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August 7, 2018

How Swimming Pools, Tap Water, Fluoride and Bromide Affect the Thyroid

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Did you know that chlorine found in swimming pools and tap water, fluoride found in tap water and toothpaste and bromide found in baked goods can have a negative affect on the thyroid? I did a quick post on this over on Instagram the other day and didn’t realize it would be such a hot topic, so I thought it would be a good idea to write out some more details so we can all understand how to take the proper steps to protect the thyroid.

How Swimming Pools, Tap Water, Fluoride and Bromide Effects the Thyroid

Before I get into the details, we first need to understand the importance of iodine. 

Iodine and tyrosine are critical for the production of thyroid hormones. When your body sees iodine, it snatches it up and stores it in the thyroid for later use. However, your thyroid has a hard time telling the difference between iodine and other substances that have similar chemical structures. 

This is where chlorine, fluorine, and bromine come into play.

Chlorine, fluorine, bromine and iodine are all halogens. Unfortunately, chlorine, fluorine and bromine are similar enough to iodine that they can be absorbed by the thyroid in place of iodine and “displace” the iodine.

The mechanism behind “halogen displacement” was probably best described by J.C. Jarvis, M.D., who wrote: “The clinical activity of any one of these four halogens is in inverse proportion to its atomic weight. This means that any one of the four can displace the element with a higher atomic weight, but cannot displace an element with a lower atomic weight. For example, fluorine can displace chlorine, bromine and iodine because fluorine has a lower atomic weight than the other three. Similarly, chlorine can displace bromine and iodine because they both have a higher atomic weight. Likewise, bromine can displace iodine from the body because iodine has a higher atomic weight.” (Meaning – all of the other halides replace iodine.)

If these other chemicals displace iodine, then your thyroid won’t be able to produce the proper amount of thyroid hormone needed for your body, leading to low thyroid levels, hypothyroidism and possibly goiter, nodules and cysts.

How Swimming Pools, Tap Water, Fluoride and Bromide Effects the Thyroid

Here are ways iodine can be displaced each day:

  • When you swim in a swimming pool, or bathe in chlorinated water, the skin soaks up the chlorine and can displace the iodine leading to low thyroid hormone levels. 
  • When you drink chlorinated water, this not only can destroy healthy flora in the gut, but it can also displace iodine. 
  • When you drink fluoridated water, the fluoride can displace the iodine.
  • Eating baked goods and pasta with potassium bromate added to the flour can displace the iodine as well. 
  • Brominated fire retardants used on clothing, carpets, and mattresses can release vapors that are inhaled. 
  • Brominated vegetable oil is added to some sodas (like Mountain Dew) and can displace iodine.

Now, I know this can be overwhelming. Just remember, it’s all about baby steps! So, here are some steps you can take to start moving in the right direction:

1. If you swim in a chlorinated pool, I recommend taking an iodine supplement or eating a healthy serving of iodine-rich foods, such as sea vegetables, eggs, raw milk or whole yogurt to provide the body with enough iodine so that the thyroid won’t grab onto chlorine, fluoride or bromine and store it in the thyroid tissues. I personally like to use Iodomere from Standard Process. For kids, of course, I always recommend getting iodine from foods, but if you’re traveling, or if you need an easy way to help your little ones get the additional iodine needed after swimming, I recommend making a roller ball blend with liquid Lugol’s iodine 5% and fractionated coconut oil. Here is the recommended dosage:

Birth to 12 months 1 drop of Lugol’s Iodine 5% in 7 ml of
fractionated coconut oil in a glass roller ball
Shake and then rub 1 swipe
on the inner arm
1-3 years 1 drop of Lugol’s Iodine 5% in 6.5 ml of
fractionated coconut oil in a glass roller ball
Shake and then rub 1 swipe
on the inner arm
3-5 years  1 drop of Lugol’s Iodine 5% in 6ml of
fractionated coconut oil in a glass roller ball
Shake and then rub 1 swipe
on the inner arm
5 years and up 2 drops of Lugol’s Iodine 5% in 10 ml
fractionated coconut oil in a glass roller ball
Shake and then rub 1 swipe
on the inner arm

2. Filter your water. Here are some of my favorite water filters at a variety of different price points:

Clearly Filtered pitcher (use the code ORGANIC15 to save 15%)
Berkey countertop gravity filter (use the code ORGANIC5 to save 5%)
Clearly Filtered under sink filter (use the code ORGANIC15 to save 15%)
Greenfield whole house filtration system – they also have replacement filters that you can use in your Berkey water filter (use the code ORGANIC10 to save 10%)
Radiant Life Shower Filter (use the code CARRIE to save 10%)

3. Avoid using bromated flour or flour that contains potassium bromate. Keep in mind, pastas and baked goods can contain this kind of flour as well. In 1982, researchers in Japan published a series of studies showing that potassium bromate causes cancer in the thyroid in rats and mice. Potassium bromate is illegal in the EU, Canada and Brazil, but is still allowed here in the US.

