Iodine. The stinging antiseptic. Poison.

And vitally necessary.

We have been told that we need a few micrograms of iodine a day, to prevent thyroid enlargement and insufficiency and to prevent mental retardation. but we can benefit from a few milligrams a day (a milligram is a thousand micrograms) to have other benefits, too:

Strong deterrent of breast cancer

Essentially perfect preventive and cure of fibrocystic breast disease

Fights autoimmune conditions

Helps treat thyroid conditions including if the thyroid is overactive

No direct side effects:safe!

Indirect side effects can occur. Iodine crowds out bromine and fluorine, which in turn are generally bad things to have in our bodies. Or we could say that bromine and fluorine crowd out iodine.

Fluoride, as from toothpaste and city water, has increased effect on cancer and arthritis if iodine is also taken.

Bromine, as from bread with bromine-bleached flour, is an allergen. Ipratropium bromide, a good respiratory drug, has bromide and I wish it did not.

It's good to minimize exposure to bromine and fluorine anyway, but their effects are increased by iodine so avoiding them becomes more important when taking iodine.

I recommend generally 5mg unreduced and 7.5mg reduced iodine for most adults. Yes, it comes in pill form if you don't ant to eat two pounds of kelp daily.