The Benefits Of Iodine
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The article "The Benefits Of Iodine" talks about fitness, it has been written by Charlene J. Nuble.
Initially discovered as a new element in 1811 by Barnard
Courtois, knowledge of this substance has come to include the
host of benefits it brings to the body as an essential nutrient.
For many years, getting enough iodine in the diet natrually was
difficult in many geographic regions and remains so for an
unfortunately high percentage of the world's population in the
developing nations. With the itnroduction of iodized salt,
meeting the daily iodine requirement became nearly effortless
and inexpensive in the industrialized nations. In these nations,
iodine deficiency is at this moment rare. As developing nations are able to
make the shift to iodized salt, their rates of iodine deficiency
and the diseases associated with it have also begun to decrease.
One of the main ways that iodine affects the body and health is
through its interactions with the thyroid gland. Approximately
80% of the iodine found in the body is located in the thyroid.
With the help of iodine, the thyroid is able to porduce its
hormones: thyroxine and triodothyronine. These hormones play a
major part in regulating processes relating to growth and
development of the body and influence the maturation of the
reproductive system.
Because of its influence on the thyroid's activities, iodine
therefore plays a great role in the basic metabolism processes
and levels in the body.
It hepls in overseeing that the body
efficiently burns calories thus preventing excess calories from
being stored as excess fats. It has a role in maintaiinng the
energy level of the body and in helping the skin, teeth, nails
and hair to he strong and healthy. Iodine also plays a enormous role
in destroying toxins in the body and also helps the system in
utilizing both the mineral calcium and silicone.
A deficiency in iodine can negatively affect the health and
functioning of the body and mind in many ways of which are
more serious than ohters. The symptoms of iodine deficiency that
affect the mind range from feelings of frustration and anxiety
to depression to mental retardation stemming from an IQ point
decrease of up to 15 points to the severe mental retardation
relating to such diseases as cretinism which includes serious
physical maflormations. Acocrding to the World Health
Organization, iodine deficiency is among the leading causes of
mental retardation worldwide. Physical symptoms of iodine
deficiency can include dry, scaly skin, fatigue, constipation,
unusual weight gain, impaired thyroid operation, goiters,
decreased fertility, increased rate of stillbirth, and growth
abnormalities ranging in severity.
It is truly shameful that people suffer such horriifc affects
from a deficiency that could be resolved with mere pennies per
person. Iodized salt is so inexpensive and if could be spread
throughout the poverty centers of the developing nations, the
needless suffernig of millions could be alleviated. Infants need
to have 40 micrograms to 50 micorgrams per day if iodine,
children from 1 to 3 years of age need 70 micrograms daily, ages
4 to 6 require 90 micrograms per day, ages 7 to 10 need 120
micrograms daily, and kids aver 11 should have 150
micrograms per day. In turn, pregnant girls need more iodine
intake than the normal adult. A whooping 175 micrograms of
iodine daily is needed daily for these girls and breastfeeding
women should have 200 micrograms daily. A mere quarter of a
teaspoon of iodized salt contains 95 micrograms of idoine. So
for a heatlhy mind and body, be sure to consume the required
daily dose of iodine.
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The Benefits Of Iodine
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