The list of benefits associated with a high intake of omega 3 fatty acids (which are plentiful in fish oil) is long and impressive.  Not only do these fats safeguard the health of your cardiovascular system,  they also support optimal immune function; protect against various cancers including cancer of the breast and prostate; reduce incidence of anxiety and depression; and help protect against neurological diseases such as Alzheimers Disease. 

Type 2 diabetes (once called old age onset diabetes, but now effecting people from all age groups), is reaching epidemic proportions in many western countries, including here in New Zealand.  Most clearly a “life style” disease, type 2 diabetes effects obese and sedentary people in particular.  Besides losing weight, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, one of the most important aids to preventing this devastating disease, is the addition of generous amounts of omega 3 fats to the diet.

With type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to the blood sugar regulating effects of the hormone insulin.  In a healthy body, consumption of sugars or carbohydrates starts to increase the levels of sugar in the blood.  In response to this, the pancreas begins to release insulin into the bloodstream.  It is the job of insulin to take glucose from the blood stream and shunt it across the cell membranes, into the cells.

Every cell has insulin receptors, which effectively allow insulin to communicate with the cell, and “open the door” allowing glucose to flow across the cell membrane.  With type II diabetes, these receptors become insensitive to insulin, and more and more of the hormone is required to move glucose into the cell.

Eventually, the pancreas becomes exhausted and unable to manufacture enough insulin to do the job of regulating blood sugar.  Insulin levels plummet, and blood sugar levels sore, cause havoc with the cardiovascular system, eyes and kidneys.

Wonderful fish oil comes to the rescue in multiple ways.  Firstly, fish oil helps to sensitise insulin receptors to the effects of insulin, preventing the receptor “burnout” characteristic of insulin resistance.

Secondly, fish oil helps to normalise blood fats, thus slowing or preventing much of the cardiovascular damage associated with high blood sugar.  Fish oils lower triglycerides, lower blood pressure, and increase protective HDL cholesterol, while leaving “bad” cholesterol levels unchanged.

Finally, fish oils works as a powerful natural anti-inflammatory.  High levels of inflammatory markers are associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and allergies.

So, have I convinced you that daily fish oil supplements are your best friend?  Make sure the oil you choose is high quality, 100% purified and devoid of contaminants.  A basic daily dose of 2000mg is the suggested supplemental level for most healthy people.  Those with chronic illness should be taking higher doses, as advised by their nutritional health care professional.

ADHD or attention deficit disorder… it’s everywhere!  Kids in their millions are swallowing Ritalin type drugs daily, and in their wake, an ever growing torrent of the newly diagnosed.  Theories about its growing prevalence abound.  Is it modern parenting practice?  Too much TV and screen time?  Too much sugar and processed foods?  I would argue that each of these factors has some impact on childhood behaviour and focus. 

Now there is a new and fairly robust theory, and from my perspective it’s one of the most frightening.  Children whose mothers are exposed to pesticides while they are pregnant are more likely to be destined destined for an ADHD diagnosis.  This recent study published in the Environmental Health Perspectives, shows yet another troubling way in which exposure to organophosphate pesticides can throw the human body into turmoil.

Why do I find this latest finding frightening?  Because organophosphates are everywhere, and it is a rare human being that does not have residues of these powerful chemicals in their bloodstream and tissue.

In this most recent study, researchers tested pregnant women for organophosphate chemicals, and found that the higher the residue in their urine during pregnancy, the more likely their offspring were to have ADHD symptoms at age 5.  A ten times increase in pesticide residues in the mother’s urine, equated to a 500% increase in offspring ADHD by the age of 5.  Interestingly, if the children themselves had organophosphate resides in their urine, but were not exposed in utero, their risk for ADHD still increased, but no as dramatically.  Don’t take too much comfort from this though, as another study demonstrated that children with high organophosphate in the urine were twice as likely as those with undetectable levels to have ADHD.

It hardly seems like rocket science to me.  After all organophosphates are designed to attack the nervous system of bugs, by affecting the neurotransmitters (brain chemicals that carry messages).  One of these affected brain chemicals is acetylcholine, which is vital to the development and function of the human brain.

