Eating Well - Beaming with Health

178 Tde Commonsense Guide to Eating WeiZ
Fluorine
Fluorine is one hot potato of a mineral. Over the years there
have been many tears and fisticuffs about the question of
fluoridating community water supplies. (A note on definitions:
fluorine is the codger featured in the periodic table as
a yellow gas travelling under the moniker 'F', fluoride is the
biologically active form of fluorine.)
Fluoride plays a role in helping keep calcium in place in
bones and teeth. In bones, it is found in the form of calcium
fluoride, not in the form sodium fluoride, which is added to
our water. Fluoride appears to prevent dental cavities in
growing teeth. It has most effect topically; that is, in direct
contact with teeth or in young children when the teeth have
not yet erupted. A mottling or discolouration of teeth, called
dental fluorosis, is common among young peopIe growing up
with fluoridated water. There is little evidence that drinking
fluoridated water assists adult teeth. Of more concern is the
theory that is steadily gaining strength that an excess of fluoride
(particularly sodium fluoride) over a period of time can lead to
arthritis-like symptoms and even osteoporosis. Adding sodium
fluoride to the drinking water continues in Australia, New
Zealand and parts of America although it has been banned in
Japan, Scandinavia and most of Europe.
Conditions that migAt benefit from extra fluoride
As fluoride is added to our water supply and as a consequence
is also in processed foods that use water, generally no-one
needs extra fluoride. However, the supplement calcium fluoride,
which is given in tiny doses (Calc fluor) may help in
conditions showing a weakness of connective tissues such as
varicose veins and haemorrhoids.