Iodized Salt Saves You From Thyroid Issues
Iodized salt may initially sound like a
strange concept. We mostly know iodine as the brown, pungent-smelling
antiseptic we use to sanitize our wounds. How can it be safe for
ingestion? It turns out iodine is one of the trace minerals we need to
consume on a daily basis, but most of us are deficient in it. Just like
fluoride is added to water to help the public consume enough of it,
iodine is added to salt for the same purpose. Today we're taking a look
at iodized salt.
But before we begin our discussion about iodized salt, let's clarify the
meaning of the term trace minerals. According to Brain Balance, these
are minerals we must get from our diet, but only in small quantities.
"The recommended daily allowance for most trace minerals is between .2
and 15 milligrams". There is a list of common trace minerals on their
website, you can read it here.
What is iodine?
It is a trace mineral found naturally in
seafood, dairy, grains, and eggs. The thyroid gland uses it to produce
hormones. These hormones have a function in wound healing, tissue
repair, metabolism regulation, and healthy growth. They also play a role
in the regulation of body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate.
In some parts of the world, it is added to classic old table salt. In
the US, no manufacturer is obliged by law to iodize their salt, and if
they do, they don't even have to state it on the package. The reason for
the fortification of salt with iodine is to prevent an illness called
Goiter disease, in which the thyroid gland grows in an attempt to seek
more iodine.
History of iodine
Medical writings from as early as 3600 BC
in China, show a decrease in goiter size after ingestion of seaweed.
Back then, they still didn't know it was thanks to iodine. The element
was officially discovered and introduced in 1813 by Joseph Louis
Gay-Lussac. He sourced the word iodine from the Greek word ioeides,
meaning violet-colored. The link between iodine and goiter size was made
shortly after.
Problems in the thyroid gland were most prevalent in the US around the
Great Lakes and the Appalachians, far away from the ocean, where the
soil was naturally poor in iodine. In these areas, as well as some
Northwestern parts of the country, "26%–70% of children had clinically
apparent goiter". The distribution of iodized salt became prevalent in
the 1920s in the US. It started in Michigan on 1 May 1924, thanks to
various reports and extensive research done on the effects of iodine on
Goiters disease.
Deficiency
Most of the population may be deficient in
iodine to some extent, or is at risk of being deficient in it. We don't
just mean in the United States- this is a global scale matter. Vegans
and vegetarians are at greater risk, as well as pregnant or
breastfeeding women, since they require more iodine than average. This
shouldn't be cause for concern though; most of the global population
won't experience symptoms as the deficiency is so mild it's almost
undetectable.
But in more severe cases, symptoms can arise and affect daily life.
iodine in Diet
Iodized salt is very accessible, and as
much as half a teaspoon of it a day is enough to meet the daily
recommended dose for iodine. But if you end up consuming more than that
over the course of a day, that's fine. Any intake above the minimum is
very well tolerated by the body. In fact, in order to overdose on iodine
from iodized salt, you'd have to consume over 6 teaspoons of it. And by
now we all know that this is far too much salt- iodized or not.
If you don't want to use iodized salt, you can source your iodine
straight from your food. It is found in abundance in seaweed, codfish,
yogurt, milk, and shrimp, and some smaller amounts can also be found in
eggs, canned tuna, and dried prunes.