A note on fluoride and our philosophy

At Great Spirit, we choose ingredients and processes that align with a natural, wholefood, low intervention approach to health. That includes the water we use in our products - including in well loved Iron Restore iron tonic.

Whether someone personally supports or questions water fluoridation, we believe people appreciate understanding what it is, where it comes from, and how it enters the water supply.

Here are some simple, factual points about fluoride programs in Australia.

Fluoride in Australian water - key facts

Although fluoride is a naturally occurring compound - The fluoride added to public water is not sourced from natural spring water

The compounds used in Australian water fluoridation are industrially produced fluoride chemicals, most commonly:

• Fluorosilicic acid
• Sodium fluorosilicate
• Sodium fluoride

This is one of the reasons we take care with the water used in our formulations, including our Iron Restore, which reflects our commitment to keeping inputs simple and aligned with natural living principles. 

Most fluoridation chemicals originate from the phosphate fertiliser industry

During the processing of phosphate rock for fertiliser production, fluoride gases are released. These gases are captured through pollution control systems and converted into fluorosilicate compounds. These compounds are then processed and supplied as water fluoridation chemicals.

This means the fluoride added to water is recovered from industrial emissions, rather than being mined specifically as a health product.

For a brand rooted in traditional, wholefood nourishment - as seen in products like Iron Restore - this industrial origin simply doesn’t align with our formulation philosophy.

A population approach vs a whole system approach

Fluoride is added to public water supplies as a broad public health strategy aimed at reducing tooth decay, particularly in children. This approach focuses on delivering a single isolated compound across entire populations, rather than tailoring support to individual needs, age, or total exposure.

While fluoridation has been promoted for dental protection, it is also well recognised that excessive fluoride intake during childhood - when teeth are developing - can lead to dental fluorosis, a condition that affects tooth enamel. This highlights one of the challenges of population level dosing through drinking water, where intake varies from person to person and comes from multiple sources beyond water alone.

Fluoride exposure from water is not personalised

Unlike a supplement or nutrient from food, fluoridated water delivers the same substance to: infants, adults, people with kidney conditions, those with high water intake, those with low water intake.

Dosage is not tailored to individual body weight, diet, or total exposure from other sources like toothpaste and processed foods.

This highlights an important difference between public water treatment and the way we formulate our products, where care, intention, and traditional preparation methods - such as those used in Iron Restore - are central.

Fluoride is biologically active

Fluoride interacts with:

• bones
• teeth
• the thyroid system
• mineral metabolism
• neurological health

For this reason, its use continues to be the subject of scientific discussion, particularly around total lifetime exposure and vulnerable populations. Research has suggested that these programs lower IQ levels of those exposed.

Not all countries fluoridate their water

Many European countries do not fluoridate public water and instead use other dental health strategies (such as topical fluoride or public education). Fluoridation policy varies globally based on health philosophy, infrastructure, and public debate.

Why this matters to us

At Great Spirit, our philosophy is simple:

We prefer wholefood, naturally derived nourishment and minimal chemical intervention wherever possible.

So regardless of where someone stands on the fluoridation debate, we choose to:

✔ Use water free from added fluoride in our production
✔ Avoid unnecessary chemical inputs
✔ Keep our formulations aligned with a natural living approach

This is part of the same value system that guides how we make products like Iron Restore - using traditional herbal knowledge, wholefood ingredients, and gentle preparation methods.

Because water is life, and for us, simplicity and purity matter.