Major Signs And Symptoms Of Iodine Deficiency

Posted by Golden on August 14th, 2010

The number one major sign of iodine deficiency is the presence of an enlarged thyroid gland in the neck. This is called goiter. The sizes of enlargement vary vastly from small, hardly noticeable, to a really gigantic one which causes obstruction in the breathing passages.

The second sign is a slowed mental and physical activity. Visible depression is often noticed.

The third sign is dry and coarse features in affected persons.

Lastly, the thyroid gland gets bigger in the process of extracting whatever little iodine that is left in the body. It gets over worked trying to produce enough thyroid hormones, hence the enlargement.

To counteract the effects of iodine deficiency, the intake of iodine must be boosted through the following ways:

Seafood: the best source of iodine is seafood. A meal or two containing iodine is enough to keep most people healthy. Here is a sound advice; boiling fish removes much of its valuable iodine. Other methods of cooking fish like grilling, steaming, drying and frying should be considered. The effect of freezing and thawing fish on iodine has not been established. Laver bread, kelp, seaweed and fish liver oil are other sources of seafood rich in iodine.

Salt: another most valuable source of iodine is iodized table salt and sea salt. A ready example of iodized salt is one approved by international council for control of iodine deficiency disorders (ICCDD) and UNICEF as having the right level of iodine for growing children. You can find many brands depending on where you are residing. It is important to state that not all salts in the market are iodized.

Supplementation: commercial preparation of seaweed and kelp are available in health food shops if one wants to supplement one?s dietary intake of iodine.