Iodine – a micronutrient which has a very crucial part to play in the development and functioning of our body.  Although needed in a small quantity, it can have grave ramifications if not consumed in the recommended dose. Iodine deficiency causes serious health issues in pregnant women and in children. Iodine insufficiency may adversely affect mental development in children.

Significance of iodine

Iodine is commonly found in seafood, dairy products, eggs and grains. Most countries iodize their salt to prevent iodine deficiency and its awful consequences.

Here are the noteworthy uses of the mineral in our body:

• Principally, the thyroid gland needs iodine to synthesize thyroid hormones, which are pivotal for the physical and mental growth and development, tissue repair and to regulate metabolism.
• Thyroid hormones, and indirectly iodine, have a part to play in the monitoring of body temperature, blood pressure and the heart rate.
• Iodine also has a significant bearing on the functioning of the immune system.

Iodine and mental health

When the body’s iodine requirement is not met, the thyroid gland fails to manufacture adequate amounts of the thyroid hormones. Consequently, the amount of the thyroid hormones in the blood is low and it causes grave functional and developmental anomalies.

Iodine deficit is a major cause of poor mental developmental in children. The consequence of iodine deficiency during pregnancy is an inadequate manufacture of the thyroid hormones by the mother and the foetus. As a result, there may be impairment to the brain.

Experts state that a daily intake of salt that has been fortified with iodine is an efficient way to prevent iodine deficiency. Consumption of iodized salt is sufficient to meet your everyday iodine requirement.

Avoiding Iodine Deficiency

Serious health issues can easily circumvented by including iodine rich foods in to your diet and by incorporating half a teaspoon of iodized salt in to your meal. Iodization of salt and using this salt every day is extremely crucial as common salt and the average diet of our country doesn’t incorporate enough iodine to meet our body’s requirements. Using iodized salt is an easy way to ensure that no one in the family suffers from iodine deficiency. Without iodized salt, chances of iodine deficiency are higher and more probable.

A great choice is Tata Salt which ensures purity and the right amount of iodine for mental development. In fact, if you are wondering which is the best salt for your health requirements Tata Salt offers a whole range to choose from– Tata Iodized salt, Tata Lite, Tata Salt Plus, Tata Himalayan Pink salt and Tata Black salt. Consult your physician and choose the right alternative from this range.

Strike the right balance and use the correct amount of salt that your body needs per day to keep health issues and diseases at bay.

Source

• The New England Journal of Medicine, 1997.
• Indian Journal of Medical Research, 2018.