Iodine
Elements Necessary For Life
What is Iodine?
"Iodine is important for hormone development. It is found in dairy products, seafood, kelp, eggs, bread, some vegetables and iodised salt. A lack of dietary iodine can cause an enlarged thyroid gland (goitre) or other iodine deficiency disorders including mental retardation in children. Pregnant women need higher levels of iodine." (Better Health Channel)
Iodine and Our Bodies
10 reasons why we need Iodine
2. Iodine helps to balance our body temperature
3. Iodine helps keep us a healthy body weight
4. Iodine helps us grow and develop
5. Iodine helps us think
6. Iodine helps us maintain appropriate emotional responses with the world around us
7. Iodine is very important to the heart and helps us deal with cholesterol
8. Iodine controls out heart rate
9. Iodine keeps our skin, nails, and hair healthy
10. Iodine helps us manage our blood sugar levels
Too much?
Having too much Iodine in your body can be very harmful for you. One major symptom of getting too much Iodine can be an enlarged thyroid, known as goiter. High Iodine intakes can also cause thyroid gland inflammation and thyroid cancer. Getting a very large dose of Iodine can cause burning of the mouth, throat and stomach; fever; stomach pain; vomiting; diarrhea; weak pulse; and coma.
Too Little?
Atomic Number
Iodine Daily Intake (RDA)
Your daily intake of Iodine depends on your age. When your an infant, your intake of Iodine is generally a higher number and continues to be high until about a year then it decreases greatly. From the age of one the levels you require will increasingly get higher with age.
Iodine Supplements
Iodine is a huge part of your diet
Why do you need Iodine in our diets?
Common Sources of Dietary Iodine
Cheese
Cows milk
Eggs
Frozen Yogurt
Ice Cream
Iodine-containing multivitamins
Iodized table salt
Saltwater fish
Seaweed (including kelp, dulce, nori)
Shellfish
Soy milk
Soy sauce
Yogurt