When Salt IS Good for You: The Thyroid Health Connection | Be Korea-savvy

When Salt IS Good for You: The Thyroid Health Connection


There is one fundamental fact that has gotten lost in the great salt debate: the substance is one of the primary vehicles for delivering iodine to the body’s thyroid gland, which is essential to production of thyroid hormone. (image: JD Hancock /Flickr)

There is one fundamental fact that has gotten lost in the great salt debate: the substance is one of the primary vehicles for delivering iodine to the body’s thyroid gland, which is essential to production of thyroid hormone. (image: JD Hancock /Flickr)

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JACKSONVILE, Fla. June 25, 2014 (Korea Bizwire)–In recent years, medical journals and consumer publications alike have  been hashing out the controversy about salt consumption and its effects  on an array of medical conditions, primarily high blood pressure and  heart disease, but also osteoporosis, kidney stones and kidney disease,  and obesity.

There is one fundamental fact that has gotten lost in the great salt  debate: the substance is one of the primary vehicles for delivering  iodine to the body’s thyroid gland, which is essential to production of  thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone is used in every cell of our bodies to  regulate metabolism and weight by controlling the burning of fat for  energy and heat and managing the regulation of other vital body  functions. Without iodine, thyroid hormone production simply does not  happen, thus throwing the body into a tailspin.

Although iodine is present naturally in seawater and soil, a stable  source of the element does not exist in many parts of the world, and the  body does not make iodine. Consequently, management of iodine deficiency  disorders is a fundamental part of most national nutrition strategies.

In the U.S., salt producers have been working with public health  authorities since the 1920s to add iodine to table salt; it was used  then to correct what was a national epidemic of goiter, an abnormal  enlargement of the thyroid gland that occurs when the thyroid enlarges  in response to an insufficient supply of thyroid hormone. Salt was used  because it is an easy, spoil-free method of getting iodine into the food  chain.

Pregnant women are at particular risk of iodine deficiency, because of  increased thyroid hormone production during pregnancy, which a fetus  needs inside the womb to reach optimal development. Iodine deficiency  during pregnancy can result in damage to the developing brain and can  lead to profound mental retardation and problems with growth, hearing  and speech.

Women who are breastfeeding also need higher iodine intake, since iodine  is transported into breast milk, where it is important for infant  nutrition.

The American Association of Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American  College of Endocrinology (ACE) recommend that all U.S. women who are  pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy should take a daily  multivitamin containing 150 micrograms of iodine to avoid iodine  deficiency.

Iodine deficiency also can lead to hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone  levels). In hypothyroidism, because the body’s cells aren’t receiving  enough thyroid hormone, the bodily processes start slowing down, causing  intolerance to cold, fatigue, dry skin, constipation, depression,  forgetfulness and more. Hypothyroidism disproportionately affects women  more than men, because the female hormone estrogen inhibits the  absorption of iodine.

If you’re scrambling to grab the salt shaker or considering taking  iodine supplements, a note of caution: ingesting too much iodine can  cause iodine poisoning and lead to symptoms ranging from nausea and  vomiting to more severe effects such as seizures, delirium and shock.

To review the National Institutes of Health’s U.S. daily recommended  dietary allowance (RDA) for iodine and information on selected food  sources of iodine beyond salt, visit: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/.

To learn more about the importance of iodine in thyroid function as well  as thyroid disorders, visit www.thyroidawareness.com.

The American Association of Clinical  Endocrinologists (AACE)

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) represents  more than 6,500 endocrinologists in the United States and abroad. AACE  is the largest association of clinical endocrinologists in the world.  The majority of AACE members are certified in endocrinology, diabetes  and metabolism and concentrate on the treatment of patients with  endocrine and metabolic disorders including diabetes, thyroid disorders,  osteoporosis, growth hormone deficiency, cholesterol disorders,  hypertension and obesity. For more information, visit the AACE website  at www.aace.com,  become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theaace  or follow AACE on Twitter at www.twitter.com/theaace.

About the American College of Endocrinology (ACE)

The American College of Endocrinology (ACE) is the educational,  charitable and scientific arm of the American Association of Clinical  Endocrinologists (AACE). ACE is the leader in advancing the care and  prevention of endocrine and metabolic disorders by: providing  professional education and reliable public health information;  recognizing excellence in education, research and service; promoting  clinical research and defining the future of Clinical Endocrinology. For  more information about the College, visit www.aace.com/college.  For more information about the endocrine system, visit the ACE-sponsored  patient education website at www.empoweryourhealth.org.

Source: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) (via BusinessWire)

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