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This post is partially adapted from a chapter in my Essential Thyroid Cookbook Lifestyle Companion Guide. It’s a free download for those who own our #1 bestselling Essential Thyroid Cookbook.

It was originally published here in 2016, received updates in 2023, and has received additional and substantive updates for this version.

This post contains an affiliate link. 

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When it comes to optimizing thyroid health, it’s easy to focus on some of the common factors that influence thyroid hormone output, such as sound nutrition, adrenal support, maximizing thyroid hormone conversion (T4 to T3), balancing blood sugar, and getting plenty of fiber, to name a few.

For those with Hashimoto’s (autoimmune hypothyroidism, which well over 90% of people with hypothyroidism have), these factors can include abstaining from gluten, healing the gut, and being mindful of endocrine/hormone disruptors, including reducing toxic body burden.

What many don’t realize is that there’s a commonly-found endocrine disruptor that’s one of the biggest thyroid offenders—bromine. And when I say “commonly-found,” I do mean common.

Before you continue, please know that I don’t take an alarmist, “the sky is falling” approach to anything. Yes, bromine exposure is common, but if you keep reading, you’ll see there’s a list of things you can do (pretty easy things) to mitigate exposure and risk and also things you can do to excrete bromine.

What is bromine?

Bromine is a halide that competes for the same thyroid gland receptors that uptake iodine, interfering with thyroid hormone production and often resulting in hypothyroidism.

And we know how important iodine is for thyroid function. The thyroid’s job is to absorb iodine and combine it with the amino acid tyrosine. It then converts this iodine/tyrosine combination into T3 and T4. You can read more here about optimizing T4 to T3 conversion. And you can go here for my 2-part series, Your Thyroid + Iodine: 1, 2.

Halides are chemical components of halogens—iodine is part of the halogen family that includes bromine, chlorine (see more below about chlorine), and fluorine. These halides are similar enough to iodine that our thyroid will absorb them. They then accumulate, displacing iodine. So even if you’re getting adequate iodine intake, which many of us aren’t, you can’t use it. It’s referred to as the Bromine Dominance Theory.

Common sources include:

• Brominated fire retardants (found in some carpet padding, mattresses, cars, and electronics)
• Insecticides and pesticides, especially methyl bromide that’s both a soil sterilizer and fumigant used primarily on conventional (non-organic) strawberries from CA and FL, but also conventional tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, citrus, grapes, apples, pears, cherries, nuts, and some grains
• Plastics: especially in computers
• Commercial flours, including commercial baked goods in the form of dough conditioner (potassium bromate)
• Soft drinks, especially Mountain Dew and other citrus-flavored sodas (brominated vegetable oils)
• Some medications, including some inhalers and nasal sprays, ulcer medications, and anesthesia agents
• Industrial emissions near chemical plants or incinerators
• Plastics and dyes manufacturing
• Many pools and hot tubs (bromine gas/bromine-based sanitizers)

Highlight: flame retardants

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, the organobromine compounds used as flame retardants, have been banned in Europe, but not in North America. They’re found in mattresses, pillows, upholstered furniture, carpet padding, building materials, and electronics, which we’re exposed to through not only direct contact, but also dust.

Brominated flame retardants (BFR) have replaced some PBDEs, but they still carry endocrine-disrupting risks because they accumulate in fatty tissue and act as an estrogen-mimicker, which is a risk for all of us…women, men, and children. (It’s always a good idea to avoid any estrogen mimicker.)

Children are especially sensitive to flame retardant chemicals and levels in toddlers have been shown to be three times higher than their mothers. Needless to say, many parents have come to realize that using flame resistant pajamas for their kids isn’t worth the risk. (Flame retardants were added to children’s pajamas and other clothing when smoking was a primary cause of fires, but fewer people smoke nowadays and the majority of homes have smoke detectors.)

Again, I don’t like alarmist tactics, but the health implications of flame retardant chemicals are nothing short of staggering. Many studies have linked them to:

• Cancer, especially of the kidneys, liver, testes, and breasts
• Thyroid issues, including both hypo and hyperthyroidism (1, 2)
• Neurodevelopmental delays in children
• Infertility
• Birth defects
• Lower IQ scores
• Behavioral issues in children (1, 2, 3)
• Endocrine gland disruption

Some studies suggest that exposure to PBDEs lowers TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) during pregnancy, which can have implications for maternal health and fetal development.

According to the Environmental Working Group, “PBDEs are found in the bodies of nearly every American. Laboratory studies show that exposure to minute doses of PBDEs at critical points in development can damage reproductive systems and cause deficits in motor skills, learning, memory and hearing, as well as changes in behavior. In addition, they persist in the environment and therefore bioaccumulate in people.”

