Why the body needs iodine: everything about iodine and iodine deficiency

Headache? - There is not enough iodine. Fatigue and apathy? - There is not enough iodine. It feels like iodine is a miraculous element that saves you from everything. Let's figure out why we really need iodine and exactly how much!

First of all, iodine is necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, which regulates the functioning of the entire body. It produces hormones that affect the reproduction and growth of tissues. If the body lacks iodine, metabolism is disrupted, the thyroid gland stops functioning properly, the immune system is weakened, the condition of the skin, nails and hair worsens, and the risk of developing atherosclerosis and obesity increases. The risk of colds also increases, and brain dysfunction may occur, and in advanced cases, diseases such as goiter and cretinism.

A lack of iodine in the body can be caused by the following factors:

1. Low iodine content in food;
2. Selenium deficiency (this is a substance that promotes the absorption of iodine);
3. Age (children are more likely to suffer from iodine deficiency);
4. Gender (women have a higher risk of iodine deficiency);
5. Pregnancy;
6. Smoking and alcohol;
7. Taking oral contraceptives.

There are established daily intake norms for different age categories:

1. Infants – 50 mcg;
2. Children from 2 to 6 years old – 90 mcg;
3. Children from 7 to 12 years old – 120 mcg;
4. Healthy adults – 150 mcg;
5. Pregnant and lactating women – 200 mcg.

To compensate for the lack of iodine in the body, it is not necessary to use special supplements; iodine is also found in food products that you simply need to include in your diet. Sources of iodine: fatty sea fish and seafood, seaweed, cheese, cottage cheese, milk, iodized salt.

You also need to know that not only iodine deficiency leads to health problems, but also its excess. If iodine is consumed uncontrollably, especially in the form of supplements, it can lead to the destruction of thyroid cells and disruption of its functioning.

Symptoms of excess iodine in the body: headache, pustular rashes on the skin, swelling, nausea, vomiting, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, fever, joint pain, upset stomach, sleep disturbance, increased excitability, severe and sudden weight loss.

But don’t rush to run to the doctor; you can check whether there is enough iodine in the body yourself at home. Draw a mesh pattern on the inside of the forearm using a cotton swab and iodine tincture. If after two hours the yellow lines have disappeared, it means that you have an iodine deficiency and urgently need to replenish it. If the stripes are only slightly faded, you are doing everything right.