4. To reduce your exposure to fire retardants, don’t purchase clothing that is sprayed with them, wash all clothing before wearing and, if possible, choose mattresses and carpets that are free of fire-retardants.

If you can’t purchase any kind of filter for your water right now, it’s a good idea to get 3-4 servings of iodine-rich foods into your diet each week. I really love Dr. Cowen’s sea vegetable powder. You can add it to smoothies, salad dressing, soups, bone broth, etc. to get in an extra dose of iodine. 

How Swimming Pools, Tap Water, Fluoride and Bromide Effects the ThyroidHere’s a list of iodine-rich foods:
Wild Sea Vegetables – such as seaweed and dried kelp
Wild Seafood – such as cod or tuna
Raw Milk or Grass-Fed Yogurt
Pastured Eggs

If you’ve had issues with iodine in the past or have thyroid issues and have been told iodine isn’t healthy, then click here to read an article I wrote on the topic. I think it will clear up the confusion for you. 

For further reading:
Interaction of bromine with iodine in the rat thyroid gland at enhanced bromide intake
Effects of the Environment, Chemicals and Drugs on Thyroid Function
Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It by Dr. Brownstein
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3890436/

If you’d like to learn additional steps you can take to help support your thyroid, check out my class, “3 Keys to Thyroid Hormone Balance”. It’s just 45 minutes and I promise you’ll learn something new!

Posts may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Filed Under: Thyroid Disease, Thyroid Disease, Uncategorized | 25 Comments

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25 Comments

  1. Amy F;)

    August 8, 2018 at 3:45 pm

    Thank-you for the helpful, relevant article. :) I have a question about eating seafood/seaweed. My friends all stopped eating anything from the ocean after Fukushima. I kept eating Alaskan salmon, cod, and occasionally seaweeds. I'm the only one with a wonky thyroid out of the group. Is it because I choose to eat seafood that might be contaminated? How can I know for sure that it is safe to continue to eat Pacific ocean foods?
    to Amy F;)" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Amy F;)'>Reply to this comment
    • Deliciously Organic

      August 13, 2018 at 4:55 pm

      It's hard to say why your thyroid is off-balance without knowing your full health history. I would say that if it was an issue of iodine being displaced, then drinking chlorinated water, swimming in chlorinated water, drinking fluoridated water, etc. would have much more of an impact than eating some seafood that might or might not be contaminated.
      to Deliciously Organic" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Deliciously Organic'>Reply to this comment
  2. Ileen

    October 12, 2018 at 3:21 pm

    Thank you, very helpful. What about using bleach to dye your hair, like highlights etc. Does that also affect the Thyroid?
    to Ileen" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Ileen'>Reply to this comment
    • Deliciously Organic

      October 15, 2018 at 5:14 pm

      Good point! Yes, this would also negatively effect the thyroid.
      to Deliciously Organic" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Deliciously Organic'>Reply to this comment
  3. David Randolph

    October 16, 2018 at 7:50 am

    I was already well aware of how fluoride in our water negatively affects our thyroid which is why I use a RO filtration system for my drinking water, but I had no idea that chlorine had a similar effect... Thanks for the wake up call!
    to David Randolph" aria-label='Reply to this comment to David Randolph'>Reply to this comment
    • Sinéad Torley

      August 26, 2021 at 5:18 pm

      Is Volvic bottle water ok to drink when you have hyper parathyroid
      to Sinéad Torley" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Sinéad Torley'>Reply to this comment
  4. Syed

    April 8, 2019 at 11:01 am

    Hello Doctor, Thank you for your comments Last week I was about to drown in a swimming pool and as a result I drunk toomuch water. I came out of pool safe in time But I have noticed swollen thyroid gland elbelow my neck on right side since then. Kindly advise medicine to cure it as soon as possible
    to Syed" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Syed'>Reply to this comment
    • Deliciously Organic

      April 9, 2019 at 12:14 pm

      Legally, I can't give personalized advice unless you're a client. If you'd like to book a consult, give our office, Biodynamic Wellness, a call: 858.259.6000
      to Deliciously Organic" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Deliciously Organic'>Reply to this comment
  5. JG

    January 27, 2020 at 7:51 pm

    I have a 15 year old who is a competitive swimmer and spends about 18 hours in the pool a week practicing. Is a supplement something we should be thinking about. And would you go with the Iodemere from Standard Process for his age? Also is it important to get his Thyroid tested first. I know traditional doctors do not always test for all the thyroid factors?
    to JG" aria-label='Reply to this comment to JG'>Reply to this comment
    • Deliciously Organic

      January 29, 2020 at 10:21 am

      I can't say for sure, but it's definitely something I would look into if my child was a swimmer. I would also get a full thyroid panel once a year to check on things. If you need some help with the right steps for your son, give our office, Biodynamic Wellness, a call. 858.259.6000
      to Deliciously Organic" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Deliciously Organic'>Reply to this comment
  6. Julie

