How Will You Address Iodine Deficiency?

Hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid symptom can be caused by different reasons but the most common one is because of iodine deficiency. Iodine is essential in the production of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), the two major thyroid hormones. To sum it up, iodine deficiency is the primary cause of an underactive thyroid symptom.

Why is There Iodine Deficiency?

In some places, iodine had been dissolved from agricultural soil, that’s why iodine is at a low level in the common diet. They also say that in mountainous areas that are far from the sea such as the Himalayas and the Andes, rain waters have washed the iodine out of the earth thousands of years ago. This resulted to iodine deficiency problems.

Effects of Iodine Deficiency and How to Address Them

In Moldova where there are pregnant women who have iodine deficiency, around 25,000 children a year are born with brain damage. This illness can lead to cretinism, a reduced brain size and capacity. This can also result to some physical and mental ramifications.

Iodine Deficiency

However in some developed countries, they have overcome iodine deficiency through iodization of salt. In here, iodine is required only in a small amount. Doctors suggested 300-400 mcg/day or a consumption of 2-4 grams of iodized salt assuming that the iodization levels are correct.

Poorly packed or stored salt can have the tendency to lose its iodine in time that the level become lower than the one stated on salt packaging. Anyway it’s so wonderful to know that in places where there is iodization of salt, there has been success in overcoming iodine deficiency. However, in some developed countries like Australia and the United States, there has been a higher level of iodine deficiency as it was expected. This is maybe the cause of a combination of some factors.

An example is the lack of uptake of iodized salt combined with restricted knowledge of the effect of low levels of iodine deficiency. A mild deficiency of iodine during pregnancy, also lack of iodine in the diet of babies and children can reduce intelligence of about 10-15 IQ points permanently.  A change in agricultural methods can also lessen the iodine content of some foods.

In fact due to the effect of a high salt consumption on cardio-vascular health and hypertension (blood pressure) problems, many people tend to reduce their overall salt intake.  A high sodium intake can result to stroke. But people should cut down not their iodized table salt but instead the salt that is incorporated in processed foods. Food manufacturers usually used non-iodized salt in their formulations and salt is the major ingredient in most processed foods and at high levels.

Awareness is Key to Solving Deficiency in Iodine

We should be aware then that we should take adequate amount of iodine from the foods we eat. It is more necessary for pregnant women, and also older people to have iodine in their diet because they are more prone to thyroid problems. They can have iodine thru the foods they eat, through the use of iodized salt or they can take thyroid supplements so that they can help support thyroid health.

Solving iodine deficiency does not merely rely on the need to eat salt. There are other great sources for this trace element. One of the most important sources is kelp while other sources include bread that has high contents of the ingredient known as iodate dough conditioners. There are vegetables that are also known to have rich iodine content. In addition, you can eat mozzarella cheese, eggs, strawberries, fish and shellfish. Yogurt and cow’s milk are great sources as well.

In addition to this, you can also solve iodine deficiency by looking for natural thyroid supplements. There are some great options available in the market and all you need is to search your options. Look for a page that discusses about thyroid health problems and provides you a list of treatments. Proceed to this link: Top Thyroid Supplement.

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