Long before we have our first date, we have attention on our breasts. We love them, we hate them. We want them bigger. We want them smaller. We wonder why guys stare at them. We wish they weren’t in our way. We are embarrassed by them. We flaunt them. No matter what we feel or think about our breasts… they also cause us the most fear when it comes to our health.
It’s interesting that we are more afraid of breast cancer than we are of heart disease, which is up to 10 times more likely to kill us. Yet fewer women develop breast cancer than ever before.
Cancer is NOT inevitable. It’s well understood in both the medical and holistic communities that cancer is mainly a “lifestyle” disease. It’s one that is DEVELOPED in the body due to unhealthy lifestyles, toxins, and imbalances.
Everything that we do from the moment we wake up in the morning to the time we lay our heads on the pillow at night contributes to the factors that can turn on or off the genetic switches that could lead to cancer. This includes what we eat, what we think, what we wear on our bodies, whether or not we exercise or avoid toxins and finally… the use of synthetic hormones or allwoing our hormones to become imbalanced.
Why aren’t mammograms more effective?
It seems so simple. Just catch the disease early, right? It turns out that by the time breast cancer is caught by mammograms, it may have already been growing for decades. “It is therefore misleading to say that cancers are caught ‘early’ with screening. They are caught very late…” Without mammograms, breast cancer may not be caught for 22.8 years. With mammograms, however, breast cancer may grow and spread for 21.4 years. It’s not surprising that mammograms don’t do a better job at preventing breast cancer deaths since the cancer can spread before you can even cut it out. Concerns have even been raised that the trauma from surgery may accelerate the growth of any cancer left behind, which may would help explain why there isn’t more benefit to screening.
Decades ago, a director of a mammogram project, realizing even back then that routine mammograms may not actually be saving women’s lives, asked as she lay on her death bed before succumbing to breast cancer herself, “Are we brainwashing ourselves into thinking that we are making a dramatic impact on a serious disease before we brainwash the public?”
What can you do to slash your chances of developing the disease?
- Ditch the underwire bra. Wearing tight fitting bras can but off the lymph drainage which can contribute to the development of breast cancer. After repeated bouts of inflammation, the breasts develop scar tissue in many places forming cysts. Fibrocystic breast disease is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables to decrease inflammation. Ensure you are getting enough protein in your diet. Stay balanced with REAL FOOD and remove all processed foods and added sugars and preservatives.
- Balance your hormones and nutrients naturally. Ensure that your levels of Vitamin D3, Estradiol, DHEA, Progesterone are all optimal and use ONLY bio-identical hormones in replacement therapy. Iodine deficiency should also be considered. In clinical studies iodine deficient breast tissues show alterations in DNA and increases in estrogen circulation. Numerous studies show fibrocystic breast tissue can be reversed with iodine supplementation and balancing estradiol and progesterone levels in the body.
- Reduce the estrogen burden in your body naturally. It was found that breast cancer declined with the introduction of “tamoxifen,” an estrogen-blocking drug. (we are NOT advocates of the drug but agree whole heartedly that reducing estrogen burdens and balancing estrogen with progesterone in the body is beneficial). Breast cancer death rates clearly plummeted in the United States after the Food and Drug Administration approved tamoxifen in 1990. See our article on tamoxifen
MORE ON IODINE & BREAST HEALTH
The necessity of iodine isn’t exclusive to the thyroid as most people think… the entire body needs it. You might say that your body requires iodine the way a car requires oil — it’s simply necessary for the entire system to function properly. Many people don’t realize that female breast tissue has a greater concentration of iodine and has a special need for iodine. When breast tissue has low iodine levels, health problems can follow.
I’ve heard that Iodine prevents breast cancer. Is this true?
We’ve seen a 30 fold increase in breast diseases in the last 50 years. Research does suggest that some breast cancers are linked to an iodine deficiency. It is a fact that as iodine consumption has gone down, breast cancer rates have gone up. It’s interesting to note that Japanese women consume 25X more dietary iodine than American women and have lower breast cancer rates.
