Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — Rule Out Iodine Deficiency

By Tracy Tranchitella, ZRT Laboratory. At the most fundamental level, the beneficial actions of iodine derive from its ability to function as both an antioxidant and an oxidant. These basic qualities also support its effects as an antimicrobial, anti-proliferative and anti-cancer agent. How iodine functions within the human body is determined by its form, the tissue in which it resides and the overall physiological context. Iodine’s role as an antioxidant is determined by its ability to donate electrons and quench free radicals thereby reducing tissue damage and oxidative stress that may lead to chronic disease. As an oxidant, iodine can...

By Tracy Tranchitella The use of iodine dates back to 4th century China where seaweed and burnt sea sponge were effectively used to treat goiter. It was not until 1811 that iodine was isolated as a specific element that exhibited properties similar to the other halogens of bromine, chlorine, and fluorine. In 1829, Jean Guillaume Auguste Lugol, MD, introduced potassium iodide as an effective treatment for the effects of tuberculosis, and John Murray, MD, used iodine to treat croup, asthma, consumption, and other respiratory diseases [1]. Tincture of iodine has been a staple in every first aid kit for the...

The thyroid gland is under constant threat from modern life — oestrogen dominance, chronic stress, iodine and selenium deficiency, heavy metal toxicity and xenoestrogen exposure all suppress its function. This article outlines 7 key action steps you can take to protect your thyroid, from hormone rebalancing and stress reduction to targeted nutritional support and testing.