Did you know that everyday you have all sorts of little receptors in your body engaged in an Olympic-level competition?  Of course we aren't really aware of it unless it starts to show symptoms.  Once we have symptoms we go to the doctor for treatment.  Here's the thing that irks me - even with treatment if we don't reduce the competition going on in our own bodies then are we doing all we can to achieve the best health.  And then there's this:  how the heck are you supposed to know about the inner-competition going on in your body if no one shares this information?!

Well you know how adamant I am about those damn Xenoestrogens competing with our estrogen receptors?  And I've also told you how too much estrogen and xenoestrogens means that your thyroid hormones have to compete for their own receptors!

Today I'm going to tell you about another competition to be aware about:
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bromine VS Iodine</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bromine competes with iodine receptors used by your thyroid.</p>
Why does it matter?  Here's the trouble, your thyroid requires iodine in order to produce thyroid hormone and it needs to pull it out of your bloodstream to get it.   In fact, if you know anything about thyroid disorders you may have heard of T4 and T3 but did you know what those numbers stand for?  T4 refers to thyroxine which has 4 iodine atoms. T3 refers to triiodothyronine which has 3 iodine atoms.  T4 has to convert to T3 by getting rid of one iodine atom.  It's the T3 that makes it's way into your cells to affect your entire metabolism!  Every single metabolic process is affected by your thyroid hormone.

Now enter Bromine which is EVERYWHERE!
<ul>
	<li>It's in your <strong>kids fire-retardant pj's</strong></li>
	<li>It's on your <strong>strawberries</strong> - Gee no wonder they are on the <a title="EWG - Dirty Dozen" href="http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/" target="_blank">Environmental Working Groups Dirty Dozen Fruits &amp; Vegetables List</a>?</li>
	<li> It's in <strong>your commercially baked bread</strong> if you live in the USA (except maybe California where they would have to label your bread as carcinogenic which prompted most commercial bakeries to stop making brominated bread). <a title="KingArthurFlour - Bromate Story" href="http://www.kingarthurflour.com/professional/bromate.html" target="_blank"> King Arthurs Flour </a>actually educates professional bakers about how to make non-brominated bread right on their website - love that! If you live in the UK or Canada Bromine in food has been banned.</li>
	<li>Its in certain <strong>sugary &amp; citrusy drinks</strong> in the form of Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) - even the name sounds disgusting to me.</li>
	<li>Some <strong>cosmetics, hair dyes, perms</strong> (Oh dear, please don't let that 80's trend come back into style for a whole lot of reasons).  Look for words like Sodium Bromate and Benzalkonium.</li>
	<li><strong>Mattresses &amp; Carpets</strong></li>
	<li><strong>Automobile upholstery</strong>, etc.</li>
	<li><strong>Hot Tub and Swimming Pool Treatments</strong></li>
</ul>
But there are ways to minimize your exposure.  <a title="Dr. Mercola - Bromine" href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/09/05/Another-Poison-Hiding-in-Your-Environment.aspx" target="_blank">Dr. Mercola's article on Bromine</a> is a must read to get the scoop on the the effect bromine has on your thyroid.

The other Halides:

<strong>Flourine:</strong>

<strong></strong>You know that flouride in your toothpaste? It might be wreaking havoc on your thyroid.  <a title="FlourideAlert.org" href="http://www.fluoridealert.org/issues/health/thyroid/" target="_blank">FlourideAlert.org</a>

<strong> Chlorine:</strong>

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<a title="Stats Can Iodine Deficiency" href="http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-625-x/2012001/article/11733-eng.htm" target="_blank"><strong>Iodine Deficiency in Canada (Stats Can Study Canadians Age 3 - 79)</strong></a>

22% of Canadians had a mild iodine deficiency

7% of Canadians have a moderate deficiency

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Iodine Deficiency in United States (

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<strong>Iodine &amp; Fertility</strong>

The World Health Organization has also related iodine deficiency to infertility.  Iodine is most important for women, because it is most highly concentrated in the thyroid, breasts and ovaries.

Iodine deficiency can lead to menstrual irregularities, infertility, early menopause, and ovarian diseases.

To learn more about how iodine deficiency is linked to obesity, cognitive impairment, psychiatric disorders, fibromyalgia, some cancers - like breast cancer, fibrocystic breasts, stomach cancer and cardiovascular health I urge you to check out this informative article on LifeExtension.com:  <a title="The Silent Epidemic of Iodine Deficiency" href="http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2011/oct2011_The-Silent-Epidemic-of-Iodine-Deficiency_01.htm" target="_blank">The Silent Epidemic of Iodine Deficiency</a>