The good news (yes there is some!) is that swapping to an organic diet during pregnancy, and feeding your children organic fruits and vegetables, will radically decrease organophosphate exposure.  A study in Environmental health Perspectives (2006: 114) looked at pesticide levels in children living in Seattle USA.  For the first five days the children ate their usual shop bought, spayed diet.  For the next five days they ate only organic foods; and finally went back to another 5 days of sprayed foods.  Not surprisingly, researchers found that pesticide residues in their urine were high in the two “conventional food” phases, and virtually non-existent in the organic phase. Take home message?  Organics protect our kids (and us) from damaging and toxic pesticide residues.

In New Zealand the Total Diet Survey has for years demonstrated that our pesticide exposure is many times greater than in other countries.  The 1998 survey estimated Kiwi kids to have organophosphate exposure twenty times greater than their American counterparts! Forget the “clean, green NZ” propaganda.  The truth is that our food and our environment is contaminated with a plethora of agricultural chemicals harmful to our nervous system and hormonal health.

Children actually come out worse off than adults when it comes to pesticide residues, as they eat proportionally more food than adults, and they also tend to eat more fruits and vegetables for their body size.   The latest Total Diet Survey (2003/4) shows that young children get twice as much pesticide in their food compared with adult men.

What to do about all this bad news?  It’s simple really.  Make the choice to pay the extra, and convert your kitchen to organics.  If you can’t go the whole hog, at least convert to organics for the foods most likely to contain organophosphate residues -  bread and wheat products; pears, apples, nectarines, tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce.

Reflux, indigestion, heartburn… whatever you want to call it, it’s a huge pain in the gullet.  It’s also an incredibly common problem plaguing millions of us.  Rather than cut out the coffee, alcohol, rich foods and overeating that contribute to the problem, it’s so much easier to reach for a pill.  And that’s exactly what millions do each day. 

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s) are one of the most widely used class of drugs for reflux and stomach ulcer pain.  They include drugs such as Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid.  In many western countries PPI’s are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs, and in America alone, 2009 sales reached   $13.6 billion.

When your stomach and chest feel like they’re about to burst into flames, do these drugs work?  Yes… they give fairly rapid relief, and prevent ongoing acute episodes of heartburn.  What many don’t realize though, is that these drugs come with some very real side effects and risks.

PPI’s bring their sweet relief by suppressing your stomach production of hydrochloric acid, needed to digest food. Tinkering with stomach acid can lead to some unexpected outcomes, one of which is an increased risk of a really nasty intestinal infection from the bacteria Clostridium difficile.  For some this hard to treat infection will just cause a major case of diarrhea.  For others the outcome may be the surgical removal the colon, or death.

Then there’s the problem of snapping bones with long term or high dose use of PPI’s.  The FDA have just issued a warning that these drugs increase your risk of fracturing your hip, wrist or spine.  The research behind the warning stretches way back to 2007 when a large study demonstrated that those using PPI’s for a year increased their risk of hip fracture by a whopping 44%.

Why?  Because these drugs reduce hydrochloric acid in the stomach, making it difficult to absorb calcium.

So rather than rely on months or years of these drugs to control your digestive problems, try taking some proactive steps yourself.  Cut out all the foods known to trigger reflux – tomato, citrus, chocolate, tea, coffee, alcohol and spicy foods are top of the list.  Cut down your portion size, and start to actually chew your food before you swallow.  Avoid drinking anything for a half hour before or after your meals.  If you’ve still got a problem try a course of high potency quality probiotics for a month to six weeks, and augment with digestive enzymes if needed. 

Lynda Wharton is a registered acupuncturist and naturopath specializing in woman’s health issues.  She is also a widely published columnist and author.  Her latest book “Wellbeing” is available at www.lyndawharton.com

In 2002 a Cancer Research UK study looked in detail at a group of 50,000 women with breast cancer, and another group of 100,000 women without breast cancer. They were especially interested in whether or not women had breast fed their infants. What they found was that the longer a woman had breast fed, the less likely they were to develop breast cancer. For every year of breast feeding a woman’s risk of breast cancer decreased by 4.3%. There was also a 7% reduction in risk of breast cancer for each child born.

You’re probably thinking that 4.3% is not much of a risk reduction for a whole year of breast feeding? Because breast cancer is such a common cancer, in a country like Britain, if every new mum chose to breast feed for an extra six months, it would mean 1000 fewer breast cancer diagnoses each year.

