Things I Like - Sciences

Iodized salt - it’s been a part of the standard American food supply since the mid-1920’s. I guess I always knew that iodized salt was good for you, why would they add something that was bad for you? I just didn't know why. It turns out that iodine is a necessary for the proper functioning of your thyroid gland which plays a role in growth and metabolism.

Per the American Thyroid Association:

“Iodine is an element that is needed for the production of thyroid hormone. The body does not make iodine, so it is an essential part of your diet. Iodine is found in various foods... If you do not have enough iodine in your body, you cannot make enough thyroid hormone. Thus, iodine deficiency can lead to enlargement of the thyroid (goiter), hypothyroidism and to mental retardation in infants and children whose mothers were iodine deficient during pregnancy.”

Iodine is found naturally in sea salts but the further inland you go, the less there is. The salt mined in the Great Lakes region was light on iodine as was the majority of food produced in the area so I’m glad we had iodized salt on the table when I was growing up.

They say that most US diets are varied enough these days that iodized salt is no longer required. That is not the case throughout the world. An editorial by N. Kristof in the 12/4/08 issue of the International Herald Tribune took up the cause:

“Almost one-third of the world's people don't get enough iodine from food and water. The result in extreme cases is large goiters that swell their necks, or other obvious impairments such as dwarfism or cretinism. But far more common is mental slowness.”

Mr. Kristof goes on to opine that US support for iodine initiatives would be a good thing:

“There is talk that President-elect Barack Obama may reorganize the American aid apparatus, perhaps turning it into a Cabinet department. There are many competing good causes - I'm a huge believer in spending more on education and maternal health, in particular - but there may be no investment that gets more bang for the buck than micronutrients.”

So in addition to making the world a more attractive place (have you ever seen a goiter?) eliminating the iodine deficiency will also make it smarter. Plus, it’s an extremely cheap method of improving the health and mental capacity of a population – estimates range from $.03 - .05 per person per year. I’m with Mr. Kristof, we should strengthen this particular effort, we’ll all be better off with a smarter world population.

Oh yeah, I think I’m going to play it safe and continue to use iodized salt at home. No need to take a chance on the goiter.

www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/iodine_deficiency.html
www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/04/opinion/edkristof.php
www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/15/news/iodine.php