Californians Scramble For Potassium Iodine -- Natural Source In Seaweed

Blessed by natural beauty and cursed with the threat of earthquakes, floods and wildfires, California is often in the national and international news. Currently, we're receiving press for the plume of radiation supposedly streaming across the Pacific from Japan. An absurd article in the New York Times (here) asserts: "This is a part of the world where people accept — perhaps even secretly enjoy — the reality that they may be living on the edge of disaster." No. We're not thrilled by the threat of disaster; we accept the risk because the payoff is tremendous: so many diverse places to visit within easy driving distance (Yosemite, Death Valley, San Francisco, Palm Springs, Baja, Big Sur...), a tolerant and easy-going (mostly) population, perfect weather (in Central and Southern California) and great food (fresh fruit and vegetables year round). And, no, we are not "hardy" as the article suggests. We are actually very sensitive to our environment and physical state, always concerned about health, getting enough exercise, eating healthfully...so the threat of nuclear contamination has most of us concerned. Those who hadn't already stocked up on supplies to be ready for the earthquake are now doing so in preparation for contaminated food supply (here). Potassium iodine is sold out at most stores (here) as Californian let fear vanquish reason. Tablets are sold out even though the Center for Disease Control says they only provide 24 hours of protection and the FDA admonishes that a dose "works best if used within 3-4 hours of exposure", plus anyone over 40 should not take it. Potassium iodine doesn't block radiation from entering the body or stop damage to cells outside the thyroid; it only "fills" the thyroid with iodine so ionizing iodine from radiation particles won't enter the thyroid. As of now, there is no detectable radiation in California from Japan (here). Put all this together--no radiation, potassium iodine only works well within a short period of time and is contraindicated for adults--the conclusion is to not be concerned.

But, we are Californians and so we turn to sea vegetables, a natural source of potassium iodine that are healthy and nutritious with no side effects. We're stocking up on Japanese food--nori, kelp, seagrass and miso (read scientific study on miso here) My friend Nicky, who owns Potent Sea with her husband Chris, is working around the clock to get a new batch of Sea Vegetables ready by next Thursday. You can bet I have my order in.