Iodine has been determined to actually alter breast cancer associated gene expressions. It turns off cancer promoting genes and turns on genes that promote cancer cell apoptosis or cellular destruction. (http://www.medsci.org/v05p0189)
Another study proves that large iodine intake does not adversely affect thyroid hormone production or quality. The researchers did this to allay concerns in the medical profession about potential downsides for using iodine against breast cancer. Iodine, a well-known topical antiseptic and antimicrobial agent, also directly kills cancer cells and serves as the key player in our body’s surveillance system for removing abnormal pre-cancer cells. There is considerable medical research to support this statement. Dr. B.A. Eskin published 80 papers over 30 years researching iodine and breast cancer, and he reports that iodine deficiency causes breast cancer and thyroid cancer in humans and animals. Iodine deficiency is also known to cause a pre-cancerous condition called fibrocystic breast disease. Iodine supplementation which not only resolves breast cysts and fibrocystic breast disease, it also resolves ovarian cysts and thyroid cysts.
Can Iodine help with Breast Tenderness and/or Pain?
Often, when a woman has breast pain, she will be frightened and fear the worst. Thankfully, in most cases breast pain is benign and not a reason to panic. One study showed that breast pain alone is a symptom in only seven percent of women who had early-stage breast cancer, and another eight percent presented with both pain and a lump. That said, if you are concerned, see your health care provider.
Breast pain is caused by the fluctuation of fluids. During your menstrual cycle, there is a build-up of fluid in your uterus and your breasts due to inflammatory hormonal changes. When you get your period, some of this fluid leaves your body (when you menstruate). However, the fluid in other parts of your body, like in your breasts, has to be reabsorbed before it can be eliminated.
If you no longer menstruate, it’s still possible for inflammatory hormonal changes to affect your body. This could occur if you eat inflammatory foods, like highly-processed, chemical-laden, or high-glycemic foods. It also occurs when you’re under chronic stress for prolonged periods.
Daily iodine intake can help many women with breast pain. Research shows that those who take iodine in doses ranging from 6 mg to 90 mg per day feel healthier and have a greater sense of well-being. Taking iodine at these levels eliminates breast pain from fibrocystic changes about 70 percent of the time. In one recent study of women with breast pain, more than half of those who took 6 mg of iodine daily reported a significant reduction in overall breast pain.
Iodine decreases the ability of estrogen to adhere to estrogen receptors in the breast.
This ties into the compelling evidence that iodine deficiency is a cause of breast cancer. The ductal cells of the breasts, those most likely to become cancerous, actually have an iodine pump in them, indicating that they have the ability to actively absorb iodine. Iodine taken in doses 100 times the RDA (which is only 100–150 mcg per day) has important benefits. These include its role as an antioxidant, in preventing and treating fibrocystic disease of the breast, and in preventing and treating breast cancer.
I have suggested iodine supplements for women with breast pain and saw excellent results, usually within only two weeks. I recommend a minimum of 12.5 mg/day to start and may have to build up to 50mg daily.
Let’s take a look at the top six things you need to know regarding iodine and its impact on breast health.
Iodine deficiency is a problem that affects up to 40% of the world’s population, including people in America. One of the primary causes is inadequate iodine intake. Food has been a source of iodine but this has been in decline for decades. Bread is a perfect example. Until 1980, iodine was used to condition dough, it was then substituted with bromide, a toxic halogen that offers no benefits and competes with iodine for absorption. Fluoride is another example, it’s a common, toxic halogen that’s present in many water supplies and negatively affects iodine absorption. The decline in iodine consumption has coincided with an increase in breast diseases, certain cancers, thyroid impairment and developmental problems in children.
2. Healthy Breasts Need Iodine
Every cell, organ, and system in the human body needs iodine, and this is doubly true for female breast tissue. Breast tissue has a greater concentration of iodine than the thyroid and the same iodine-transporting proteins used by the thyroid gland. In healthy breast tissue, iodine offers antioxidant benefits. Conversely, iodine deficient breast tissue is susceptible to lipid oxidation, a contributor to many diseases including cancer.
