IODINE

Prevents Goitre

Iodine was one of the first minerals to be recognised as vital for good health. It is still considered one of the most important.

Iodine is greyish-black in colour. When heated, it yields corrosive fumes of a rich violet colour. In the human body, it forms an essential component of thyroxine, the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland. The excessive consumption of certain foods like cabbage, cauliflower, and raddish can cause iodine deficiency. These foods contain a substance that reacts with the iodine present in the food and makes it unsuitable for absorption.

Functions in the Body

The chief storehouse of iodine in the body is the thyroid gland. Thyroxine, which is secreted by this gland, contains iodine. Thyroxine, the thyroid hormone, controls the basic metabolism and oxygen consumption of tissues. It controls the utilisation of sugars. It regulates the rate of energy production and body weight and promotes proper growth. It increases the heart rate as well as urinary calcium excretion. It improves mental alacrity and promotes healthy hair, nails, skin, and teeth.

Sources

The best dietary source of iodine is iodised salt. Seafoods and spinach also contain reasonable quantities of iodine.

Deficiency Symptoms

Cretinism occurs in children whose diet lacks iodine. A cretin is a dwarfed child who is mentally retarded, has an enlarged thyroid gland and defective speech, and a gait that is clumsy. His skin is rough, and hair, sparse. Such a child usually has brittle nails, bad teeth and is prone to anaemia.

Among adults, myxoedema can result from an iodine deficiency, affecting the adequate production of thyroid hormone. The symptoms of this disease are slower rate of metabolism, thickening of the skin, loss of hair, and general physical and mental sluggishness. Such persons also have enlarged thyroid glands.

A dietary lack of iodine may lead to anaemia, fatigue, lethargy, loss of interest in sex, slow pulse, low blood pressure, and a tendency towards obesity. A serious deficiency may result in high blood cholesterol and heart disease.

Healing and Therapeutic Properties

Small doses of iodine are of great value in the prevention of goitre in areas where it is endemic, and are of value in treatment in the early stages. Larger doses have temporary value in patients with hyperthyroidism who are being prepared for surgical operation.

Precautions :

There are no known toxic effects from natural iodine. However, iodine as a drug can be harmful if prescribed incorrectly.