Healthy Beat

But, the radiation emitted from mammograms triggers the development of breast cancer cells. In other words, instead of preventing cancer, mammograms often lead to over-diagnosis and over-treatment.

Focus on your dietary habits. Increase your iodine intake. Although iodine is primarily associated with the thyroid gland, iodine reserves are more concentrated in the breast. This makes iodine essential for women.

Iodine is also important for the brain development in babies. Iodine reserves in the body guarantee that the baby is getting enough iodine. When it comes to women, iodine deficiency can cause health problems and even breast cancer.

Iodine deficiency and breast cancer

Iodine stimulates the production of estrogen, which increases the risk of developing reproductive cancers and breast cancer. Low iodine levels increase estrogen sensitivity in the breast, and this creates perfect soil for the development of breast cancer.

Dr. Bernard Eskin, a pioneer in iodine research, the lack of iodine in breast tissue leads to pre-cancerous alterations, and iodine can reverse these. Lab studies confirm that iodine can trigger apoptosis and inhibited tumor growth, and normal cells remain intact.

American women today

Breast cancer rates in Japanese women are 66 percent lower than the number in America. It’s iodine that makes all the difference. The US Dietary Reference Intake for iodine is estimated to 150 micrograms, and women in Japan take a dose that’s 25 times higher.

The Western diet lacks iodine, and it’s considered to play a major role to the terrible statistics. Salt is the only source of iodine for most Americans, because the government obliges producers to add iodine to salt as a preventative measure to goiter. But, women avoid salt, and this only added to their lack of iodine.

Environmental toxins also contribute to this problem. These toxins attach to cell receptors for iodine, shut these down, and the body can’t absorb it.

Iodine in nature

Human body isn’t designed to produce iodine, but you can get it from other sources. Eat more cranberries, navy beans, whole potatoes, eggs, tuna, shrimp, salmon, and lobster.

Seaweed is a basic ingredient in Japanese dishes, and it’s packed with iodine. Asian supermarkets and large chain shops sell dried seaweed. Add it to your cooked soups, stews, beans, and other specialties.

A recent Japanese study has shown that seaweed contains 10 times more iodine, and it can fight breast cancer. It was compared to fluorouracil, a common chemo drug.