Guest:John Brookshire, Founder -http://www.magnascent.com/aboutnascentiodine.aspx"Iodine is a naturally occurring mineral found in seawater and soils. It is an essential trace element for life and is found in food and salt that the body requires. Iodine's main role in human biology is as a constituent of thyroid hormones. The thyroid gland actively absorbs iodide from the blood to make and release these hormones back into the blood. Thyroid hormones play a basic role in biology, acting to regulate metabolism. The total deficiency of thyroid hormones can reduce basal metabolic rate up to 50%, while an excessive production of thyroid hormones the basal metabolic rate can be increased by 100%."