Natural Sources of Iodine – Updated Article With Extra Information.

Iodine is an essential element which helps to protect our body from germs. It also ensures the proper and healthy functioning of the thyroid gland. If a person doesn’t have the required amount of iodine in his diet he may suffer from depression, obesity, weakness and persistent headache. In some serious cases it can also result in brain, fibrocystic breast and thyroid diseases. Miscarriages are also a sign of low iodine levels in our body, which is why pregnant women are told to consume foods which are rich in iodine. It is good for strong nails, teeth and skin too. Fortunately for us, iodine is readily available through the foods that we eat on a regular basis. These dietary sources of iodine account for 90% of our the chemical. About 10% is from the water. Some of the dieary sources of iodine are as follows:

Dairy Products:
Some dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese are rich in iodine. Because of their high iodine concentration, they are considered as some of the best natural sources of iodione.

Vegetables:
Green vegetables which are ideally grown on iodine rich soil like lettuce, asparagus, green beans, peas and spinach are also a very good source of iodine. They should be included in your diet on a daily basis in an ample quantities.

Cereals:
There are a number of fortified cereals available which also contain some iodine in them. They are considered healthy particularly as a breakfast because of their nutritional value.

Strawberries:
Strawberries are also pretty rich in iodine. A person whose iodine level is not as high as it should be would do well to increase their intake of strawberries.

Fish:
Fish is another natural source of iodine. Mostly ocean fish, as the ocean water has a high iodine level. Most sea fish contain iodine in abundance so they can also be included in your diet.

Iodized Salt:
Adding iodized salt to our foods also helps to increase our iodine level. But it should be noted that excess consumption of iodized salt can also result in other diseases so it should be consumed with care.

Kelp
Kelp is a sea vegetable which is very high in iodine. It is considered as one of the very best sources of iodine. It is so high that even a small quantity can fulfill our daily iodine needs.

The proper intake of iodine is very important as its deficiency can cause mental retardation in children. Therefore it is recommended that you keep a check on you and your children’s iodine levels on a regular basis. The sources mentioned above can be used to reduce its deficiency.

For the original article, click here

For more information on natural sources of iodine, go to:
nlm.nih.gov,
betterhealth.vic.gov.au

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.