Widespread Iodine Deficiency Is Lowering IQ

A widespread lack of gestational iodine absorption is responsible for fewer folds (gyrification) in the developing fetal brain.

Iodine is an essential micro-nutrient that is detected in every organ and tissue. It helps alkalize your body's pH, provides your thyroid with the necessary nutrients to produce thyroid hormones, protects against cancer, and is a natural antibacterial agent.

There is a large body of evidence suggesting that low cancer rates in Japan are a result of their substantially higher dietary iodine levels. Iodine has documented antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties.

Iodine's role in gyrification affects the cerebral hemisphere, which is divided into four lobes by sulci and gyri. The sulci (or fissures) are the grooves and the gyri are the "bumps" that can be seen on the surface of the brain. The folding created by the sulci and gyri increases the amount of cerebral cortex that can fit in the skull. This is a developmental process that is a major determiner of a person's potential IQ (intelligence quotient). Fewer folds; less brain matter.

Competing halogens such as bromine, chlorine and fluorine are elected in the absence of iodine; their presence hinders the formation of folds in the developing brain.

Iodine is key to fetal brain development.

These folds are determined in-utero by transplacental thyroxine from the mother. Thyroxine is a brain development hormone made by the thyroid, also known as T4, tetraiodothyronine, or thyroxin, it is principally partially composed of iodine.

A fluoridated, brominated, or chloridated thyroid hormone is an inferior grade hormone, and will not be as effective.

A study has stated that the level of iodine nutrition plays a crucial role in the intellectual development of children. The intelligence damage of children exposed to severe iodine deficiency was profound, demonstrated by 12.45 IQ points loss.

They recovered 8.7 IQ points with maternal iodine supplementation before and during pregnancy. It was found that iodine supplementation before and during pregnancy for women living in severe iodine deficient areas could prevent their children from having an intelligence deficit.

Iodine deficiency affects adults too.

Iodine deficiency also damages adult brains. Even a small deficiency can lower your IQ by up to 15 points.

What you can do.

Start supplementing iodine and (optionally) its main absorption agent, magnesium, ideally taken transdermally (through the skin as a cream).

12.5 mg up to 50 mg of iodine per day is a desirable target, but due to the high levels of environmental halogens, it may be advisable to take more.

• Lugol's iodine or nascent iodine are reliable supplements, as are dietary sources such as seaweed, oysters, eggs, cod, dairy, iodized salt, shrimp, and prunes. Please note that most food crops are grown in soil already deficient of iodine. Some foods (like bread) can have bromine added, which competitively inhibits iodine.


• Chlorinated and fluoridated water should be avoided if possible.


• Bromine: found in pesticides, plastics, some bakery goods, soda, medications, fire retardants, and bromine-based hot tub and swimming pool treatments, ought to be avoided.


• Fluoridated toothpaste and tap water is a big culprit in lowering IQ by competing with iodine in the body as well as having its own toxic effects.