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Take Control of Your Health
Thyroid Concerns? Avoid This Common Danger
by Joseph Mercola, D.O.
Dr. Joseph Mercola
of Mercola.com
Bromine is a common endocrine disruptor. Baby Boomers might recall a popular product from the 1950s called Bromo-Seltzer. These effervescent granules were used to treat heartburn, upset stomach, indigestion, headaches and hangovers. Bromo-Seltzer’s original formula contained 3.2 mEq/teaspoon of sodium bromide—hence the name. The sedative effect probably explained its popularity as a hangover remedy. Bromides were withdrawn from the American market in 1975 due to their toxicity.
If you are like most people, you probably haven’t spent much time thinking about how much bromine you’re absorbing. But bromine toxicity is a definite danger from some surprising sources, and it can wreak havoc on your health.
Bromine All Around You
What makes bromine so dangerous is that it competes for the same receptors that are used to capture iodine. If you are exposed to a lot of bromine, your body will not hold on to the iodine that it needs. You are already exposed to far too much bromine. Bromine can be found in a number of places in your everyday world, including:
- Pesticides (specifically methyl bromide, used mainly on strawberries, predominantly in California)
- Plastics, like those used to make computers
- Bakery goods and some flours often contain a dough conditioner called potassium bromate
- Soft drinks (including Mountain Dew,® Gatorade,® Sun-Drop,® Squirt,® Fresca,® and other citrus-flavored sodas), in the form of brominated vegetable oils (BVOs)
- Medications such as Atrovent® Inhaler, Atrovent® Nasal Spray, Pro-Banthine (for ulcers), and anesthesia agents
- Fire retardants (a common one is polybromo diphenyl ethers or PBDEs) used in fabrics, carpets, upholstery, and mattresses
- Bromine-based hot tub and swimming pool treatments
Bromine and Your Thyroid
As stated, bromine exposure depletes your body’s iodine by competing with iodine receptors. Iodine is crucial for thyroid function. Without iodine, your thyroid gland would be unable to produce thyroid hormone. E ven the names of the different forms of thyroid hormone reflect the number of iodine molecules attached—T4 has four attached iodine molecules, and T3 (the biologically active form of the hormone) has three—showing what an important part iodine plays in thyroid biochemistry.
Hypothyroidism is far more prevalent than once thought in the U.S. The latest estimates are that 13 million Americans have hypothyroidism, but the actual numbers are probably higher. Many of these folks may actually have nothing wrong with their thyroid gland at all—they may just be suffering from iodine deficiency.
Tips for Avoiding Bromine and Optimizing Iodine
Here are a few things you can do to minimize your risk:
- Eat organic as often as possible. Wash all produce thoroughly.
- Avoid eating or drinking from (or storing food and water in) plastic containers.
- Look for organic whole-grain breads and flour.
- Look for the “no bromine” or “bromine-free” label on commercial baked goods.
- Avoid sodas.
- Look for personal care products that are as chemical-free as possible.
- When in a car or a building, open windows as often as possible, preferably on opposing sides of the space for cross ventilation. Chemical pollutants are much higher inside buildings (and cars)