When you look at the global pattern of breast cancer, the western world has by far the highest incidence. Countries in which breast feeding for long periods of time is standard practice (like China and Japan) have much lower rates of breast cancer. Based on global study, researchers have concluded that the incidence of breast cancer in developed countries could be reduced by more than half, if women had the number of births, and duration of breast feeding common in undeveloped countries

It’s still not fully understood exactly how breast feeding protects breasts, but we do know that breastfeeding lowers the levels of some cancer related hormones in a mother’s body. Also, when breast feeding comes to an end the body rids itself of any cells in the breasts that may have DNA damage, and this reduces the risk of breast cancer developing in the future.

If you’re still not convinced that breast feeding is the way to go, here’s another amazing health benefit for your breast fed baby. Breast fed female infants have a 25% lower risk of eventual breast cancer, compared with women who were bottle fed.

In October 2007 the World Cancer Research Fund published one of the most comprehensive reports ever on the link between cancer and lifestyle. One of its ten key recommendations was that mother breastfeed exclusively for six months before adding other foods to an infants diet…. To lower breast cancer risk for both the mum and the baby.

So if you or someone you know is about to become a mum, give them the ultimate mothers day gift… tell them about the amazing health benefits for them and their baby, from choosing breast over bottle.

If you are interested in finding out proactive ways of optimizing your breast health, read “Wellbeing”, by Lynda Wharton, published by Harper Collins. Available in book stores, and online at www.lyndawharton.com

Latest reading this week suggests that I’m fooling myself if I think giving my kids muesli for breakfast is a healthy choice. Last week saw the release of the latest New Zealand Total Diet Survey results. This ongoing food testing looks for pesticide residues in common New Zealand foods. This time it was the turn of the muesli box to come under scrutiny. The results made my hair stand on end!!

Four samples of muesli contained ten pesticide residues. Six of these ten were not just your average garden variety pesticide, but belonged to the list of pesticides highlighted by Pesticide Action Network as highly hazardous pesticides. These chemical nasties pose a known hazard to human health, increasing risk of cancer and endocrine (hormone) disruption.
“Ok”, I hear you say, “I’ll swap to a different cereal to avoid the pesticides”. I don’t like your chances! Bran cereal tested was almost as toxic, containing eight different pesticide residues. The Food Safety Authority (as usual) totally downplayed the findings, pointing out that each of the pesticide residues was below the legal limit. After years of reading and researching the subject of environmental toxins and their effect on our health, I know this reassurance is utter codswollop (don’t you love that word). As the highly clued up, Dr Meriel Watts from the Pesticide Action Network points out, low level exposure to pesticides can cause both cancer and endocrine problems. Add together six different pesticide residues at the breakfast table, each of which are known to cause these problems, and you most definitely have a health risk. Pesticides are always tested in isolation when their potentially negative effects are investigated. Studies show us, that mixing together chemicals which are seemingly “safe” at small doses, can result in new toxic effects.

Overall, in the various food groups tested, 25 different pesticide residues were found, amongst 33 different food types. 19 of the pesticides are on the Pesticide Action Network International list of highly hazardous pesticides.

So, should we all stop eating muesli for breakfast? I don’t think so. It is after all a great way to start the day with whole grains, fruits, nuts, and a low glycemic energy boost. Maybe now though, it’s time to pay the extra and choose the organic version. After all, certified organic muesli doesn’t contain any pesticide residues, and you can be sure as you kids head out into the new day, they’re not taking with them a stomach full of pesticides and toxins.

To your Good Health

Lynda Wharton
www.lyndawharton.com

CoQ10 not just about heart health

CoQ10 is essential for the normal and optimal function of every type of cell in the human body, and not surprisingly there are a multitude of different disease states which have proven responsive to supplementation with this antioxidant. CoQ10 supplements make a huge difference to energy levels as well as strengthening the immune system and boosting our resistance to infection. Supplementing with CoQ10 raises antibody levels and super boosts the killing ability of macrophages (the immune cells which devour bacteria and viruses). Even the normal age related decline in immune function can be slowed with CoQ10 supplementation.

Periodontal disease effects 60% of young adults and 90% of people over 65. It is often the cause of tooth loss with aging, and research has shown that most people with periodontal disease have low levels of CoQ10 in their gum tissue. One study demonstrated that after only three weeks of treatment with CoQ10, patients showed improvements in their periodontal disease consistent with 6 months of normal periodontal disease treatment.

