Breast Cancer, Iodine and Thyroid ~ A Study
Dr. Kasia Kines, Nutritionist, CEO and founder of EBV Educational Institute
Virtual clinic serving the US and globally
[email protected]
Researchers now believe that there is a link between thyroid and breast cancer and that the common link may be contributed to by iodine deficiency. It has been found that breast cancer patients have unusually high levels of thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies (these are Hashimoto’s antibodies). Click here to read the full study.
In animal research, there have been links between certain types of cancer and prolonged iodine deficiency.
This gets a little tricky, in my opinion. First, every cell membrane has receptors for iodine and I also see in my clinical practice that patients with breast cancer are deficient in iodine to the point that I always recommend that they test their iodine level. Quite a lot of iodine actually goes into the breast and its absence increases estrogen, increasing the risk of cancer. I have an interesting observation about breast and iodine. Could it be that the iodine concentration is high in breast to protect the infant from infections? We know that iodine topically is very effective against bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses and can be used to treat both acute and chronic wounds. In other words, it is highly antimicrobial, although most of us have forgotten about it. It would be ingenious of the mother’s body to keep the stores of iodine in the breast to both protect the infant from infection and to keep estrogen in check. FYI, in our current reality, excess estrogen comes pesticides, herbicides and other toxins, so if you are interested in protecting your breast, you do want to invest in organic product, a water filter and possibly an air filter as well.
Getting iodine in your diet?
Depending where you look, there are claims that up to 74% of American adults do not consume enough iodine. If that is true, then we are missing out on possibly one of the most protective anti-cancer nutrients.
Iodine in our Daily Lifestyle
I cannot recommend iodized salt in good conscience, and I personally avoid this chemical. But the best salt, Celtic sea salt, does not contain iodine for our needs. What can we do? Either get a multivitamin with the traditional 150mcg iodine or eat more seaweed. A little bit of iodine is available in various foods, and remember that we are talking about micrograms and not milligrams. There is 1000 micrograms in 1 milligram. However, the content of iodine in produce depends where you live. If you live closer to a coast with salty water, then you should be ok, but if it is lake water, like Great Lakes, the risk of iodine deficiency is higher. I grew up in a resort town on the Baltic sea and we had people coming from all over the country all year to “inhale the iodine-rich air”. That is how I grew up! Seaweed is the highest source of iodine and only a little is needed of it, but it is not that popular in a western diet. Still, give it a try. Check my miso soup with wakame seaweed, which I really love. Eat some sushi or get some sushi strips and have them as a snack.
If you have concerns that the radioactive fallout from Japan is still polluting the Japanese seaweed, try the Seaweedman.com family farm off the coast of Maine, as far away from Japan as can be! However, he sells large amounts, so you will have to spread the love among friends and family willing to give it a try. He has varieties of seaweeds. For example, you can get a soup mix in a bag. All you do is sprinkle some into your soup as you cook it.
Some Other Examples of Iodine:
- 1 T of seaweed is up to 750mcg iodine depending on the seaweed (500% of the recommended daily 150mcg)
- 1 nori sheet 48mcg (32%)
- 4 oz scallops 135mcg (90%)
- 4 oz cod 132mcg (88%)
- 1 egg 27mcg (19%)
- 1 cup strawberries is about 13mcg (9%)
Iodine losses:
We sweat out iodine in exercise and if you cook seaweeds in a soup, cover the pot or you will also lose iodine in cooking. It is volatile. Remember how i mentioned growing up in my hometown where people traveled from a-far just to take daily walks on the beach (even in winter cold) to breathe in the iodine??? Exactly.
