Iodine is an essential trace mineral necessary for the production of the thyroid hormoen thyroxine (T4). Although approximately 80% of the dietary intake of iodine is sequestered by the thyroid gland, other tissues concentrate iodine as well. They include salivary glands, the stomach mucosa, the choroid plexus, the mammary glands, prostate tissue and the ovaries. In fact, every cell in our body has iodine receptors. However, iodine is found lacking in the typical western diet to the point that medical testing has shown that 95% to 98% of Americans are deficient. Consequently, as a result of decreased iodine status, sufficient thyroxine cannot be produced by most people, negatively impacting thyroid function and the function of other tissues as well. Other ongoing studies are showing that iodine supplementation can reduce the risk of many cancers such as breast cancer, cancer of the ovary and prostate cancer. Additionally, as another example, published information suggests iodine/iodi