CoQ10 research has also produced some exciting results in the field of cancer research. In one study a group of 32 women with “high risk” breast cancer had CoQ10 included in their treatment protocol. None of them showed signs of further distant metastases, and quality of life improved for all. Six patients showed a partial remission. One of these was given an increased dosage of CoQ10. After two months the mammogram confirmed the tumour had gone. A second patient was then treated. Within three months she was in excellent condition with no residual tumour tissue.

A couple of years ago, researchers from the University of Miami presented their findings at a national cancer conference, showing a very powerful cancer killing ability for CoQ10. Using lab animals and test tube studies, they found that by delivering CoQ10 to breast and prostate cancer cells, they could be triggered into self destruction. CoQ10 was found to greatly inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells, while providing a stabilising effect on normal breast cells.

CoQ10 has also been used successfully to prevent damage to the heart caused by chemotherapy drugs, which can themselves cause serious levels of toxicity with long-term treatment. In one test, seven patients were given CoQ10 daily from before the start of their treatment with a common chemotherapeutic agent. This prevented the decrease in heart function that occurred in the study patients taking the drug without the addition of CoQ10

Supplementing with CoQ10

Research into CoQ10 is extensive and increasing rapidly, but as yet it is still not known exactly how much CoQ10 is required as an ideal “preventative” dose. Research shows that blood levels of CoQ10 and heart function change with supplementation of just 30 – 60mg daily. Many aware cardiologists recommend 100mg of CoQ10 daily to safeguard cardiovascular health. Patients with active heart disease are often prescribed doses of between 400 – 600mg a day. CoQ10 is a fat soluble compound which is best absorbed when taken with a meal containing fat. A recent New Zealand study demonstrated that not all forms of CoQ10 are equally absorbable and bioavailable (NZMJ 8 October 2004, vol 117). Ensure that any supplement you use is in an oil based encapsulated form rather than a tablet, for maximum absorption.

CoQ10 levels can be measured with a blood test. Normal levels are between 0.8 – 1.2 micrograms per milliliter of blood. For therapeutic benefit however, CoQ10 levels need to be increased to 2.5 to 3.5 by supplementation.

Finally, if you decide to supplement with CoQ10 and you are taking any type of cardiac medication it’s important to let your GP know as the effects can be dramatic, and existing medication may need to be reduced or altered. For example, blood pressure may drop significantly, leading to low blood pressure if existing medication is not reduced.

Lynda Wharton
www.lyndawharton.com

When all the studies are added together a clear picture of the cardiovascular benefits of CoQ10 emerges. Therapeutic doses of CoQ10 have been proven to result in:

*Reduction in blood pressure and heart rate
*Reduction in sweating and palpitations
*Reduction in need for cardiovascular drugs
*Decreased chest congestion after heart failure
*Prevention of the negative effects of beta blockers without impairing the positive effects
*Improvement of children with Mitral Valve prolapse.

Statins

Statin drugs are used to reduce cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Statins are the darlings of the pharmaceutical industry, generating $US 14 billion dollars a year in sales. Nearly a quarter of a million New Zealanders take these drugs every day. Despite the fact that the benefits and side effects of these drugs are increasingly controversial, there is no abate to their rapid rise to fame and fortune. The sometimes deadly side effects of statins have been widely discussed in the media, but there is one potentially serious side effect which rarely makes it to the headlines.

Statins interfere with the body’s ability to manufacture its own CoQ10, leading to a drug induced deficiency of this vital cardiac nutrient. Heart failure victims often have abnormally low concentrations of CoQ10 in their heart muscle. Some scientists believe that while statins reduce LDL and total cholesterol levels, they may also increase the risk of sudden heart failure related to CoQ10 deficiency.

A recent small study looked at 14 patients (with no previous history of heart failure) who had received statins for 3 to 6 months. 10 patients showed a worsening of at least one of three different markers of heart function during their treatment. 5 patients had a worsening of all three markers of heart function. Of the ten patients with worsening heart function, 9 were given 100mg of CoQ10 daily for three months while they continued their statin treatment. Of those 9 patients 8 showed an improvement in at least one of the markers, and 5 showed an improvement in all three of the markers of cardiac function. Each of the heart marker abnormalities that developed with statin use in this study are signs of potential heart failure.

In many parts of Europe it is standard practice to prescribe CoQ10 along with a script for statins. Sadly, this is not a widespread practice in New Zealand, and it is common to see CoQ10 deficiency develop within a year of beginning statin therapy. In America a group of 14 concerned scientists and clinicians have petitioned the FDA stating that the muscle destruction and fatigue linked to statin use may actually be a direct result of CoQ10 depletion induced by the drugs.

