![]() That’s why I recommend for everyone to filter the water in their homes. Of course, the amount of chlorine you’re exposed to each time is very small, but research has shown that the cumulative effect of this exposure over time can have a serious impact on your health. You see, you’re not just being exposed to chlorine in swimming pools, it’s in our public water supply as well, meaning you’re getting a dose of chlorine and fluoride every time you drink from an unfiltered tap or take a shower from an unfiltered showerhead. I use a shower head filter in my bathroom, and I also have tap filters installed in all of my sinks. Then, shower afterward using filtered water. If you are going to swim in a chlorinated swimming pool, you can find out what day the pool gets treated and schedule your trips away from that day so that the chlorine levels are lower. You can also swim in natural bodies of water in the summer, which do not contain chlorine. Saltwater pools can potentially be a safe alternative that still allows you to enjoy all the fun of summer swimming. If you have any type of thyroid dysfunction, I recommend limiting your time in chlorinated swimming pools, if possible. How to Reduce Iodine Displacement Caused by Chlorine The higher the concentration of chlorine you have in your body, and the lower your iodine levels are, the more likely it is that your thyroid function will be negatively impacted. ![]() So if chlorine is displacing iodine, your ability to produce thyroid hormones is reduced, which can lead to low thyroid hormone levels and hypothyroidism. Of course, just because chlorine looks like iodine doesn’t mean it can be used to make thyroid hormones. So every time you swim in a chlorinated pool (and take a bath or shower without a water filter), your skin absorbs the chlorine, allowing it to be taken up and stored in your thyroid. ![]() Chlorine is similar enough to iodine that your thyroid will absorb and store it in place of iodine, effectively “displacing” iodine.Īs you know, your skin is your biggest organ and it absorbs many of the chemicals it comes into contact with. Halogens all fall into the same column of the periodic table, which, if you can remember back to your high school chemistry days, means they have very similar properties. Iodine is part of the halogen family, which includes chlorine as well as fluorine and bromine. Unfortunately, your thyroid isn’t perfect at telling the difference between iodine and other substances with very similar chemical structures. Your thyroid converts tyrosine, an amino acid, into thyroglobulin and then attaches between one and four iodine molecules to create the four types of thyroid hormones, T1, T2, T3, and T4.īecause the highest concentration of iodine in your body is in our thyroid gland and iodine is so important for thyroid hormone production, your body is incredibly efficient at absorbing and storing iodine in the thyroid. In my book, The Thyroid Connection, I explain that iodine and tyrosine are the primary building blocks of thyroid hormones. To understand how chlorine can impact your thyroid function, you need to know how your thyroid produces its hormones. ![]() How Chlorine Impacts Your Thyroid Function Let’s take a look at how chlorine impacts your thyroid, and how to minimize its effects. While swimming can be a great way to escape the heat and socialize with family and friends, the chlorine in the water has the potential to disrupt your thyroid function. Summer is in full swing, and if it’s anywhere near as hot where you live as it is here in Texas, you’re probably spending lots of time trying to cool down at the pool.
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