Protect Yourself From the Damaging Effects of Chlorine

Does summer time normally involve time spent in the pool to cool off, exercise or keep the kids busy? I'm sure you are careful about sunscreen to protect from burns, but what are you doing to protect yourself from the damaging effects of chlorine?

When I was young, our normal practice was to rinse off when we came out of the pool in order to remove chlorine and other pool chemicals from our skin. What I have learned since then is that what our skin is exposed to for more than 20 seconds is absorbed, so a rinse after an hour or so playing in the water didn't really protect us. We need to work from the inside.

Remember the Periodic Table?

There is a section of the periodic table that is categorized as the halide elements, including fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide. We encounter these elements on a daily basis in the forms of fluoride in our drinking water and toothpaste, chlorine in our water and pools and cleaning products, bromine in baked goods and iodine in some produce and fish and seaweed.

The cells of your body have receptors for halide elements, but these often are filled with the element to which you have the most exposure, not the greatest need. Iodine is vital for many functions in your body, most notably the production of thyroid hormone and to sensitize estrogen receptors. When your diet and environment overload your body with chlorine, for example, your cells won't be able to absorb iodine at appropriate levels and your thyroid won't be able to function optimally. 

Simple Adjustments to Protect You

There are several simple changes you can make to reduce your exposure to halides that would crowd out iodine from your cell receptors. You can reduce bromine levels by avoiding store-bought baked goods - which will reduce your glycemic load too. Reduce fluoride exposure by choosing non-fluoride toothpaste and filtering your drinking water, which can also reduce your chlorine exposure. 

For boosting your iodine levels, I recommend including kelp sprinkles to supplement your iodine using food. You can mix 1/4-1/2 teaspoons of kelp sprinkles into scrambled eggs, salad dressing, or a smoothie. There are lots of creative options. And if you are eating at a sushi bar, order the seaweed salad for a fresh source.

Should You Take A Supplement?

I don't recommend taking an iodine supplement unless you have tested to verify that you are low. If you spend a lot of time in the pool and are feeling symptoms of low thyroid function (fatigue, sensitivity to cold, weight gain, dry skin or constipation for example), I can help you explore whether you are deficient and guide you in supporting your body.

If you have a history of low thyroid function or even breast or ovarian cysts, I encourage you to explore the iodine imbalance in your body and support better function at the cellular level. You will be amazed at the difference it will make. 

Do you have concerns about your health? I invite you to visit my website at www.PursueWellnessForYou.com and request a Discovery Call to talk about your concerns and how I can help.