Hello Goiters: No Salt On The Table

[Kathianne]

Interesting:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/complementary-medicine/201108/iodine-deficiency-old-epidemic-is-back


Iodine Deficiency - An Old Epidemic Is Back
The mineral is much more important that most realize
Published on August 17, 2011 by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD (http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/jacob-teitelbaum-md) in Complementary Medicine (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/complementary-medicine)
(http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/mating)One of the main roles for the mineral iodine is to help manufacture thyroid hormones (http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/hormones). And once upon a time in America - especially in the Great Lakes region - there were many cases of goiter, an enlarged thyroid gland caused by iodine deficiency. The iodine/goiter story had a happy ending, however, when manufacturers began adding iodine to salt ("iodized salt"). After that, goiters in the U.S. mostly disappeared.
But the iodine story turns out to have an epilogue. A new epidemic of iodine deficiency has occurred. And it's bringing a lot more than goiters with it.
Fatigue? Pain? Weight gain? Breast cysts or tenderness? In this article I'll tell you why you might be at risk for an iodine deficiency, what it might be doing to your health - and an easy way to protect yourself.
Bromide and Bad Medical Advice There are two main reasons why iodine deficiency may be making a comeback.


Until recently, about 25% of the iodine in the diet (http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/diet) was from wheat, because iodine was used in the processing of flour. Now, however, a lot of flour in the U.S. is processed with a chemical cousin of iodine, bromide (potassium bromate), which helps makes flour doughier, rise higher, and gives the loaf a better appearance. But bromide is a double-edged sword: not only has it replaced iodine, it may block the activity of iodine. That's also true for two more of iodine's chemical cousins - chlorine and fluoride, both of which are common in drinking water.

...


Iodine deficiency isn't only about our daily bread - it's also about our daily salt. Most of the salt used in food processing isn't iodized. And people are using less and less iodized table salt at home, because of the misguided medical advice (except in those with heart failure) to avoid salt. (People who eat more salt live longer: see Eat Less Salt - and Die? (http://www.endfatigue.com/health_articles_f-n_2/Heart-eat_less_salt_is_wrong_advice.html))


The end result is Americans who dine on less iodine. From 1971 to 2001 iodine intakes in the U.S. dropped by 50% (estimated by urine output). Though it fortunately is not continuing to drop, we still have lost half our iodine.
So Why Is This a Big Problem? Iodine is one of the most important minerals - your body requires it for healthy cellular and metabolic functioning. The book by Dr. David Brownstein, Iodine: Why You Need It and Why You Can't Live Without It, sums up its importance:


"Iodine is the most misunderstood nutrient. After 12 years of practicing medicine, I can say that it is impossible to achieve your optimal health if you do not have adequate iodine levels. I have yet to see any item that is more important for promoting health than iodine."



If Dr. Brownstein is right, and I agree that iodine deficiency is a major problem - our drop in iodine intakes might be contributing to many major health problems.

...

[Drummond]

Interesting:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/complementary-medicine/201108/iodine-deficiency-old-epidemic-is-back

I'm surprised that this should be an issue.

A varied diet should supply all the iodine you need. Fish (sea-based) food will contain a lot. Kelp is very rich in iodine. Of land-based foodstuffs, who likes garlic ? Garlic is maybe the richest source of it from a land-based source.

See ...

http://www.livestrong.com/article/327977-foods-high-in-iodine-hyperthyroidism/

[The UK ruling on adding iodine to salt may be different to the US ... iodised salt is sold, but there has never been any sort of official requirement to add it, over here, that I'm aware of. Then again ... we're an island nation, so maybe our soil is more reliably rich in iodine anyway ...]

[Kathianne]

I'm surprised that this should be an issue.

A varied diet should supply all the iodine you need. Fish (sea-based) food will contain a lot. Kelp is very rich in iodine. Of land-based foodstuffs, who likes garlic ? Garlic is maybe the richest source of it from a land-based source.

See ...

http://www.livestrong.com/article/327977-foods-high-in-iodine-hyperthyroidism/

[The UK ruling on adding iodine to salt may be different to the US ... iodised salt is sold, but there has never been any sort of official requirement to add it, over here, that I'm aware of. Then again ... we're an island nation, so maybe our soil is more reliably rich in iodine anyway ...]
Could be. The article specified the problem had been the Great Lakes Region, before Iodized Salt. I'm not sure where it's turning up again, though.

[Drummond]

Could be. The article specified the problem had been the Great Lakes Region, before Iodized Salt. I'm not sure where it's turning up again, though.

Actually, I've just done a bit of research online. Turns out that iodine deficiency has been a concern over here, after all. I wasn't aware of that. Here's an interesting article ...

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/fear-over-iodine-deficiency.13274690


SCOTTISH women are risking the mental development of future generations by failing to ensure a vital chemical is included in their diet, researchers have warned.

Scientists examined 700 schoolgirls across Britain and found more than two-thirds were deficient in iodine.

It is crucial to the development of children’s brains in the womb and is the world’s leading cause of treatable mental impairment, with up to one-third of children suffering problems as a result. Even a small lack of it can have severe effects on a child’s mental development.

<noscript></noscript>One cup of milk provides more than half of the daily iodine requirement, but after the phasing out of free school milk in the 1970s women no longer get enough of it.

Schoolgirls with the lowest iodine levels were the ones with the lowest milk intake.

Tests were carried out in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and six other UK cities and although the figures are slightly better in Scotland – with between 50% and 60% of young women short of iodine – researchers say the figures are alarming.

