Iodine and thyroid

Iodine is known as the necessary element for the production of thyroid hormones. However, it is rare to find any mention of other effects of iodine on the body. Iodine is found in each of the billions of cells in the human body. Without an adequate level of iodine, life itself would not be possible.

Iodine is not only necessary for the production of thyroid hormones, but is also responsible for the production of all others body hormones. The World Health Organization says that almost 1.5 billion people, one third of the earth’s population, are deficient in iodine. Significant deficiency can cause intellectual delays, goiter, increased death in children and infants, and infertility.

Unlike vitamins and minerals, iodine is not present sufficient in most foods. It is mainly found in seafood such as fish (cod, bass, ocean perch and haddock) and seaweed. The soils around the oceans usually contain adequate levels of iodine. The further one goes into mountainous areas and regions, the less iodine is present.

Excessive agriculture, deforestation and soil erosion phenomena, whether natural or caused by man, worsen the problem of iodine deficient soils. According to the World Health Organization, this is a global problem present in more than 129 countries.