3. What is Fibrocystic Breast Disease?
Fibrocystic breast disease is an extremely common and underreported condition in which hormonally influenced cysts develop in the breast tissue. The cysts, which can cause breast pain and tenderness, especially before menstruation, are fairly easy to detect. In fact, they’re most often detected during at-home examinations and are often a source of immediate anxiety for the women who discover them and fear the worst — breast cancer. Although fibrocystic breast disease itself is often benign, the New England Journal of Medicine has reported that it is a risk factor for breast cancer.
For any client that has fibrocystic breast tissue or cysts of any sort we strongly suggest using our GLUTASOD cream directly on the breast tissues nightly. I personally formulated GLUTASOD cream to help reduce pain and inflammation in the body topically. The 2 main ingredients are GLUTATHIONE and SOD. Glutathione Deficiency is connected to just about every single degenerative disease, illness and health challenge there is! Reducing inflammation is KEY to preventing or healing any disease state in the body. Our GlutaSOD Cream, with an enhanced and super effective combination of Glutathione and Human Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), works perfectly to do just that!
4. Fibrocystic Breast Disease is linked to Iodine Deficiency
Without adequate iodine, breast tissue is susceptible to estrogenic stimulation. That can lead to the production of micro-cysts, and those can lead to fibrocystic breast disease. Animal studies have shown, directly, that depriving breast tissue of iodine is an immediate catalyst for fibrocystic breast disease. Getting your estradiol levels balanced with progesterone and adding in iodine helps to not only prevent fibrocystic breast disease but may actually help reverse it! (see how to check your hormones accurately)
5. Iodine Promotes Breast Health
Although birth control is sometimes used to shrink cysts, many women prefer to avoid its associated health risks and instead opt for iodine supplementation. Not only is iodine safe, but it promotes breast health. A 1993 study reported that iodine supplementation had reduced indications of fibrocystic breast disease. 2004 research found that 50% of women who experienced breast tenderness due to fibrocystic disease had an improvement in their situation after iodine supplementation.
6. Iodine is Even More Important When Breast Feeding
A nursing mother needs enough nutrition to support her own needs and to produce milk for her developing child. Iodine is important for breast health and equally important for normal brain development in children. Iodine deficiency is, in fact, the number 1 cause of developmental problems. Iodine is crucial for a newborn brain and breast milk is the perfect means for supplying iodine to a nursing infant.
The thyroid gland synthesizes thyroid hormones and iodine is an essential trace mineral that is crucial for the thyroid to function properly. Eating foods rich in iodine ensures the thyroid is able to manage metabolism, detoxification, growth and development.
Research has shown that a lack of dietary iodine may lead to enlargement of the thyroid gland, lethargy, fatigue, weakness of the immune system, slow metabolism, autism, weight gain and possibly even mental states such as anxiety and depression.
The good news is that there are many popular foods with iodine, all of which are easy to incorporate into your daily diet along with proper supplementation with our IODINE tablets.
We use ONLY the correct form of iodine in a proven stable supplement: IODINE
Natural IODINE Iodoral tabs
- Tablet form of Lugol solution, providing an amount of total elemental iodine comparable to the average daily intake by mainland Japanese.*
- Supports normal, healthy thyroid function, energy levels, a balanced mood, and whole body wellness.*
- Free of wheat and gluten, corn, soy, yeast, dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish and peanuts.
