some experts estimate that only about 10 percent of this iodine can be absorbed by the body. Therefore, a superior form of salt is needed by your body. A better source of iodine and several other trace minerals, which is naturally present in unrefined sea salt, is a wiser choice. It will cost considerably more but, the health benefits are worth it. You can find this type of salt in most health food stores.

Other sources of iodine in our diets comes from dairy products, meat, and eggs. The level of iodine can have varying amounts, though, depending on contents of animal feed. About 40 years ago, iodate was used as a bread stabilizer in commercially produced baked goods, further increasing our iodine intake. Recently this practice has declined, in the last 30 years, with iodate being replaced with bromide as it was considered to be safer. Other dietary sources are certain multivitamins, and ingesting so-called health foods such as kelp. They are, however, largely unregulated and unrecognized.

If you suspect you might be deficient in this necessary trace mineral you can perform a simple self test, although it may not be completely accurate. Paint a two inch spot on a soft skin tissue area such as your inner upper arm, or upper thigh, with tincture of iodine. If it takes longer than 18 hours for the stain to disappear, it is a good indicator you are iodine sufficient. If it absorbs more quickly, say 2 to 3 hours, you may possibly need to supplement. You may, then, want to have a more accurate, in depth, simple saliva or urine test performed.

Iodine utilization problems can be further restricted by ingesting goitrogens (substances that may cause enlargement of the thyroid gland) such as fluoride, bromine and bromides, and chlorine. The neat thing about being sufficient in this mineral, is that Dr. Abraham's work showed that sufficient iodine levels help promote the excretion of toxic minerals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium out of the body, and the halogens fluoride and bromide as well.

Water is the main fluid choice that will help flush these harmful substances out of you, more quickly and efficiently than any other beverage. That is something you will be able to see and feel, as water is the basis for all sound nutritional diet success stories.