We've all heard of iodine. But many of us don’t know what it actually is, or why it’s so important to our bodies.
According to a 2019 report by researchers at the Iodine and Salt Research Center, 80 million people in Bangladesh suffer from iodine deficiency. And 30 million people do not know that they are suffering from iodine deficiency and various complex diseases including low intelligence and learning ability.
So at the beginning we can know what iodine is. Iodine is a basic substance with the symbol I (I), atomic number 53. The main sources of iodine on Earth are oceans and seawater, where iodine is found in soluble form in the form of ion I−. Like other halogens, free iodine is bipolar.
But how is iodine related to health? Why did iodine deficiency become a big problem not only in Bangladesh but in the whole of South Asia? Why do iodine deficiency cause various physical and mental problems?
Iodine plays a special role in our thyroid hormones and digestive function. Lack of it has a big impact on physical growth or structure. Many people think that lack of iodine is the only cause of goiter. But in fact the list of problems caused by iodine deficiency is much larger.
Iodine deficiency in the body of a pregnant mother can lead to miscarriage or delivery of a deformed child. Iodine deficiency also results in nervous weakness, deafness, deafness, mental retardation, dwarfism, various physical defects and impaired normal brain structure and mental development of the child.
Iodine deficiency is also responsible for hair loss, lack of focus on studies, memory loss, recurrent impotence, and weakened immune system.
So it is understood that to get rid of these physical and mental problems, we need to fill the iodine deficiency in our body. How is that possible? According to the World Health Organization, an adult should take 150 micrograms of iodine daily. In pregnant women, it can be up to a maximum of 300 micrograms.
Now the question is, where do we get the necessary iodine? Marine fish (fresh / dried), marine weeds, etc. are rich in iodine. The iodine in seawater but evaporates due to the sun and goes to the sky, and then mixes with the soil through rain water to enrich the soil with iodine. If there is enough iodine in water and soil, iodine is also available from plant and animal foods.
Iodine-rich plant and animal foods can be a source of essential iodine
problem is that landlocked areas
do not always receive rain that touches the sea. Again, those who depend on locally produced food do not get iodine in all foods. This happens in the Alps, in remote areas of Pakistan, or in the highlands of Italy, Russia, and Central Africa.
If anyone thinks that since we have the Bay of Bengal next to Bangladesh, then there is no iodine deficiency in the soil of our country, then you are making a big mistake. The main cause of iodine deficiency in the soil of our country is flood. In flood-prone areas of the country, flood water washes away the iodine from the soil, so iodine is not found in plant or animal feed in those areas. In fact, no part of our country can be said to be completely free of iodine deficiency. Iodine deficiency is most prevalent in the northern regions especially in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Jamalpur and Mymensingh.
But will our bodies be deprived of the necessary iodine due to iodine deficiency in our daily diet? Then our adults and children will also have to face various physical and mental problems. That's why if possible, more white fish and cold milk can be eaten, because they contain a lot of iodine.
However, there is no guarantee that iodine deficiency will be eliminated by eating these foods. Moreover, due to economic reasons, it is not possible for everyone to eat these foods regularly. Many people may be forbidden to eat milk, meat, etc. due to various other health risks. And if they don't get enough iodine from fish or vegetables, what to do?
In a country like Bangladesh, since the possibility of these problems cannot be ruled out, the easiest, cheapest and most effective way to ensure adequate iodine supply to the human body is to use iodized salt. Since salt is a must in the daily diet, a large number of people in the country can be saved from iodine deficiency problems only by consuming iodine added to salt.
Iodine is mixed with salt to meet iodine deficiency; Image Source: The Healthy Locavore
As mentioned earlier, our country lags far behind in the use of iodized salt. Most of the people in the country have a real way of storing and using iodized salt
Not aware of this, which results in many people still having iodine deficiency after using iodized salt.
Everyone needs to know that iodine mixed with salt is a volatile substance. So if salt is left in the open air, iodine is blown away. As a result, the open salt that is marketed as iodized salt does not contain iodine at all. So if you want to get real iodized salt, you must buy packaged salt.
To get real iodized salt, you must buy packaged salt; Image Source: ACI Salt Limited
Buying packaged, genuine iodized salt from a store is not the end of the story. Properly preserving that salt is the next important step. Many people have a habit of leaving salt open. When this is done, the volatile iodine of the salt is lost to the air in a very short time. So after buying salt, pour it out of the packet and store it in a lid or jar, and use it when needed to re-seal the mouth. It is not advisable to keep the box or jar too close to the stove. Keep away from water vapor, sunlight and high temperatures.
There are various tests for salt iodine test at home, children will have a lot of fun in them. Teach these tests to children, teach them the importance of iodine, so that our next generation can get rid of all the terrible problems.
