| For Pacific Daily News
GRMC employees are vaccinated
Guam Regional Medical City staff were vaccinated on December 17, 2020. Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, who is also a registered nurse, gave the vaccine to two doctors.
Courtesy of the Governor’s Office, Pacific Daily News
Dear Doctor: I love to try the different types of salt that are available these days, but my grandmother says that if you don’t use iodized salt, you won’t get enough iodine in your diet, which is dangerous. Is she right? What if you don’t get enough
Dear Reader, Your grandmother is right that iodine, a mineral, is an essential part of our diet. It is also a trace element. These are chemical micronutrients that the body needs in very small quantities for the proper functioning of a wide variety of metabolic and physiological processes.
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Iodine is important for the production of thyroid hormones, which affect all cells in the human body. They regulate the metabolism; play a role in heart rate, breathing, and body temperature; and they are critical to the formation of the central nervous system and skeletons of fetuses and infants.
A lack of iodine in the diet can lead to an enlargement of the thyroid gland known as goiter. It is often the first symptom of iodine deficiency. A goiter looks like a swelling on the neck, just below the larynx. It can occur when the thyroid gland becomes larger due to a lack of iodine in order to produce more hormones.
Negative impacts
If a pregnant woman is lacking enough iodine in her diet, it can affect her fetus. These include stunted growth and developmental delays. Iodine deficiency in infants and young children can negatively impact intelligence and cognition.
Adults who are not getting enough iodine can gain weight easily, experience lethargy or fatigue, have memory and learning difficulties, experience unexpected changes in their heart rate, and develop hair loss or dry or flaky skin.
Since iodine is a trace element, the amount we need is quite small. From birth to the age of 13, the recommended amount is between 90 and 130 micrograms of iodine per day. From the age of 14 and into adulthood, it is 150 micrograms daily. Pregnant women need 220 micrograms per day, breastfeeding mothers should get 290 micrograms per day.
As your grandmother pointed out, iodized salt is a safe bet when it comes to getting enough iodine. The mineral was first added to salt in the early 1920s when goiter became common in certain parts of the United States.
However, it’s also important to remember that dietary guidelines limit salt content to 2,300 milligrams – that’s about 1 teaspoon – per day. The best naturally occurring source of iodine is in seafood. The highest concentrations are found in the various edible algae that are produced for culinary purposes.
Don’t go overboard
Saltwater fish – including tuna, swordfish, and sardines – are also good sources. Likewise prawns. While fruits and vegetables contain iodine, the amounts depend on the soil in which they are grown.
Dairy products are often a very good source of iodine. This is due to a specific disinfectant containing iodine that is used in processing. People who don’t eat dairy or seafood are at risk of not getting enough of the micronutrient.
It’s important to note, however, that too much iodine can have adverse effects, so don’t overdo it in your diet.
Ask the Doctors is a nationally syndicated column by Drs. Eve Glazier and Elizabeth Ko. Both are internists and associate professors of medicine at UCLA Health. Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu.
source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/ask-the-doctors-columnists-answer-question-about-iodine-in-the-diet/
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