Insufficient intake of iodine is a global health problem. Even in the Netherlands, there are people who do not consume enough iodine. One of the reasons for this is the low amount of iodine in the soil, including in the Netherlands.
Because there is little iodine in the soil in the United Kingdom, the amount of iodine in our food is also low. In the past, this was solved by adding baking salt to iodine. Unfortunately, however, there are more and more types of bread on the market without baking salt, and we are all eating less and less bread! It appears that more than half of organic breads contain no iodised salt at all. The result: iodine deficiency.
In this article, you will read
- What iodine is and why it is important
- Causes of iodine deficiency
- Risk groups for iodine deficiency
- Symptoms of iodine deficiency
- How to prevent iodine deficiency
Causes of iodine deficiency
There are several reasons why iodine deficiency can occur:
#1 Insufficient intake
There are a number of foods that naturally contain iodine, but there are not many. That is why iodine deficiency is more likely to occur than with other vitamins and minerals.
#2 Enrichment of table salt
In some countries, table salt is not enriched with iodine, which means that people who use salt in moderation consume less iodine. In addition, there is an increasing amount of bread on the market without baker's salt, while in the United Kingdom bread is the most important source of iodine.
#3 Special diets
People who follow a strict vegetarian or vegan diet are at increased risk of iodine deficiency. This is because there are not many plant-based products that contain iodine.
#4 Low salt intake
If you limit your salt intake, for example for health reasons, you are also at risk of iodine deficiency.
Risk groups
According to the RIVM, a number of groups are at higher risk of iodine deficiency:
- People who eat little or no bread
- People who eat bread without iodised salt
- Pregnant women, women who want to become pregnant and women who are breastfeeding
Symptoms of iodine deficiency
The symptoms of iodine deficiency are often subtle and can vary. Some common signs are:
- Thyroid problems: Iodine deficiency can lead to an enlarged thyroid gland, also known as goitre. This can be accompanied by a sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
- Weight gain: Iodine deficiency can lead to a slowed metabolism. A slowed metabolism increases your risk of becoming overweight.
- Fatigue and listlessness
- Hair and skin problems: Do you suffer from dry hair and dry skin? This could be the result of iodine deficiency.
- Feeling cold a lot
- Constipation
Prevention of iodine deficiency
Fortunately, you can prevent iodine deficiency by eating foods rich in iodine. Is this difficult, for example because of a special diet? Then try to use iodised salt and consider taking an iodine supplement.
