Why Your Diet May Not Be As Rich In Iodine As You Assume

The trace mineral iodine is well known for its crucial role in enabling the body's organize of vital thyroid hormones, but it is also prominent for the health of the immune theory and for optimal brain function. It is widely believed by many authorities that iodine deficiency should never be seen in the affluent West, although this question affects millions throughout the advanced world.

Some nutritionists argue, however, that this approved view is too optimistic, because the content of all minerals in foods is heavily dependent on the mineral content of the soil from which those foods are derived. The assumption must therefore be that the persisting de-mineralisation of farm soils has led to a reduction in the amount of dietary iodine commonly consumed.

Potassium IOdide

Fish and other seafood, however, remain a relatively rich source because these ocean creatures consolidate the sea's iodine in their flesh. Though not commonly eaten in the West, seaweed, or kelp, is also an excellent source of iodine for this reason, and is facilely available in the form of a dietary supplements. Dairy products and confident meats may also be a good source, particularly where iodine is routinely added to farm animal feed. But in countries, together with most of Western Europe, where animals are grazing fields growing on iodine depleted soils, levels are likely to be much lower.

Why Your Diet May Not Be As Rich In Iodine As You Assume

So even in the West, those not together with fish or seafood in their diets, and not using iodised or sea salt, may be at real risk of deficiency. In an exertion to compensate for low levels of dietary iodine, the mineral has been routinely added to ordinary table salt in the Us for many years. But the custom is not as common in the Uk and other European countries, where specially iodised or natural "sea-salt" has been marketed more as a luxury alternative. The question of insufficient dietary iodine has been compounded on both sides of the Atlantic, however, by addition concern about the potential adverse health consequences, particularly high blood pressure, of inordinate salt intake. Many nutritionists, however, regard these fears as exaggerated, and believe that any such potential problems are far less serious than the consequences of an deficiency of iodine, and may be unquestionably resolved by the use of the low sodium salt alternatives available.

Iodine, however, cannot in any case be regarded as a luxury. Its valuable function lies in the yield of the vital thyroid hormones; thyroxine, sometimes known as T4, and tri-iodothyronine, or T3. And as is well known, these hormones are crucially prominent in ensuring a wholesome metabolic rate and the issue of power from food; so an underactive thyroid gland is commonly the villain in cases of inordinate weight gain, particularly where this of sudden onset, and in cases of strangeness in losing weight even when following a sensible reducing programme. A wholesome thyroid gland is also crucial for the optimal functioning of the immune system.

But possibly even more importantly, iodine deficiency is also known as a major cause of avoidable brain damage; a question which the World health Organisation has estimated to affect an spectacular, 50 million habitancy worldwide. Sadly, many of these cases occur in children whose mothers were iodine deficient in pregnancy, resulting in a health of severely retarded brain improvement known as congenital hypothyroidism, or "cretinism". Even where such catastrophic consequences are avoided, iodine deficiency in childhood may also have serious effects on the developing brain, prominent to low power and motivation for learning, and measurable impairment of Iq scores.

Since 2001 the Food and nutrition Board of the Us organize of treatment (Fnb) has prescribed a Recommended Dietary reduction for iodine of 150 mcg for all individuals over 14, rising to 220 mcg for pregnant women and 290 mcg for those breastfeeding. Somewhat confusingly, however, an inordinate consumption of iodine is also linked with a malfunctioning or enlargement of the thyroid gland, as well as mouth ulcers, headaches and gastric upsets, and the Fnb therefore advises an upper safe limit for daily iodine consumption of 1,100 mcg for adults. Most habitancy eating a approved Western diet are unlikely to exceed this level.

With the potential irregularity of pregnant and breastfeeding women, habitancy in the West who use liberal quantities of iodised salt as a quarterly seasoning are unlikely to need supplementary supplements. But many market multi-mineral preparations comprise iodine in inexpensive quantities, normally in the form of potassium iodide, and whilst not possibly strictly necessary, such supplementary doses will do no harm and may be regarded as a useful assurance procedure given that, like all minerals needed by the body, iodine functions best in the proximity of sufficient supplies of all the others. And it should be particularly noted in this context that the effects of any deficiency of iodine may be intensified by any deficiency of selenium, iron or vitamin A.

Why Your Diet May Not Be As Rich In Iodine As You Assume

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