| 1. The rate of iodine intake in the United States | | | | Japan has the lowest infant mortality rate, while |
| has fallen by about 50% in the past 40 years. In | | | | the United States has one of the highest infant |
| 1971, Americans were consuming about 630 | | | | mortality rates. |
| micrograms per day. By 1984, that amount had | | | | 5. Iodine supports the thyroid, an organ which |
| fallen to about 300 micrograms per day. Some | | | | directs the function of many other hormones |
| say the reduction was related to changes in iodine | | | | which support the health and longevity of the |
| usage in the dairy and baking industries. Others | | | | human body. Japanese citizens can expect to live |
| believe the reduction was related to the fact that | | | | on average, 83 years at birth. This is the highest |
| Americans have been relentlessly advised to | | | | life expectancy in the industrialized world. |
| reduce salt intake by various health organizations | | | | Americans lag behind at a life expectancy of 78 |
| and federal agencies. | | | | years. |
| 2. The Japanese consume, on average, about 10 | | | | 6. Iodine has been shown to prevent |
| mg of iodine per day, which is one of the highest | | | | atherosclerosis and improve heart problems such |
| iodine intake levels in the world. American iodine | | | | as cardiac arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation. Heart |
| intake levels are about 100 times less than the | | | | disease mortality rates in the United States are |
| Japanese. | | | | 56% higher than Japan's rates. |
| 3. Iodine deficiencies have a significant and | | | | 7. In the 1950s, Finland had the highest rate of |
| negative impact on breast health. Japanese | | | | coronary heart disease mortality in Europe. In |
| women have the lowest rate of breast cancer | | | | 1963, iodized salt was introduced to the Finnish |
| mortality in the world. American women get | | | | population, and iodine intake in Finland is now the |
| breast cancer at a rate that is 3 times that of | | | | highest in Europe. In addition, selenium was also |
| Japanese women. | | | | added as a crop fertilizer because their soil |
| 4. Sufficient iodine is critical for fetal health. If the | | | | selenium levels were very low. (Selenium has a |
| mother is deficient in iodine during pregnancy, her | | | | supportive interaction with iodine.) In Finland, heart |
| newborn is more likely to have growth and | | | | disease mortality rates have declined more than |
| learning problems. Out of all industrialized countries, | | | | 50% since the 1950s. |