Discoveries about salt

A diet low in iodine can cause disorders in the thyroid gland such as hypothyroidism and delays in physical and mental development in childhood. Fish, shellfish and seaweed contain iodine, but there are many foods that do not. Iodine is found in fish, shellfish, seaweed, and in crops and animals raised near the coast. The iodine content of foods differs depending on geographical location and the lack of this mineral occurs mainly in inland areas. To prevent iodine deficiency, the solution: iodized salt The iodization of table salt, whose use is becoming widespread, is proving to be the simplest solution to prevent diseases caused by its deficiency. This mineral is essential for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. This is key in all metabolic processes. As well as the health of the central nervous system. Iodine, among the 10 most important micronutrients Its importance is such that in 2010, the EURRECA Network (“EURopean micronutrient RECommendations Aligned”, or European network for harmonization of recommendations on micronutrients) named iodine as one of the ten most important micronutrients for which it is necessary to review nutritional recommendations and unify initiatives and regulatory criteria. The use of iodized salt is mandatory in some European countries, according to the European Food Information Council, which has seen this solution as a simple and quick way to contribute to the treatment of iodine deficiency in their countries. The recommended daily intake established by the European Union (EU) is 150 micrograms of iodine in adults. Being the maximum recommended intake recommended at 600 micrograms daily. According to EU data in 2007, only 17 out of 40 European countries had national programs in force promoting the use of iodized salt. School-age children should most monitor the iodine content in their diet. In 2004, the WHO estimated that 43% of European children aged 6 to 12 did not get enough iodine. And in a study carried out in the United Kingdom in 2010, with school-aged girls, it was found that 51% of the girls evaluated suffered from iodine deficiency. Given that iodine deficiency constitutes a major public health problem, it is essential to achieve iodine intake that meets the daily recommendations. The most sensitive group that should most monitor the iodine content in their diet are pregnant women, nursing babies, and young and school-age children. Without a regular supply, they could develop goiter problems (enlargement of the thyroid gland) and even suffer mental retardation, if they suffer from a severe deficiency of this mineral. To prevent these disorders and ensure that the population receives adequate iodine intake, the WHO has proposed different strategies. But the most important is universal salt iodization. Which involves not only the iodization of table salt, but also the salt used in the food industry.