Leah Korkis

At last! Some good news from the FDA. They've finally banned brominated vegetable oils from most beverages. Brominated vegetable oils are added to prevent citrus drinks from separating. However, bromine has been linked to cysts and dysfunction in the thyroid and mammary glands. This is likely due to the bromine ion disrupting normal iodine processing within these organs. Both ions have a negative charge of one and our body's enzymes and membrane transporters can get the two ions mixed up with problematic effects. Iodine is a nutrient. Bromine is not and can promote oxidation and oxidative stress in our cells with damaging effects at levels as low as 0.1 parts per million. Whether you drink these sorts of beverages or not, you can still develop cysts in these glands due to low dietary iodine and/or high bromine intake from other processed ingredients, like brominated flour. (Among other factors, such as coffee or large amounts of dairy fat) In my experience, high-iodine foods can help alleviate painful breast cysts and help restore thyroid function, too! I usually recommend dulse seaweed see my supplements page by visiting my website then click on the search icon and type "recommended supplements" also the link is in the first comment below.