- Many sensitive individuals who typically react to nutritional supplements are able to tolerate IODORAL
- Established in 1978 by DR, Guy Abraham brought clinical research to evidence-based nutritional formulas. Iodoral is the original high potency iodine supplement. Iodoral is a tablet form of Lugol’s solution, a time-tested preparation with a proven track record for over 150 years. Iodoral is an easy-to-take scored tablet containing 5 mg of iodine and 7.5 mg of iodide as the potassium salt. To avoid gastric irritation, the iodine/iodide preparation is absorbed into a colloidal silica excipient, and a thin coating eliminates the unpleasant taste associated with other iodine supplements.* Iodine is an essential element. One 12.5 mg tablet of Iodoral supplies an amount of total elemental iodine comparable to the average daily intake of this essential element by mainland Japanese. It has been shown that Japanese women living in Japan consume a daily average of 13.8 mg of total elemental iodine, and it has been suggested this is an important factor for supporting health.*
Iodine can actually help your body get rid of potentially harmful elements like lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, mercury and toxic amounts of fluoride. As we have seen in over 1000 Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis tests done in our offices those who have heavy metals are mostly slow metabolizers on a cellular level and show a strong tendency toward hypothyroidism and fatigue with sleep problems.
How does iodine deficiency manifest itself?
Research work has shown that iodine deficiency in the thyroid presents as a thyroid goiter (enlargement of the thyroid). In those areas of the world where iodine deficiency is very high, such as in Switzerland and in certain areas of Asia and Africa, there are also higher incidents of thyroid cancer. Iodine is also concentrated by breast tissue, and a lack of iodine in the breasts manifests as fibrocystic breast disease (painful breasts with nodules and cysts and often more symptomatic prior to menstrual periods). 93% of American women have fibrocystic breast disease and the longer this disease exists, the higher the potential risk for the development of breast cancer. 20% of all iodine in the human body is stored in the skin, specifically in the sweat glands. Lack of iodine in the sweat glands manifests as dry skin with a decreased ability to sweat. Iodine can also be concentrated in the stomach tissue, and the lack of iodine in the stomach manifests as achlorhydria (lack of digestive acid production). Iodine is used by the stomach cells, also known as parietal cells, to concentrate chloride which is necessary to produce hydrochloric acid (digestive acid). With the prolonged presence of achlorhydria, there is a much higher incidence of stomach cancer. Iodine is concentrated in the lacrymal glands of the eye, and a lack of iodine can cause dry eyes. Iodine can also be concentrated in the parotid and submandibular glands of the mouth, and iodine deficiency here can result in dry mouth. Iodine can be concentrated in the ovaries, and Russian studies done some years ago showed a relationship between iodine deficiency and the presence of cysts in the ovaries. The greater the iodine deficiency, the more ovarian cysts a woman produces. In its extreme form, this condition is known as polycystic ovarian disease.
Facts:
1. It is impossible to get enough iodine from iodized salt.
- If you’re allergic to shellfish you can still take iodine supplements! People allergic to shellfish are allergic to the protein molecules in the fish, NOT the iodine!
- Eating dried seaweed or seaweed / Kelp supplements does not give you all the iodine you need!
- The iodine in your multi-vitamin is not sufficient
- Iodine supplementation/replacement will NOT shut down your thyroid function
6. Iodine supplement may cause an increase or fluctuation of your TSH on testing during the first 2-3 months of starting iodine. We usually suggest not testing the TSH until after 90 days of 50mg of iodine supplementation daily. Test ONLY the FREE T3 and FREE T4 and Reverse T3 during this time. If you’re taking “thyroid” (Synthroid, etc.) for hypothyroidism, whether it’s the whole natural variety or the single hormone, synthetic type “ you’ve probably improved your energy levels, become a bit more alert, lowered your cholesterol and improved your overall health. (or maybe you’ve had no real results at all), in either case, unless you’re getting enough iodine you simply won’t get the results needed! There’s a very good chance that you simply are not getting enough iodine even though you eat well and take supplements on a regular basis. - Your body needs at least 15mg of iodine daily to metabolize lipids (fats)
- 50mg of iodine daily reduces cancer cells significantly
9. Your body cannot make hormones without iodine
NUTS FOR BREASTS!
A study done at Harvard called “the Harvard Nurses’ Study”, suggested that early nut consumption may be “a viable means for breast cancer prevention.” A follow-up study involving the daughters of the nurses corroborated the findings. Those eating more peanut butter, nuts, beans, lentils, soybeans, or corn were found to just have a fraction of the risk for fibrocystic breast disease, which places one at higher risk for cancer. And, the protective effects were found to be strongest for those most at risk—the ones with a family history of breast cancer.