    February 15, 2020 at 3:04 pm

    Hello! When you say 1 drop of Lugol’s 5% you mean 1 little drop or one drop of the full dispenser? Sorry my English is not very good. Thanks! Very useful article.
    to Julie" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Julie'>Reply to this comment
    • Deliciously Organic

      February 25, 2020 at 10:44 am

      One drop. Not a dropper full of liquid.
      to Deliciously Organic" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Deliciously Organic'>Reply to this comment
  7. Karla

    April 17, 2020 at 11:05 pm

    Which of all these recommendations are ok while breast feeding?
    to Karla" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Karla'>Reply to this comment
    • Deliciously Organic

      April 20, 2020 at 12:11 pm

      I would ask your practitioner which steps are best for your situation.
      to Deliciously Organic" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Deliciously Organic'>Reply to this comment
  8. Petretti

    April 28, 2020 at 5:21 am

    Worth reading. Thank you so much!
    to Petretti" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Petretti'>Reply to this comment
  9. Nikki

    November 13, 2020 at 4:29 pm

    I am a swimmer almost daily, and dependent on that for physical exercise because of a work related injury 2 years ago. If I don't swim, I don't walk, sit or stand well!! Do you think that the seaweed and kelp will counter act any chlorine I may absorb? Also, would applying coconut butter to my skin help protect from the absorption? I eat a lot of tuna, fish, greens, fruits daily but also just found nodules and a goiter and have biopsy done next week. There is so much information out there I do not know which direction to go. If its benign I am not interested in surgery now taking medication. I have always done things naturally. I am at my wits end!
    to Nikki" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Nikki'>Reply to this comment
    • Deliciously Organic

      November 16, 2020 at 11:20 am

      I think the steps I give in the article would be very helpful. I don't think that coconut oil would be helpful, as it would be difficult to apply to it every single part of the skin.
      to Deliciously Organic" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Deliciously Organic'>Reply to this comment
  10. Michelle

    June 25, 2021 at 2:01 pm

    Hi! What whole house system do you currently recommend? I have looked at Radiant Life, EcoSmarte, ProOne & Aquasana. I also see 2Pure H2O on the Biodynamic site. Do you still recommend Pelican over these? Thanks for all you do! :)
    to Michelle" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Michelle'>Reply to this comment
    • Deliciously Organic

      June 29, 2021 at 11:12 am

      I still highly recommend the Pelican for a whole house filtration system. :)
      to Deliciously Organic" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Deliciously Organic'>Reply to this comment
      • Christina

        July 10, 2021 at 10:51 pm

        Have you heard of taking Taurine?
        to Christina" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Christina'>Reply to this comment
  11. Allison Smith Sacks

    July 13, 2021 at 4:19 pm

    I have always been a pool swimmer and love it but considering stopping since I do not have access to a chem-free pool. I would love to keep swimming and keep up my iodine supplement, I just don't know how effective it is if the chlorine is preventing it from being absorbed. Do you know have effective iodine supplementation if I am swimming on a regular basis (2x week)?
    to Allison Smith Sacks" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Allison Smith Sacks'>Reply to this comment
  12. Maboomba

    December 30, 2021 at 4:04 pm

    So raw milk has more iodine than pasteurized milk? How does that work?
    to Maboomba" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Maboomba'>Reply to this comment
  13. SL

    July 11, 2022 at 2:29 pm

    Great info. The link to the Pelican shower filter is not working.
    to SL" aria-label='Reply to this comment to SL'>Reply to this comment

Trackbacks

  1. Az uszodavíz, a csapvíz, a fluoridok és a bromid hatása a pajzsmirigyre - Pajzsmirigy szakértői blog says:
    August 8, 2019 at 4:55 am
    […] Forrás: https://deliciouslyorganic.net […]
    to Az uszodavíz, a csapvíz, a fluoridok és a bromid hatása a pajzsmirigyre - Pajzsmirigy szakértői blog" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Az uszodavíz, a csapvíz, a fluoridok és a bromid hatása a pajzsmirigyre - Pajzsmirigy szakértői blog'>Reply to this comment
  2. Toxins In The Bathroom - Medical Articles by Dr. Ray says:
    June 5, 2021 at 4:58 pm
    […] day with a fluoridated toothpaste, use regular, non-fluoridated toothpaste in between. You can also protect your body by taking iodine capsules twice per day to saturate your system with healthy iodine, which makes you more resistant to […]
    to Toxins In The Bathroom - Medical Articles by Dr. Ray" aria-label='Reply to this comment to Toxins In The Bathroom - Medical Articles by Dr. Ray'>Reply to this comment

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Hi, I’m Carrie Vitt, FNTP
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Through unprocessed, organic food and detox I’ve reversed Hashimoto’s disease, chronic migraines, IBS and eczema.

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