Muscle pain is another common statin side effect. A small double blind study from the University of Wisconsin suggests that CoQ10 supplementation may significantly reduce the incidence of this problem. 40 patients suffering from statin induced muscle pain were randomly placed in two different groups. One group received 400iu of vitamin E each day for 30 days. The other group received 100mg of CoQ10 daily for 30 days. The CoQ10 group had a significant reduction in muscle pain, with none evident in the vitamin E supplemented group.

Lynda Wharton
www.lyndawharton.com

CoQ10 was first discovered in 1957 when it was isolated from the heart muscles of cows. It took until 1974 before sufficient quantities of CoQ10 could be produced to begin clinical trials with patients. This fat soluble vitamin like substance is present in every cell of the body, as well as occurring naturally in a number of foods including organ meats, soy oil, sardines, mackerel and peanuts. In theory our body can synthesise its own CoQ10 through through a complex 17-step process. In reality though, this process is often impaired, leading to a decrease in CoQ10 levels in the body. A lack of dietary CoQ10 or biochemical changes which cause an increased requirement of this nutrient can also lead to deficiency.

As well as functioning as a powerful antioxidant , CoQ10 serves as a coenzyme for several of the key steps in the production of energy within every cell. Athletes are often lacking in CoQ10 as their high energy production burns through huge amounts of this nutrient. With the widespread use of pharmaceutical drugs, drug induced CoQ10 deficiency is also increasingly common. Statins, beta blockers and tricyclic antidepressants all effect CoQ10 levels adversely.

Heart Health

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the Western world, accounting for over forty percent of all deaths. Research has repeatedly shown that an improvement in cardiovascular health is one of the most significant benefits of CoQ10 supplementation. The heart muscle never gets a chance to rest and with its never ending energy requirements, CoQ10 levels are especially concentrated in the heart muscle. Low levels of CoQ10 in both the blood and tissues are significantly correlated with congestive heart failure. Sometimes the low levels of CoQ10 themselves become a primary contributing factor to the development of heart failure.

Internationally there have been at least 9 placebo-controlled studies investigating the treatment of heart disease with CoQ10. All of them have shown a remarkable benefit from CoQ10 supplementation, as well as demonstrating a high degree of safety. Over 300 papers presented at nine international symposiums devoted solely to the study of CoQ10 have demonstrated the efficacy of CoQ10 for improving heart muscle function while producing no adverse effects or drug interactions.

Most of the clinical trials have involved the use of CoQ10 in addition to, rather than instead of pharmaceutical drugs. Often though, the CoQ10 supplements have allowed the pharmaceutical medication to be discontinued. In one study involving 109 subjects with high blood pressure, 51% were able to stop between 1 and 3 hypertensive drugs at an average of 4.4 months after starting CoQ10. The largest study involving patients with congestive heart failure was carried out in Italy, with 2664 patients. After three months the majority of patients experienced an improvement in a range of symptoms including circulation, shortness of breath, palpitations and sweating.

(if you or anyone you know is taking a statin drug for cholesterol control, don’t miss part 2 of this blog)

Lynda Wharton
www.lyndawharton.com

Recently a large review looked at the efficacy of flu vaccine trials from around the world. Called the Cochrane review, this study aimed at establishing the efficacy of flu vaccination for healthy people under the age of 60, as well as looking at adverse effects.

They looked at 25 clinical trials (all written up in medical journals) in which healthy people aged 14 to 60 received either the flu vaccine or a placebo. In total the trials involved nearly 60,000 participants. The Cochrane reviewers concluded that flu vaccines are effective in reducing influenza A and B, but they do not work against the overwhelming majority of “Influenza Like Illness” that most people experience in the winter, mistakenly believing that they have “the flu”. In truth the reduction of genuine flu cases amongst the immunised group was a modest 6% compared with the incidence in un-immunised subjects.

They also found that the flu vaccine did not reduce the number of working days lost, or reduce the incidence of flu-related complications, deaths or hospitalisations. In fact, study authors stated

“we could not correlate increasing vaccination coverage after 1980 with declining mortality rates in any age group”.

A 2005 review in the Archives of Internal Medicine, based on 14 high quality trials also concluded:

“we recorded no convincing evidence that vaccines can reduce mortality, hospital admissions, serious complications and community transmission of influenza.. Vaccinated babies suffered no fewer ear infections, bronchitis or hospital admissions when compared with unvaccinated babies.”

