World Iodine Deficiency Day: Here’s how you can minimise

Every year, World Iodine Deficiency Day is observed on 21 October across the world. Iodine is an element present in salt and deficiency leads to problems in a person’s metabolism and can also hamper the development of the brain. Irregular secretion of thyroid hormones can lead to goiter.

More than 350 million people in India are at the risk of iodine deficiency disorders. In order to overcome the risk of iodine deficiency it is important to consume iodised salt. The iodine deficiency in India is serious and Critical mainly because people do not consume sufficient amount of iodised salt.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working since the 1980s to underline the effects of iodine deficiency by building national salt iodization programs. UNICEF along with the International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDC) has strategized several international programs and has been able to provide 66 percent of homes with iodized salt.

Here are some ways to minimize iodine deficiency:

– Intake of iodized salt on a daily basis of around 10g per day.

– Milk is essential in one’s diet, not only for iodine but also for proteins, vitamins, and calcium

– Seafood and sea vegetables are rich in iodine. Seafood also contains omega-3 fatty acids. The American Thyroid Association states that Iodine is present in soil and in seawater

– Eggs are vital and a good way to increase iodine in children

– Fruits such as bananas, strawberries, and vegetables like sweet potato and spinach contain essential brain nutrient folate.