Lifestyle Mania Blogspot is here to serve you better. In this article, we will examine the importance of iodine in our lives. Because iodine is an essential mineral, it must be consumed through your diet or as a supplement. Foods contain it, but the amount is difficult to determine. Regular consumption of iodized salt is required by the vast majority of the population if they are to consume the recommended amount each day.
What is Iodine
The mineral iodine, also known as iodide but I'd love to call it seaweed, is naturally found in soil and ocean waters. The mineral iodine is found in a variety of saltwater and plant-based foods, but it is most widely available in iodized salt.
Iodine must be consumed in sufficient quantities in the diet. Hormones, foetal development, and other functions are controlled by it.
It is possible that your doctor will recommend iodine supplementation in the event that your levels are low. Without first consulting your physician, you should not be taking supplements.
You can learn more about iodine's uses and side effects, and about the recommended daily amounts for each age group, by reading on.
Table of Contents
1. What Are the Benefits And Uses of Iodine?
2. Food Sources of Iodine
3. How Much Iodine Do You Need to Stay Healthy and Strong?
4. Iodine and Drug Interactions
5. What Are the Side Effects of Iodine?
6. Iodine Deficiency Signs and symptoms
7. Who Should Take Iodine?
1. What Are the Benefits And Uses Of Iodine?
Without iodine, you cannot live. This is because it performs many important functions in your body which have many effects on your health. Iodine’s most important role is to ensure proper thyroid function. It helps to regulate the production of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Getting enough iodine is essential for preventing low thyroid hormone production and hypothyroidism.
Other health benefits of iodine include:
- Thyroid Function: For children's central nervous system development, a healthy thyroid is vital. This means that a healthy thyroid—one that receives adequate amounts of iodine daily—is essential for metabolism, bone strength, respiratory function, weight control, muscle strength, and many other health aspects.
- Hormone Production: Iodine is responsible for helping the thyroid produce two main hormones, which are triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Both T4 and T3 circulate to every cell in your body and are responsible for regulating the metabolism of your body’s functions, including heart rate and digestion.
- Breast Health: Those with a history of thyroid cancer are at higher risk of developing breast cancer, as are those who have a history of breast cancer. This clear link between breast or thyroid cancer and an increased risk of developing a secondary malignancy is likely due to hormonal risk factors stemming from inadequate production of T3 and T4, for which iodine levels are critical. A thyroid hormone deficiency may also cause fibrocystic breast changes, or the development of non-cancerous cysts in the breast.
According to a limited case-study (hypothyroidism), among women with nodular goiter, 54.9 percent developed benign breast disease. - Bone Health: Too little iodine can cause hypothyroidism, and too much iodine can cause hyperthyroidism as well. Hyperthyroidism, however, accelerates natural bone loss when there is an excess of thyroid hormone (thyroxine). Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, increases the risk for osteoporosis, and those with low TSH levels may also lose bone faster than those with healthy levels of it.
- Protection from Radiation: Iodine deficiency in radiation-exposed individuals can increase the risk of thyroid cancer. Iodine absorbs and traps radiation, which the thyroid then absorbs. This then increases the risk of thyroid cancer, unless a nonradioactive source is available to absorb and pass-along excess radiation.
Within 48 hours of radioactive contact, potassium iodine in pharmacological doses of up to 130 mg can significantly reduce the risk of cancer. As a result of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, childhood thyroid cancer rates in Poland did not increase significantly compared to other areas affected by the disaster.
2. Food Sources of Iodine
Sea vegetables and seafood are naturally high in iodine. The amount of iodine in the fruits and vegetables listed below can vary depending on the soil in which they were grown, according to the USDA. Food grown near the coasts will contain more iodine, while food grown in the interior will contain less. Iodine content will vary based on these values, which are only estimates.
- Iodine is found naturally in abundance in seaweed (kelp, nori, kombu, and wakame), shrimp, and fish such as cod and tuna.
- Dairy products are another rich source of iodine. Include milk, cheese, and yogurt in your diet to reap the health benefits of iodine.
- Bread and grain-based cereals also contain iodine.
- Vegetables and fruits are major sources of iodine. The iodine found in the soil where they are cultivated may play an important role in their nutritional value.
If you eat a plant-based diet, seafood is an excellent source of iodine. You can find online guides to choosing seafood that is low in ocean contaminants and harvested in an environmentally-friendly manner by consulting sustainable online guides. Listed below are a few popular choices.
Cod- Three ounces of baked cod contains 99 mcg per serving.
Snapper- One fillet of steamed snapper (125 grams) contains 50 mcg of iodine.[14]
Canned Salmon- One small tin of canned salmon contains 63 mcg of iodine.
Canned Albacore Tuna- Three ounces of canned tuna fish (one small tin) in oil contains 17 mcg of iodine.
