Enjoy the latest installment of Dr. Lowell Keppel’s “Good to Know” series for practitioners.
Though summertime is in our rearview mirror, it’s not too late to talk about an issue that could potentially set children up for a lifetime of health problems: the dangers of swimming in outdoor and indoor chlorine pools.
Pulmonologist Rachel Taliercio, DO, explains that “the main concern with indoor pools is the chlorine, which is used as a disinfecting agent.” Indoor pools can expose children to higher levels of chlorine in the air and increase their risk of developing lung-related problems.
What about outdoor pools when summertime rolls around again? Most are regulated with chlorine to help with the pH and kill germs. Though the amount is only about one part per million, we don’t know how much chlorine is absorbed through our skin or how much we swallow.
Younger children swallow more water and tend to stay in the water much longer than adults. Given that, we should consider how to alleviate this toxic load for them.
If iodine is lacking in the body, chlorine and fluorine will attach to the iodine receptors in the body’s tissues because they are both in the same halogen family. These toxic chemicals can cause severe problems for the thyroid. So, what should we do?
Start by educating your patients about the following daily supplements that will help their children:
Min-Tran (3-6 per day). Equal parts calcium lactate and organically bound minerals, Min-Tran contains potassium and iodine along with other alkaline-ash minerals. The iodine helps supply the thyroid, while the calcium gives the skin some protection from sun exposure. Meanwhile, the potassium helps calm the nervous system and aids in the digestion of carbohydrates (a definite plus if there is increased sugar intake).
Cataplex F Tablets (3-6 per day). This product is a must for moving calcium to the skin and balancing all the vitamin D generated by sun exposure. It also provides the fatty acids that raise blood iodine levels and ultimately protects all the cell membranes in the tissues.
Prolamine Iodine (1-3 per day). Use as an iodine supplement to support healthy thyroid function in children. (Adults should consider Prolamine Iodine Plus.)
Taking action while the children are small will go a long way to protecting their thyroids from future issues.
For all swimmers reaching their teenage years, consider adding Symplex F or Symplex M to protect the endocrine system. How long? For life.
Image from iStock/AlexBard (main), Stephen Barnes (post).
Dr. Keppel received a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Logan College of Chiropractic in 1983, following an associate degree in science from Southwestern Michigan Community College. He became certified in Neuro-Emotional Technique in 1999, having studied directly under the program’s founder, Dr. Scott Walker. He has undertaken a variety of further training, including herbology, spinal rehabilitation, and ongoing nutritional education.
Dr. Keppel knows there is always some seminar, book or journal that might deepen his knowledge or contribute one more bit of information that he can directly translate into an effective treatment. He gives sound advice from the perspective of clinical experience and years of practice.
More recently, Dr. Keppel has been teaching seminars for Standard Process West. He has become their in-house chiropractor and is recognized as a mentor for other practitioners throughout the greater Denver area.
For more information, visit his website at DoctorKeppel.com, check out his YouTube channel, or contact him directly at drkeppel@gmail.com.
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