The 14 Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency in the Body

Causes Iodine Deficiency: A diet that is low in fruits and vegetables is a precursor to a variety of diseases caused by iodine deficiency . Consuming natural food products or taking dietary supplements can overcome this iodine deficit, if any. Some of the other reasons for iodine deficiency are:

• Use of non-iodized salt in the daily diet.
• Consumption of products from areas where there is an iodine deficiency in the soil due to poor farming methods or soil erosion.
• Consumption of products grown in mountainous or oceanic areas where the soil is naturally low in iodine .
• Exposure to toxic chemicals.
• Exposure to chlorine.
• Brushing your teeth with toothpaste that contains fluoride.

Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency are:

• Cold
• Depression
• Hair loss and brittle nails
• Fatigue
• Extreme and irrational mood swings
• Dry skin
• Goiter
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Chest pain and palpitations
• Breathing problems
• The low alert levels
• Irregularities in the menstrual cycle
• excessive weakness
• sudden weight gain

Serious Iodine Deficiency Problems:

Cancer: Iodine is considered an anti -cancer nutrient. It helps in the process of cell division by apoptosis when taken in recommended doses. Therefore, an iodine deficiency can lead to cancer of the prostate, breast, uterus, or ovary.

Heart problems: Iodine deficiency increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. If the irregularity is not treated in time, it can lead to higher incidence of heart disease or stroke, and later, it can be fatal as well.

Infertility: Iodine is an essential mineral for most women, due to its high presence in the tissues of the breast, thyroid gland, and ovaries. Iodine deficiencycauses early menopause, menstrual irregularities, and other ovarian diseases in women. Consequently, it can also lead to infertility.

Cretinism: Iodine deficiency can prevent the normal functioning of the nervous system. In extreme cases, it can lead to a disorder that is characterized by severely stunted physical and mental growth. This is known as cretinism, and it can also be seen in babies born to mothers with severe iodine deficiency .

Diabetic complications: Iodine deficiencyslows down the production of insulin in the body. Therefore, this can create complications in people who are diabetic. If dietary iodine intake is increased, it can, in turn, lead to an increase in insulin production in the pancreas. Thus, insulin dependence is reduced in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Hair loss: Iodine deficiencycauses hypothyroidism, which can cause hair loss due to hormonal imbalance.

Asthma: Iodine isa mineral that is vital for the optimal functioning of the thyroid gland. Hormones generated by the thyroid gland play an essential role in maintaining healthy skin. A deficiency of this hormone aggravates the mucus membranes in the bronchi, which causes asthma.

Irregular Nervous System Functioning:  Iodine playsa crucial role in the effective functioning of the nervous system. Low iodine can cause patients to have unusual mood swings, become abnormally combative, psychotic, or even suicidal.

Migraine: Iodine deficiencycauses migraine attacks by constricting the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain.
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The foods richest in iodine are those of marine origin such as mackerel or mussels, for example. But, there are other foods rich in iodine , such as iodized salt, milk and eggs. On the other hand, vegetables are generally low in iodine .