Iodine is a vital mineral, and your body needs it to function effectively.
You cannot produce iodine on your own, so you must consume it through your food. Though it’s present in foods, it’s difficult to identify the amounts. A majority of people need to regularly use salt that is full of iodine in order to get a sufficient nutritional dose.
Iodine deficiency leads to low thyroid hormone levels, which is a rare problem, but it can happen in infants and very young children. Dietary iodine deficiency is among the chief avoidable causes of cognitive and developmental incapacities in many parts of the world. In addition to thyroid hormone production, iodine is also likely to play a role in physical functions, but it’s not entirely backed by scientific evidence.
Major Benefits of Iodine
The following is a list of some of the key uses and benefits of iodine.
Improving thyroid health
Iodine is key to thyroid health. Your thyroid gland, which is positioned at the base of the front of your neck, helps control hormone production. These hormones regulate your metabolism, heart health, and more.
You can get adequate iodine from your food by consuming dairy products, a fortified diet, and salt water fish. You also can get the mineral by cooking meals with iodized salt.
While iodine improves general thyroid health, too much of it can negatively affect the thyroid gland. Therefore, avoid taking iodine supplements without your doctor’s recommendation.
Minimizing risk for some goiters
A goiter is a distended thyroid gland. Your thyroid may become inflamed due to either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, which is an overactive thyroid gland.
Thyroid gland enlargement can also be caused by non-cancerous thyroid nodules, or cysts. Occasionally, a goiter develops as a direct response to iodine dearth. This is the most common cause of goiter globally, though it’s not as common a cause in other countries with access to iodine-rich foods.
Treating thyroid cancer
Radioiodine, which works exactly like hyperthyroid treatment, may also be a possible treatment option for thyroid cancer.
When radioactive iodine is taken orally, the medication eliminates thyroid cells, including cancerous ones. It may be used as a treatment after thyroid surgery to ensure all cancerous cells have been eliminated from the body.
According to research, radioactive iodine treatments considerably enhance the chances of survival for people with thyroid cancer.
Managing overactive thyroid gland
You may be recommended a special type of iodine called radioactive iodine to treat an overcharged thyroid gland. This medication is taken orally, and it’s used to kill extra thyroid cells to help decrease excessive amounts of thyroid hormone.
The risk? It can destroy a number of thyroid cells. This can reduce the amount of hormone production, leading to hypothyroidism. That’s why, radioactive iodine is typically only recommended after anti-thyroid drugs have failed.
Supporting cognitive function
Some neurological benefits of iodine during pregnancy may extend to healthy brain function during childhood, which also includes a decreased risk of rational incapacity.
Your child may get all the iodine they need through their diet; however, if you want to know anything about their iodine consumption, it’s better to speak to a child specialist.
Treating infections
Iodine, when used topically in a liquid form, is highly effective in treating a variety of infections. It works by killing bacteria in and around minor wounds and scrapes. However, you should not use topical iodine on newborn babies, nor should it be used for deep cuts, animal bites, or burns.
In a Nutshell
Countries where iodized salt is regularly consumed rarely report cases of iodine deficiency. People with thyroid problem may be asked to keep a low iodine diet or to supplement their diet with iodine. If you have been iodine deficient, consistent monitoring of your thyroid hormone levels is believed to be the best way to know whether you are getting sufficient iodine.
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