Secret Weapon Against Breast Cancer

Comments: 0 | October 9th, 2017

Secret Weapon Against Breast Cancer

 

“During the past 30 years, iodine levels have dropped 50% in the Unites states, leading to massive increases in thyroid diseases and breast cancer.”

When you think of iodine, your thyroid gland is most likely the first thing that comes to mind.  However, did you know that iodine plays a very important role in breast health, as well?

What is Iodine?

Iodine is an element that is required by your body.  Your body cannot make iodine, so you must obtain it from your diet. Your thyroid gland needs iodine to make thyroid hormones. An iodine deficiency can cause your thyroid gland to enlarge and form a goiter.

The Iodine-Breast Connection

It is well known that the thyroid gland utilizes iodine to produce thyroid hormones.  But did you know that the breast tissue contains one of the highest concentrations of iodine? Iodine deficiency is associated with cyst formation.  These cysts can turn into nodules and with prolonged iodine deficiency, these nodules can become cancerous.

One area in which thyroid and breast functions overlap is in the uptake and utilization of dietary iodide. Experimental findings showing the ability of iodine or iodine-rich seaweed to inhibit breast tumor development is supported by the relatively low rate of breast cancer in Japanese women who consume a diet containing iodine-rich seaweed. (1)

Research studies show that women in Japan have much lower rates of breast cancer than in the Unites States, and it is believed that this is due to their intake of iodine rich foods such as seaweed. Research showed that it suppressed breast cancer in rats by inducing cell death, and it also showed that iodine induced cell death in three kinds of human breast cancer cells. (2) Even more powerful was the conclusion that these effects were stronger than those of a chemotherapy agent. Research also shows that seaweed, which contains iodine, was more effective than tamoxifen in suppressing tumor growth (27%) and exhibited strong anticancer effect with enzyme modulating properties, suggesting its potential as a suppressing agent for mammary gland tumor.  (3)

Sources of Iodine

Americans are deficient in iodine because our soil is depleted of nutrients. The iodine content of most foods depends on the iodine content in the soil. Seafood is rich in iodine because marine animals can concentrate the iodine from seawater.

  • Seaweed
  • Tuna
  • Seafood
  • Iodized Salt
  • Eggs
  • Iodine Supplements
  • Organic Navy Beans
  • Organic Strawberries
  • Organic RawCheese
  • Potatoes
  • Organic Yogurt
  • Cranberries

You can also get iodine form an iodine supplement.

Dr. Hotze on Breast Cancer Prevention

Hormone balance also plays a role in preventing breast cancer.  Take our symptom checker quiz today to find out if you have symptoms of hormone imbalance.

Source: Dr. David Brownstein

Research
1. The Thyroid, Iodine and Breast Cancer
2. Seaweed Prevents Breast Cancer?
3. Comparison of Tamoxifen with Edible Seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii L.) Extract in Suppressing Breast Tumor

 

 

Written By: STEVEN F. HOTZE, M.D.

Steven F. Hotze, M.D., is the founder and CEO of the Hotze Health & Wellness Center, Hotze Vitamins and Physicians Preference Pharmacy International, LLC.

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