Iodine is an important part of the diet, but not many people are aware of its significance or of how to get enough of it. In fact, iodine deficiency is a problem all around the world, and more than 70% of the global population has an iodine deficiency to some degree, according to the WHO. That means that nearly 50 countries have significant numbers of iodine deficient people, and that more than two billion people – nearly 40% of the world’s entire population, live in areas that have considerable levels of iodine deficiency.
Fortunately, there are ways to combat iodine deficiency. First, an iodine supplement is a viable option to fight against iodine deficiency. An iodine supplement can provide necessary iodine into diets where there is none, or where there is not enough. An iodine supplement is also a very convenient way of providing iodine to a diet, as it can come in pill form and can be taken at any point of the day. Iodine supplement benefits are vast, and can even reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. In fact, studies done by Dr. B.A. Eskin have shown that an iodine deficiency has been linked to an increased rate and chance of getting both breast cancer as well as thyroid cancer. If you’re wondering “why do people need iodine?” this is one example of iodine health benefits and how iodine can be used to prevent disease.
An iodine supplement is perhaps one of the most simple ways to ingest enough iodine, but iodized salt is also one way that people are able to get iodine. Though some types of salt, like sea salt or specialty salt, do not contain any iodine, the practice of adding iodine to table salt has become a popular way of preventing iodine deficiency in many countries. As of current data, nearly 90% of the global population has access to iodized salt, and at least seventy countries around the world, if not more, are in the practice of adding iodine to table salt in order to prevent increasing rates of deficiencies.
Unfortunately, iodine levels have fallen over the past few decades by around 50%. This means that people are not consuming enough iodine around the world. The good news is this: we know what the problem is, and we know how to solve it. There are a number of solutions for treating and preventing iodine deficiency. First, taking an iodine supplement every day is one way to combat iodine deficiency. But for those who have access to iodized salt, taking an iodine supplement daily may not even be necessary. However, if you are concerned about your iodine levels, even if you regularly consume iodized salt, be sure to speak to your doctor about having your iodine levels tested.