Summer is in full swing and many people are thinking about going to the sea to relax and improve their health. Sea air and salt water – what could be better for the prevention of iodine deficiency. As observations show, more than 30% of the world's population suffers from a lack of iodine in the body. And women are more prone to iodine deficiency diseases than men. Iodine is necessary for the body for the normal course of many vital processes. The thyroid gland plays a key role in the absorption of iodine.
Signs of iodine deficiency in the body merge with symptoms of other diseases, so it is very difficult to independently determine the cause of poor health. How does iodine deficiency manifest itself in the body?
What foods containing iodine can make up for the deficiency? How to properly prevent iodine deficiency, read in this article.
Causes and signs of iodine deficiency in the body
It is not always possible to recognize the signs of iodine deficiency, which makes it difficult to detect thyroid problems in a timely manner. The culprits of iodine deficiency are: poor nutrition, lack of air, metabolic disorders. Iodine is especially important during pregnancy for the fetus and the mother herself, during breastfeeding, for school-age children.
First of all, the thyroid gland suffers from a lack of iodine. If the bloodstream contains 600 micrograms of iodine with a normal intake of iodine, the thyroid gland takes 75 micrograms for its needs.
Read also: Symptoms that indicate your iodine deficiency
Iodine is essential for the thyroid gland to produce hormones that regulate most of the vital processes in the body. The thyroid gland is responsible for metabolism, for the accumulation and breakdown of fat cells, and therefore for maintaining energy reserves, heart rate and the ability to warm up in cold weather.
Signs of iodine deficiency:
- drying of the skin, loss of elasticity and tone;
- obesity due to impaired metabolism of adipose tissue and general metabolism;
- malfunctions in the work of the intestines, frequent constipation;
- lowering blood pressure;
- arrhythmias;
- reproductive function is disturbed in women (menstrual disorders, infertility) and in men (impotence);
- reduced mental activity;
- lethargy and drowsiness;
- the memorization process is disturbed and inattention appears;
- depression.
If iodine deficiency is observed for a long time, the thyroid gland reacts to the deficiency and increases in size. This condition is called endemic goiter, when the thyroid gland increases without dysfunction. hypothyroidism – disruption of thyroid hormone production.
Iodine deficiency in children
For young children, as for the fetus in the womb, the need for iodine for normal growth and development increases. If a child develops an iodine deficiency in the body, the baby becomes lethargic and inattentive, gets tired quickly, eats poorly and sleeps. Iodine deficiency is especially noticeable in school-age children, when attention is reduced to zero, apathy is observed, intelligence decreases and irritability increases. Since the lack of iodine in the child's body is even more difficult to identify, it is difficult for parents to determine the cause of such a manifestation of poor progress.
For such disorders in children, it is better to consult a pediatrician and, if necessary, an endocrinologist.
How to make up for the lack of iodine in the body
To make up for the lack of iodine in the body, it is necessary to take a comprehensive approach and direct your efforts to:
- Ensuring the constant consumption of products containing iodine;
- use of medications containing iodine;
- stay near the sea.
Read also: Vitamins for Pregnancy: Second Trimester
Products containing iodine:
- seafood – sea kale, shrimps, caviar, fish (hake, pollock, cod);
- eggs;
- beef;
- mushrooms;
- cereals;
- vegetables – green onions, sorrel, spinach, asparagus, beets, eggplants, tomatoes, garlic, radishes, potatoes;
- fruit – oranges, bananas, lemons, persimmons, pineapples.
To get this micronutrient in your food all the time, cook any food with iodized salt.
To correct iodine deficiency, take vitamin-mineral complexes. Which of the numerous preparations containing iodine to choose, consult an endocrinologist.
Read also: How does the condition of the thyroid gland affect our health?
Prevention of iodine deficiency in the human body
To prevent the development of thyroid diseases and other disorders associated with iodine deficiency, carry out the prevention of iodine deficiency. This means that you need to diversify your menu as much as possible and add more products containing iodine, use vitamin complexes and special preparations to maintain the level of this trace element in the body.
Sea air is most useful for replenishing iodine reserves and eating seafood and green vegetables. To prevent iodine deficiency during pregnancy, you should start taking iodine preparations at the dose prescribed by the doctor 6 months before the conception of the child.
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