Salt has been the essential ingredient in many dishes for many centuries. Most salt manufacturers will tell you that by adding a little iodine to their salt will make it taste better and improve its shelf life. Is there any truth to this claim?
In the first place, there is no proof that iodine can improve the taste of your food or lessen the bad effects of iodine on the thyroid gland. Also, iodine is not an added element to regular table salt. It is naturally present in sea salt, which contains trace amounts of iodine and the iodized salt used in American cooking.
Iodine is a naturally occurring mineral found in the sea. Unlike sodium chloride, it is stable and does not lose its beneficial properties as time passes. In addition, sea salt has the highest iodine content of any salt.
But what about those foods that contain a lot of iodine, such as sushi, ice cream, and some other dairy products? Well, there are many who believe that adding iodized salt will remove those excess iodine. The iodine content in dairy products, even in small quantities, can cause problems for children with iodine deficiency. If iodized salt has too much iodine, then these products can prove to be dangerous.
However, many studies have shown that iodized salt is more helpful than harmful. It is important to note that the study participants in these studies were all healthy people who had no nutritional deficiencies or diseases.
There is also a lack of evidence to suggest that eating iodine will give you an energy boost. There are many who think that if you add a few micrograms of iodine to your diet, you will begin to become more energetic.
The simple increase in iodine intake will not make you healthier. In fact, studies indicate that iodine can cause thyroid problems in iodine deficient people.
There is also a theory that iodine deficiency can cause some people to have short periods of insanity and poor mental functioning. Yet another theory is that when iodine is present in the body in too high a level, it can interfere with your liver and thyroid functions.
For people with iodine deficiency, keeping iodine out of their diet may result in more serious conditions. The good news is that the excess of iodine in the body will be eliminated through your kidneys.
If you have any concern about the possibility of having iodine deficiency, you should first discuss this issue with your doctor. You may find that the problem goes away when you change your diet to one that has a greater balance of iodine.
Some people do not eat iodized salt because they believe that it tastes better. But this belief is unwarranted and should be investigated before you decide to start consuming salt with iodine.