A more recent study even found just two handfuls of nuts a week may protect against pancreatic cancer, one of our deadliest cancers. In terms of antioxidant content, walnuts and pecans steal the show. Twenty-five walnuts [have] the antioxidant equivalent of eight grams of vitamin C. That’s like the vitamin C found in a hundred oranges. Ah, but how do they do against cancer?
At Penn State they performed a study… and they fed people whole walnuts, just the walnut oil, or just the walnut skins. And then dripped the participant’s blood on human breast cancer cells in a petri dish over the next six hours. And, the blood of those eating walnuts suppressed the growth of human breast cancer—but just the oil or just the skin didn’t seem to. And, most importantly, these data suggest that some “components of walnuts are [indeed] absorbed, circulate in the [blood], and [can] affect…breast cancer cell proliferation.” This is huge! So eat your walnuts!
What about estrogens for those who have had breast cancer or who want to prevent cancer?
First, let’s ensure you understand that natural estrogens created by our Creator DO NOT CAUSE CANCER. They might feed cancer that is already present. Key word is: MIGHT. When a woman has breast cancer the first thing the doctors do is a biopsy to determine if the tumor or cancer is sensitive to estrogen and/or progesterone. If it shows positive they tell you to remove all estrogen and progesterone from your body! This is terribly wrong-headed. Did you know that brain tissue, heart, joints colon, bone, etc all have estrogen / progesterone receptors? Yet someone with brain cancer or colon cancer is NEVER told to lower their hormones.
Sugar, alcohol, chemicals, and fatty meats are far more damaging to your breast cells and actually do cause cancer and feed cancers. Removing sugars, alcohol, chemicals, and fatty meats has zero negative effects on the body. Removing estrogens from the body (or stopping their flow) will absolutely contribute to CANCER, HEART DISEASE, OSTEOPOROSIS, DEPRESSION, THINNING SKIN, ACHES AND PAINS, POOR SLEEP, POOR DIGESTION, VAGINAL DRYNESS, INABILITY TO HAVE AN ORGASM, URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS, HEADACHES, ANXIETY, HAIR LOSS, ETC. So lowering estrogen might not be the best course of action. (The key is always to balance estrogens with progesterone).
I totally get it that your oncologist or medical doctor has scared the living daylights out of you about estrogen and breast health. I also completely understand the fear that cancer creates. It’s just so important as we age that we also pay attention to the quality of our life. No doctor bothers to educate you to remove sugars, alcohol, chemicals, and fatty meals which we know for certain contribute cancers of all types. Yet one single hormone (if removed) will destroy your quality of life is pounced on. You have to be responsible for your own health. Don’t leave it up to me or any type of doctor to tell you what to do. Get educated and think logically on this.
What’s extremely important is to ensure that your estrogens are in the proper range (not too high and not too low) and well balanced with progesterone in your body. BALANCE is the key.
To recap:
- Take iodine daily in proper form. Our IODORAL has been clinically found to work the best.
- Eat walnuts 12-14 halves 2 to 3 times a week
- Eat a diet rich in antioxidants (mainly plants)
- Remove all processed foods , alcohol, fatty meats (if you choose to eat meats be sure it is organic and clean) and added sugars from your diet.
- Remove implants (controversial but holistically the smartest thing you could do!). After removal, we strongly suggest a 3-month protocol of glutathione push with vitamin C IV’s weekly.
EVERYONE SHOULD READ: THE IODINE CRISIS BY LYNN FARROW
Legal: The information provided is not intended as a means of diagnosis or treating illness or as a replacement for any medicine or advice from a competent physician. Individuals having serious health problems should consult a competent licensed physician specializing in their condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. We assume no responsibility for anyone choosing to self-administer any suggestions in this publication; they do so on their own determinism. The information in this publication is for educational purposes only.
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