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Fluoride (Fluorine)- Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

Acid/Alkaline :: Acid -forming

What is Fluoride?

Fluorine occurs naturally in the Earth's crust, water, and food as the negatively charged ion, fluoride (F). Fluoride is considered a trace element because only small amounts are present in the body (about 2.6 grams in adults), and because the daily requirement for maintaining dental health is only a few milligrams a day. About 95% of the total body fluoride is found in bones and teeth. Fluoride comes in several forms. It is known by the following names, calcium fluoride, stannous fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, and sodium fluoride. Sodium fluoride is added to most public drinking water.

Uses and Benefits of Fluoride

• Stronger tooth enamel and bones, fewer cavities, fewer bone fractures, less osteoporosis in older women, higher birth weights and higher rates of growth in children, reduces loss of hearing if caused by otospongiosis of the inner ear.
• Also needed for blood, skin, hair and nails.

Recommended Dosage of Fluoride

Recommended intakes of fluoride vary, however the consensus among professionals seems to be no more than 2.5 milligrams daily.

Deficiency Symptoms of Fluoride

• Decay of teeth.
• Curvature of the spine.
• Weak eyesight.

Toxicity: Fluoride remains in the body for a long time, because it is incorporated into the bones. Even just a little over the recommended levels can cause painful and aching bones, stiffness, weakness, chalky white areas on the teeth, brown or pitted teeth, knots on the bones, rapid aging, increased rates of cancer, high death rate (up to three times higher in areas of high fluoride concentration in water supply), sagging and wrinkled skin, scleroderma (hard patches of skin).
People in India sometimes suffer from the bone deformities (ie., hunchback) of skeletal fluorosis even when the fluoride concentration in the water is only 11/2 times the RDA. Hot weather, drinking lots of water, and low protein diets increase fluoride intake and side effects. Large doses of fluoride are extremely poisonous

Rich Food Sources of Fluoride

The prime dietary source for fluoride are typically treated drinking water. However, carrots, turnip and beet greens, dandelion, sunflower seeds, garlic, spinach, green leafy vegetables, nuts (especially almonds), turnip greens, dandelions.

Toxic sources: Fluoride is added to many water supplies and to food processed in areas containing high levels of fluoride. It is added to most toothpastes and may be added to the soil in certain fertilizers. Also found in seafood and oats.