The researchers behind the study now say iodine should be added to salt, as in other countries. They have also suggested pregnant women could take an iodine supplement.

Dr Mark Vanderpump, of the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, led the study. He said: “Our data suggests the UK is now iodine deficient. We need to look into this now to decide whether public health bodies need to step in.”

Although they are wary of the public health message it sends out the team now want the salt currently used in food production processes to be iodised.

The average amount of iodine in the 700 test subjects was 80 micrograms per litre. Below 100 micrograms is described as deficient by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In Aberdeen, 59% of girls were deficient, compared to 55% in Glasgow and 52.6% in Dundee.

The WHO started a global programme of salt iodisation in 1993 in a bid to increase levels of iodine in women’s diets, particularly in the developing world.

Many European countries, including Switzerland and Denmark, encourage food producers to add iodine to salt. In Britain, it is currently not compulsory to do so.

I know we can buy iodised salt ... I've seen it in our stores. Still, the most common brands don't add iodine to our table salt, because manufacturers aren't required to consider adding it. Evidently the ruling is different in America.

[Kathianne]

Actually, I've just done a bit of research online. Turns out that iodine deficiency has been a concern over here, after all. I wasn't aware of that. Here's an interesting article ...

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/fear-over-iodine-deficiency.13274690



I know we can buy iodised salt ... I've seen it in our stores. Still, the most common brands don't add iodine to our table salt, because manufacturers aren't required to consider adding it. Evidently the ruling is different in America.

Here one can buy iodized or non-iodized, though I think most buy the former. People have really cut down on salt use, though.

[fj1200]

Interesting:

Hmm, I'll have to see if my kosher salt is iodized. Likely not though.

[Kathianne]

Hmm, I'll have to see if my kosher salt is iodized. Likely not though.

I doubt Kosher is. After reading this, I'll continue with the Kosher for cooking, but think I'll salt while cooking even lighter than before and sprinkle a bit of Morton's on my eggs and veggies. ;)

[Gaffer]

I keep a big container of Morton's in the cabinet and salt just about everything. I'm a salt lover.

That is a fascinating article though.

[Kathianne]

and TB has been making a comeback for years:

http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2012/12/19/the-great-literary-killer-returns/


December 19, 2012 The Great Literary Killer Returns One of the world’s greatest killers is making a comeback. Once thought to be nearly eliminated as a public health threat, tuberculosis is again becoming a serious danger due to a rapid increase in drug-resistant strains of the disease around the world. Although the U.S. has long been able to avoid most of the deadlier varieties, the boom in international travel has made it easier than ever for deadly strains in other countries to make the leap across the ocean. And sure enough, more of these cases are beginning to appear in the United States, as the Wall Street Journal reports (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324296604578178314246581852.html):

“We cannot be safe in the U.S.” while drug-resistant TB is an “epidemic in the rest of the world,” said Barbara Seaworth, medical director of the Heartland National TB Center in San Antonio. Outbreaks are “absolutely” possible in the U.S., said Dr. Seaworth, who has treated hundreds of patients with drug-resistant strains.


Tuberculosis, an airborne disease characterized by the coughing of blood, is one of the world’s great killers. In some developing countries, drug-resistant strains are rampant. A doctor in India this year startled the global health community by finding patients carrying a particularly dangerous strain—one all but incurable. The Wall Street Journal in November detailed how long-standing global strategies for fighting TB have unintentionally helped make the disease harder to cure.


Most drug-resistant cases are imported into the U.S. by foreigners arriving from places where the disease rages. Of 124 multidrug-resistant cases in 2011, 106 were in foreign-born individuals, the CDC says. Most cases are in California and Texas, many along the border with Mexico. Cases come from Mexico, Vietnam, and India, among others. The U.S. doesn’t vaccinate against TB because there is no vaccine considered widely effective for adults.

...

[MtnBiker]

Kosher salt does not contain iodine, neither does most sea salt. I rarely use iodized salt because of the taste, however I do recognize the health benefit of using the iodized salt.

[fj1200]

^You can taste the difference?

[Gaffer]

That's what makes illegals sneaking into this country so dangerous. Even if they are wonderful people. Those coming on visa's are checked before being allowed in.

[MtnBiker]

^You can taste the difference?

Absolutely! Do a test, have iodized salt and kosher salt side by side. Now usually kosher salt has a bigger grain with rougher edges and the iodized table salt is smaller and round, so there will be tactile difference there. Also the iodized salt will have chemical taste to it, where the kosher salt has a "cleaner taste".

[fj1200]

I'll give that a try. I replenished my kosher salt recently that appears to be kosher only because the box said it was. :mad:

[Kathianne]

I'll give that a try. I replenished my kosher salt recently that appears to be kosher only because the box said it was. :mad:

While my palate is certainly not refined like a chef's, MtnB is or is damn close, the differences in tastes between table salt, sea salt, and kosher salt are quite apparent.

[fj1200]

While my palate is certainly not refined like a chef's, MtnB is or is damn close, the differences in tastes between table salt, sea salt, and kosher salt are quite apparent.

I will place my renowned super-taster abilities to the test and report back. :)

[Drummond]

Just a quick, passing comment on TB .. I'm sure I read an article a long time ago which suggested that part of the reason for TB's re-emergence in the UK may be the habit of people spitting in the street, on the pavement (.. sorry, you say 'sidewalk' ..). This nasty habit has become far more common, here at least, in recent years.

Could the same be said for present-day American social conduct ?