Dr. David Brownstein, author of Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, and Dr. Jonathan Wright, author of Dr. Wright’s Guide to Healing Nutrition, along with other functional medicine practitioners, agree on the importance of eating a sufficient amount of foods such as seaweed and kelp that contain iodine or taking an iodine supplement. Brownstein and Wright were featured presenters on Ty Bollinger’s The Truth About Cancer online series.

According to Brownstein and Wright, iodine deficiency is a recognized risk factor in the development of breast and prostate cancers. A fibrocystic condition of the breast, breast cancer and thyroid cancer are considered autoimmune disorders that that have been associated with iodine deficiency.

Japanese researchers have found that iodine suppresses tumor growth in experimental animals and have demonstrated that seaweed, high in iodine, induces apoptosis (cell death) in human breast cancer cells. Japan and Iceland have the highest intake of iodine and the lowest incidence of goiter and breast cancer.

The health professionals also agree that people are not getting enough iodine in their diet. “The amount you get from iodized salt is just barely enough to prevent you from getting a goiter,” says Wright.

To enable iodine to work properly, and also for immune system help and cancer protection, selenium is also required. Consult a functional medicine practitioner before starting supplementation.

Evie Breedlove-Mangapora is a board-certified nurse practitioner who practices and offers nutritional consultations at Wellbridges, located at 9200 Bonita Beach Rd., Ste. 113, in Bonita Springs. For more information call 239-777-4647 or visit InnerEssenceHealth.com.