Below is a portion of a very good article by Dr. Daniel Pompa. This is the 3rd month his article
has been covered in our newsletter; with one vitamin being covered each month.
Jul 25, 2014 | Posted by Dr. Daniel Pompa, D.C., D.PSc.
The Vitamin Deficiency Epidemic: In a perfect world, the air
would be clean, our oceans and water supplies free of pollution, and everyone
would get their vitamins and minerals from a well-balanced organic diet and
plenty of sunshine. Considering the following wide-spread vitamin deficiencies,
however, this is not the case. Most Americans are deficient in the very
vitamins and minerals essential for basic body function. But vitamin
deficiencies are not at the root of modern disease: the source is toxin-driven
inflammation. To truly impact health, underlying inflammation must be
decreased. Vitamins and minerals play a key role in this process. High-quality
supplements provide nutrients missing from the diet which activate and support
the body’s God-given ability to heal. If you’re reading this right now in
America there’s a good chance you’re deficient in some or all of the five
following vitamins, and if you’re going to take supplements these are the five
to take.
Last 2 months:
Vitamin D, Vitamin K2
Iodine
It’s been estimated that one third of the planet is iodine
deficient. A lack of iodine is linked to Attention Deficit Disorder, brain
function problems, and lowered IQ in children. Iodine plays a key role in brain
development, immunity, and thyroid function. Individuals who suffer from thyroid
conditions are often lacking iodine because the body can’t make thyroid hormone
without it. Iodine is also involved in hormone health. Many women who are
deficient in iodine are also low in an important estrogen called estriol, which
is protective against hormone driven cancers and the effects of toxic estrogen.
Fibrocystic breast issues are also related to iodine deficiency because iodine
cell receptors are located in breast tissue.
Heavy metals in the body further contribute to iodine
deficiency, and many people today are suffering the effects of heavy metal
toxicity without knowing it. Heavy metals compete with iodine at the cellular
level, specifically for the iodine cell receptor. The metals block iodine from
the cell receptor so the body cannot use iodine, and it’s flushed out of your
system and not absorbed.
I believe the epidemic of iodine deficiency is largely due
to the fact that iodine is no longer found in our highly depleted soil and is
deficient in our food supply. Traditionally, soil would be turned over every
seven years and crops rotated, but this is not the case today. A toxic chemical
called glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Round-up and the number
one herbicide sprayed on crops on the planet, is causing major problems.
Glyphosate pulls minerals from the soil and weeds, thereby depleting them of
the very minerals they need to grow. The mid-western part of our country is
particularly affected by this issue because glyphosate is sprayed there
extensively. When lecturing in the mid-west I observe large numbers of thyroid
issues, no doubt correlated to iodine deficiency linked to the overuse of
glyphosate.
What about iodine in iodized table salt? It simply does not
provide enough iodine to make an impact on your health. The best dietary
sources include ocean foods like seaweed and fish, but beware of the quality
and source of your seafood because much of it is contaminated from polluted
waters and contains heavy metals like mercury. The radioactive element cesium
is also a contaminant concern, specifically in seafood caught in the Pacific
Ocean due to the Fukushima disaster.
Other sources of iodine include yogurt, pastured eggs, cow’s milk and
strawberries. If you’re not getting enough iodine in your diet, consider
supplementation. A high quality supplement from Systemic Formulas called TMI
boasts the ideal ratio of iodine to iodide to support thyroid function. Most
people need to supplement iodine due to the difficulty of getting enough of it
from food, and could supplement for a few years when extremely deficient. I
take an iodine supplement sporadically, but recommend getting it from non-toxic
dietary sources as much as possible.
Next month: Magnesium
