Iodine Facts: Is Iodized Salt Enough?

Some iodine facts may have you confused. Unlike vitamins and minerals, iodine is not present in adequate amounts in most foods.

It has very important functions in the body that include:

• production of the thyroid hormone

• production of all of the other hormones in the body

Iodine can be found in ocean foods and when iodine is present in the soil, certain plants can absorb it. In addition, iodine can be added to the feed of animals.

The soil near oceans generally contains enough iodine. However, inland and mountainous areas have lesser amounts. The midwestern U.S. is what is known as the goiter belt because the soil is deficient due to deforestation, poor farming techniques and the movement of glaciers across the midwest.

Because of it's importance and deficiency, it has been added to salt, thus, iodized salt was created.

Iodine deficiency is a worldwide problem. Symptoms of iodine deficiency can be missed.

Is iodized salt sufficient to overcome the risks for these health problems?

Some very large studies in recent years have shown that iodine levels have dropped 50% in the U.S.

The amount of iodine in iodized salt is 77 micrograms/gram of salt. The average salt intake is 10 grams which would equal 770 micrograms of iodine per day. The RDA is 150-290 micrograms.

Studies are showing that urine levels are ten times lower than the 779 micrograms.

Another very interesting iodine fact is that studies cited in'Iodine Why you need it Why You Can't Live Without It' by David Brownstein, M.D. have determined that the iodine found in iodized salt is only 10% absorbable. However, the iodine in unrefined sea salt is much more bioavailable.

Celtic and Himalayan sea salt are two of my favorites and are readily available at natural food stores and on various web sites. Use these in place of iodized salt to obtain adequate amounts of iodine. You'll really enjoy the flavor.

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