Bromide:
Revisiting the periodic table, similar elements (halogens) tend to act like one another – but are not the same. A common problem is that Cadmium, being like Zinc, can replace Zinc in the cells although cells cannot use Cadmium to do what they are supposed to do. This is why Cadmium is considered a toxic element. Similarly, Bromide can substitute from Iodine, thus negating the effects of Iodine.
Iodine Deficiency:
Iodine deficiency is so common in the Australian population it may be called a pandemic.
A study by the School of Public health (2006) concluded, “ Our results confirm the existence of inadequate iodine intake in the Australian population …”
A Study at an Australian university teaching hospital (2006) found -
In all the tests I have seen with clients only 3 per cent have the recommended level of Iodine.
Similar studies are available from the USA.
The sources of iodine:
Whilst there is a small amount in some foods in the Western diet, the main source is salt. Eastern countries eat kelp and other seafood products containing Iodine, and also Bromide.
Several significant changes have occurred over the last 25-30 years. Milk used to have Iodine in it which came from the sterilization process of the milk vats. This has changed; sterilization is now done with Chlorine.
Bread making used iodine in the process but this has now been replaced with Bromine (see above).
Dr Pritikin did his best to eliminate salt from our diets and did a very good job. The argument was that salt causes high blood pressure, which I learned at the International Genetics Conference is not true for over 90 per cent of the population. Only those with a particular polymorphism are affected.
The Heart Foundation is still issuing a warning about salt consumption, which is exasperating the problem.
Most of the salt now used does not contain much iodine. You need to buy genuine sea salt or iodised salt to get the iodine.
Over the same period of time as Iodine disappeared from our diet we have seen an increase in many health problems, the best-documented being breast cancer.
Quoting USA statistics:-
In 1970 breast cancer affected 1 in 20 or 5%
Now it affects 1 in 6 or 12.5%
The increase is 1% per annum
In Australia the quoted figure is 1 in 8 and rising.
Whilst accurate statistics are more difficult to obtain it seems other cancers are also on the rise, the inference being that the lack of Iodine causes cancer. This is not true. However, it is well established that Iodine will inhibit some of the factors that do cause cancer.
Also note that Selenium and Vitamin D3 (which is a hormone) also assist in inhibiting cancer.
During pregnancy the foetus is totally reliant on the mother for its Iodine, and after birth it must get Iodine from the breast milk. If the mother is low in Iodine (see above) the baby will be deprived of sufficient Iodine which may cause the CNS (Central Nervous System) to not develop properly. | 