3. How Much Iodine Do You Need to Stay Healthy and Strong?
Age determines how much iodine you need to consume each day. In micrograms, the average daily recommended amount is listed below (mcg)
As babies get their iodine from their mothers, especially in the early stages of pregnancy, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need to consume more iodine than usual. It is recommended that pregnant, planning to become pregnant, and nursing mothers take a daily supplement containing 150 mcg of potassium iodide, according to the American Thyroid Association and American Academy of Pediatrics.
At recommended levels, iodine is generally safe. However, certain medications, which are listed in the following section, should be taken with caution.
4. Iodine and Drug Interactions
- M1ethimazole/Tapazole, for example, is known to interact with iodine supplements (treats hyperthyroidism). High doses of iodine and most antithyroid medications have been shown to be counterproductive. They could cause a decrease in thyroid hormone production.
- As a result of taking potassium iodide with ACE inhibitors (Benazepril/Lotensin, Prinivil, or Zestril) for high blood pressure, potassium levels in the blood may increase.
- Drugs like Spironolactone/Aldactone and Amiloride/Midamor – which are potassium-sparing diuretics – can also increase the potassium levels in the body when they interact with potassium iodide
Before taking iodine supplements, talk to your doctor or a medical professional.
Iodine is a great thyroid supplement, but it also carries a risk of certain side effects, including anaemia. In the next section, you'll find a list of them.
5. What Are the Side Effects of Iodine?
Too little or too much iodine can upset the delicate balance of thyroid function. In addition to thyroid disorders, high iodine intake can cause vomiting, burning sensations in the mouth and throat, stomach, and fever. You may also experience symptoms such as a weak pulse, diarrhoea, or nausea. Iodine status and thyroid regulation also affect thyroid inflammation, cancer, and goitre.
6. Iodine Deficiency Signs and symptoms
Iodine deficiency, on the other hand, is a serious health problem. Environmental iodine deficiency is one of the leading causes of thyroid disorders, including goitre, cretinism, foetal and infant mortality, and cognitive and neuromotor disabilities. Implementation of mass iodization programmes has been successful in addressing this issue.
Since iodine status and thyroid hormone production are correlated, the symptoms for iodine deficiency also overlap with those of hypothyroidism:
- Swelling In The Neck: Iodine deficiency is the cause of goitre, which manifests itself as this symptom. In response to low iodine levels, thyroid cells multiply at a rapid rate, resulting in neck swelling.
- Unexpected Weight Gain: Regulation of metabolism is influenced by iodine levels and thyroid glands. As a result, you may gain weight. However, more research is needed to determine the exact mechanism at work..
- Fatigue And Weakness: Iodine deficiency or hypothyroidism can lead to feelings of tiredness, lethargy, and fatigue because thyroid function is correlated with energy expenditure.
- Hair loss
- Dry, flaky skin
- Feeling colder than usual
- Changes in heart rate
- Trouble learning and remembering
- Problems during pregnancy
- Heavy or irregular periods
7. Who Should Take Iodine?
Iodine is essential to the body's normal function. The following individuals should take iodine supplements:
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- Iodine deficiency or hypothyroidism patients.
- Individuals who live in iodine-deficient regions.
- People who are deficient in iodine and consume excessive amounts of goitrogens, such as soy and cruciferous vegetables, are at risk for developing thyroid cancer.
When iodine deficiency occurs early in life, it affects cognition and growth, but it is also a major factor in thyroid disorders in adults. A severe iodine deficiency leads to goitre and hypothyroidism. Iodine deficiency and excess are both associated with an increased risk of thyroid disorders. Further research is needed to verify the optimal iodine intake ranges and to clarify the effects of iodine intake on thyroid disorders.
Note: Iodine has many positive therapeutic actions. It is a powerful anti-infective agent. No virus, bacteria or parasite has been shown to be resistant to iodine therapy.
Iodine therapy has also been effective in treating a number of other diseases. Iodine has a number of other therapeutic effects, which are listed below:
Treated With Iodine
- Breast Disease
- Diabetes
- Dupuytren’s Contracture
- Excess Mucous Production
- Fatigue
- Fibrocystic Breasts
- Hemorrhoids
- Headaches and Migraine Headaches
- Infections
- Keloids
- Ovarian Cysts
- Parotid Duct Stones
- Peyronie’s Sebaceous
- Cysts Thyroid Disorders
- Vaginal Infections
- Antibacterial
- Anticancer
- Antiparasitic
- Antiviral
- Mucolytic Agent
The toxic environment of today makes iodine deficiency a common problem. In the United States, iodine levels have fallen by 50% in the last 30 years. During the same period, illnesses of the breast (including breast cancer), prostate, thyroid, and the immune system have seen dramatic increases (i.e., autoimmune disorders). iodine deficiency can cause any or all of these diseases. All people who are ill or trying to achieve optimal health should have their iodine levels tested.