In his now-archived article, Flame Retardant Causes Altered Thyroid Hormone Levels, Dr. Joseph Mercola stated, “The U.S. implemented fire safety standards in the 1970s that over time has led to more and more products adopting the use of PBDEs to meet the stringent regulations. For example, as of July 1, 2007, all U.S. mattresses are required to be so flame retardant that they won’t catch on fire even if they’re exposed to the equivalent of a blow torch!”

In my mind, the biggest PBDE offender is commercial mattresses, given that we spend one third of our lives in bed. 

How to minimize bromine exposure:

• Go organic as often as your pocketbook will allow
• Avoid brominated furniture and mattresses—mattresses are one of the worst offenders, again, given that we spend a third of our lives in bed (look for labels like “TB117-2013 compliant without added flame retardants” or GOTS/GOLS-certified products)
• Trade your soft drink for mineral water with a little fruit juice
• Steer clear of commercial bakery products, which is easy when you’re gluten-free
• Keep your home as dust-free as possible
• Filter your air (reach out to me for information on my favorite air filter)
• Use a quality vacuum cleaner that does a good job at trapping particles
• Minimize electronics clutter in bedrooms and living areas
• Check medications for bromine compounds
• Avoid bromine-based disinfectants in pools and hot tubs…while I generally hate chlorine, I’d trade bromine for chlorine any day
• Swim in saltwater pools
• Shower after swimming or hot tub use to wash off halogen residues

Highlight: mattresses, pools, and hot tubs

I realize that switching out a mattress can be an expense. After a great deal of research (like, days of research), I landed on Naturepedic as being the best choice for a nontoxic, flame retardant-free, organic mattress.

If your mattress is relatively new and it’s too soon to scrap it, you can minimize bromine exposure by encasing it inside an organic, waterproof cover. Not plastic! To add another layer of protection, cover it with an organic topper.

Again, I’ll trade bromine for chlorine, but both have implications.

Fortunately, my daughter and I have the luxury of swimming in a private saltwater pool (not ours…I wish). (Ever heard of Swimply? It’s like the Airbnb of swimming pools. You can use this link to get a $10 credit. Please know that I don’t know how long that discount will last.)

But yes, there are times when we’re at a hotel or she wants to go to the water park and I don’t freak out about it…we go. I love the water park, too. And she loves hot tubs at hotels. 

While not a complete shield, applying liquid iodine to the neck has protective benefits. Given that the thyroid has such a high affinity for iodine, applying it topically can saturate local tissue and reduce bromine and chlorine uptake by occupying iodine receptors first. This is similar to how stable iodine is used to block radioactive iodine uptake in nuclear emergencies.

You want to use 1–2 drops (yes, a microdose) of nascent iodine (see below for ordering information) or diluted Lugol’s iodine and apply over the thyroid area. It’s best applied 15–30 minutes before swimming and you can also use it after exposure to replenish iodine and displace bromine.

How to excrete bromine and generally detox the body:

• Support liver function to reduce your overall toxic load and aid in conjugating and eliminating halogens
• Support kidney function (hydration!) and skin health (sweat, sauna, epsom salt baths)
• Repeat: hydration, hydration, hydration (you can reach out to me for information about THE best water for maximum hydration and enhancement of kidney clearance of bromide)
• Ensure that your iodine levels are adequate and increase your Vitamin C intake
• Take activated charcoal or chlorella, both binders that mop up mobilized bromine (see below for ordering information)
• Take clinoptilolite (natural zeolite). This is one of my STRONGEST recommendations for detoxing any contaminant from the body. Read more here about general zeolite benefits. And read more here for more about the specific zeolite product I highly recommend, which includes a dosing guide.

While we live in a world where it’s impossible to steer clear of all toxins and endocrine disruptors, your best defense is offense.

Additionally, you don’t have to buy an in-home sauna (I do have a mini sauna and love it)…many gyms have saunas. 

In the end, I feel that keeping bromine exposure to a minimum is pretty straightforward. All of the other recommendations listed above are relatively simple.

Let’s keep that iodine where it needs to be—in the thyroid gland!

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If you’re in the U.S., you can get the above-mentioned charcoal, chlorella, and nascent iodine (and most anything else you and your family need) at Fullscript, where you’ll get 15% off MSRP on the highest quality supplements. You can set up an account here.

The #1 zeolite in the world (yes, I say this with total confidence…I have hours and hours of research into this) can only be found here. Make sure you see the dosing recommendations in the guide in that prior link.