Complication of iodine, breast cancer and thyroid…
Why did I mention that there is a complication? There are enough studies to raise an eyebrow about iodine being contraindicated in autoimmune thyroid disorder called Hashimoto’s. In some studies, Hashimoto’s improved with iodine restriction at less than 100mcg iodine intake (a common multivitamin contains 150mcg) and higher levels of iodine have been shown again and again in studies to trigger thyroid antibodies, indicating that people with Hashimoto’s should avoid iodine. If up to 95% of hypothyroidism in the US may actually be the autoimmune Hashimoto’s, then we do have a dilemma. Would that mean that we cannot eat sushi? This is a very complicated issue because, just as I mentioned earlier, every cell has receptors for iodine, and women need it in breast to protect from excess estrogen and thus increased risk of cancer.
I would recommend that people with Hashimoto’s monitor their iodine level with their PCP in blood work and avoid iodine in supplements and table salt to avoid excess iodine and increased signaling of thyroid antibodies. It is possible that just a little seaweed will go a long way, especially just a nori sheet. A little of iodine from foods alone may not be problematic. The jury is still out there and I will continue updating you on the newest data on this issue. One thing you CAN do instantly to decrease excess estrogen is invest in organics and decrease chemicals in your air, water, cleaners, lawn care, and cosmetics! To your health!
Dr. Kasia Kines, Nutritionist, CEO and founder of EBV Educational Institute
Virtual clinic serving the US and globally
[email protected]
LEAVE A COMMENT
If you want to transform your life, if you want health and wellness, if you want peace of mind, there isn’t a better investment than working with Kasia.~ Beth
7 Comments
Posted on June 27, 2017 at 8:52 AM by Kim Cooperman
Loved this info Kasia! Thankfully no Hashi’s here but I certainly agree that iodine is still needed for most of us. I take Source, a seaweed developed originally for horses and marketed as Micro Max for humans. Not plugging this…. just found the horses did great with it over time and decided to use it too. Exact same product. Has relatively low levels of iodine as compared to kelp and may be a good option for those with Hashi’s who wish to use a food supplement. BTW, I attribute my never developing auto-immune issues to the fact that I have taken probiotics on and off since in my 20s (mostly on) and also my exposure to animals and farm life. I am very lucky! Best to you dear girl and thanks! Hugs! Kim C 🙂
Posted on June 27, 2017 at 8:56 AM by michael moore
Thanks for the article. I have Hashimoto’s and my thyroid peroxidase is extremely high, 175 – 281. My doctor had me eliminate dairy to see if it went down. It did but only from 286 to 261. I take Nutrient 950, no Fe, as my multi-vitamin and will check the iodine content. I do not see iodine on any of my recent blood tests. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.
Posted on June 27, 2017 at 9:29 AM by Kasia Kines
Hello Michael,
HT means that the body is fighting for you. Most believe the immune system is confused and attacks your thyroid. But i disagree. In too many cases, there is an underlying bacterial or viral infection. In particular, chronic activated/reactivated EBV is of concern. Gluten is also even more important to take out to see if TPO calms down. I do work with these complicated issues every day in my practice. I now screen all my HT patients or suspected HT for EBV. I cannot stress it enough. There are some safe products with gentle iodine. But too much iodine for HT can worsen things. I would love to help you out with all this. My Intro Session may be a great idea for you!!!
Posted on June 27, 2017 at 9:31 AM by Kasia Kines
Right on Kim!!! Children that grow up with animals have a much stronger and tolerant immune system. I have no doubt that all you have done has helped you. I know that people that work with horses have to be VERY careful and selective about their diet. Because with horses you cannot compromise. I wish the same was true for humans. We compromise all the time!!!! Keep it up!!!!
Posted on June 27, 2017 at 9:21 PM by Dan
any good supplements for iodine? is Pink Salt good?
Posted on June 27, 2017 at 10:35 PM by Kasia Kines
Pink salt can be contaminated – that is not a clean industry unless you know where that salt comes from. The easiest and cleanest iodine i found so far is Detoxadine by Global Healing Center. It is a nascent form.
Posted on July 27, 2017 at 10:25 AM by Kasia Kines
Even better Dan would be the good old Lugol’s topical solution because it contains both iodine and iodide.