Swimmers Beware: Hypothyroidism & The Link To Swimming Pools

Our thyroid, the butterfly-shaped gland that sits in our throats, is the one of the most sensitive glands we have. Thyroid cancer is now the fastest growing type of cancer, and epidemic levels of Hypothyroidism plague our populations. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases,

"Nearly 5 out of 100 Americans ages 12 years and older have hypothyroidism." 

Lately, I have noticed that many elite swimmers may be experiencing thyroid complications due to their high levels of exposure to chlorine and bromine in swimming pools. 

For example, the water purification experts at Opus note that:

"Chlorine, flourine, and fluoride are chemically related to iodine and compete with it, blocking iodine receptors in the thyroid gland. Another is likely related to toxic substances which are produced when drinking water is chlorinated, and later when chlorinated drinking water mixes with plant phytochemicals in food. Rather than feeding the body’s endocrine glands as nature intended, the many hormone-like plant micronutrients found in food are altered by chlorine and turned into mutagens that do permanent damage to the glands."

My suggestion is to support the body's clearing of these toxins with chlorella and cilantro. Chlorella and cilantro are both excellent natural detoxifiers that support liver health and can be taken in supplement form, as a powder or in drops.

If you have the "cilantro gene", a SNP that makes cilantro taste like soap, then a supplemental form of glutathione is another option, working as a heavy metal and chemical chelator. However, if you are sulfur-sensitive, skip the glutathione and stick to the chlorella instead, as glutathione is sulfur-derived and may prove to be irritating to sulfur-sensitive systems. 

Parents: if your child is a year-round swimmer and is lethargic, gets cold easily, suffers from constipation, hair loss, brittle nails or a sluggish metabolism, make an appointment with their GP to have their thyroid gland checked. As a prophylactic measure, you can increase their fiber intake to help with liver detoxification, and use chlorella and cilantro drops in a glass of water as a nightly tonic. 

To The Tru Of You,

This highlights the potential link between hypothyroidism and exposure to chlorine and bromine in swimming pools, particularly among elite swimmers. It suggests using chlorella and cilantro as natural detoxifiers to support the body's clearance of toxins but advises caution for those who are sulfur sensitive. The article also recommends parents to monitor their child's thyroid health if they are year-round swimmers and suggests increasing fiber intake and using chlorella and cilantro drops as a nightly tonic as preventive measures.