So, if that leaves you a little bewildered and unsure of how to reduce your risk of flu this winter, some very new Japanese research offers you an exciting, safe and highly effective alternative.

Doctors at the Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, have just completed trials looking at the effect of vitamin D on children’s resistance to the flu. They discovered that supplementing with vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine vitamin”, reduced a child’s risk of contracting the flu, by an enormous 50%. Only one in ten children aged 6 to 15, taking vitamin D in the trial came down with the flu compared with 1 in 5 children taking a “dummy” or placebo pill. Some children were already taking vitamin D supplements from their parents, outside of the trial. When these children were left out of the comparison between supplemented and unsupplemented children, taking vitamin D was then shown to reduce the risk of flu to a third of what it would otherwise be. Interestingly, vitamin D was found to protect against influenza A virus (such as swine flu, H1N1), but not against the less common Influenza B virus.

The children receiving vitamin D were given 1200iu a day for three months. In the first month of the trial, they were just as likely to contract the flu as the placebo group. By month two, when blood vitamin D levels were rising, the difference between the supplemented and un-supplemented groups became evident.

This research is just one of a growing number of studies showing how vital optimum vitamin D levels are for maintaining a healthy and effective immune system.

While this particular study showed the benefits for children, it’s not just children who reap rewards from supplementing with vitamin D – adults, the elderly and pregnant woman all show similar health benefits with vitamin D supplementation.

If you would like to find out about quality, liquid vitamin D supplements for the health of your family over winter, contact me at

lynda@lyndawharton.com

There is significant evidence that abnormal thyroid function (especially under functioning) may increase our risk of breast cancer. Iodine is the trace element vital for a healthy thyroid. Breast cancer patients are much more likely to also suffer from an enlarged thyroid (goitre) than women without breast cancer, and this condition is often caused by iodine deficiency. Iodine levels in the breast tissue of breast cancer patients are very low compared with levels in healthy breasts. While a definitive causal link between breast cancer and thyroid disease (and iodine deficiency) is yet to be proven, there is evidence to suggest such a link may exist.

Lab rats are fed a carcinogenic chemical to induce breast cancer. This is almost 100% effective at inducing breast tumours. Interestingly, when these rats are fed iodine rich lugols solution, before they are exposed to the carcinogen, many of the rats fail to develop breast cancer; and those that do take much longer to develop breast tumours.

Japanese women have one of the lowest breast cancer rates in the world, and yet when they move to western countries they assume the much higher risk of their new country within a generation. One possible explanation is the change in their dietary iodine intake.

Seaweed is a Japanese dietary staple, supplying the average Japanese woman with a high iodine count of around 12mg a day. Contrast this with the pitiful 240mcg a day consumed by the average american woman, and 150mcg or less for Australian and New Zealand women. (1000mcg equates to one mg).

In our corner of the world, iodine deficiency is a widespread and growing health concern. Much of the soil in both Australia and new Zealand is lacking in the trace element iodine, and so the fruits, vegetables and grains grown on the land are also lacking in iodine.

Until the 1980’s iodine was literally a part of our daily bread, as it was used as a dough conditioner. From the 80’s bakers stopped using iodine, replacing it with the dough conditioner bromide, which actually competes for absorption with iodine in the thyroid gland.

Our milk used to contain significant amounts of iodine as a result of the iodine disinfectants used in the milk vats. Iodine disinfectants have now been replaced with chlorine, and dairy content of this iodine has also plummeted.

Iodised salt used to be found on every dinner table. With the health message that salt increases blood pressure, many of us having stopped salting our food. Even those of us who still “salt” often buy uniodised salt and thus miss out this source of iodine.

Even with a balanced diet it is difficult to get enough dietary iodine without supplementing, or making a special effort to include seaweed in your diet. Richest dietary sources of iodine are eggs, fish, shellfish, seaweed (including kelp and nori) and iodised salt. The Recommended Daily Allowance of iodine for adults is 150mcg a day, which many consider to be far too low when you consider that the Japanese women with a very low breast cancer incidence routinely eat 12mg of iodine in their daily diet. It is not advisable to supplement with iodine without the guidance of a health professional.

Lynda Wharton is a health researcher, writer and natural health practitioner with a special interest in women’s health.  She is the author of three women’s health books including “Wellbeing” by Harper Collins.

More at www.lyndawharton.com