Iodized salt is a key factor for a healthy thyroid gland. The thyroid releases hormones to cells and tissues throughout the body to regulate metabolism and maintain the body’s energy.

The body does not make iodine, the element responsible for the production of thyroid hormone. You need to get iodine through foods, which include dairy products, saltwater fish, shellfish, seaweed, soy milk, and soy sauce, according to the American Thyroid Association. You can also take iodine supplements.

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Iodine deficiency was greatly reduced in the U.S. in the 1920s following the introduction of iodized salt. A lack of iodine and the imbalance of thyroid production of hormones can cause a variety of symptoms and disorders. Goiters, which are lumps in the neck caused by an enlarged thyroid, were common results of thyroid problems in certain areas of the U.S., but these disorders have become rare, thanks in part to iodized table salt.

More iodine in the diet may help an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, which causes the thyroid to produce too little of the thyroid hormone. Sometimes medications are used. Symptoms of an underactive thyroid include fatigue, weight gain even when dieting or exercising, muscle cramps, and high cholesterol levels.

Some people can’t get enough iodine from the foods they eat because the foods aren’t readily available. Iodized table salt helps return levels to normal. About 150 micrograms of iodine a day are required to keep the thyroid functioning normally, writes Jonae Fredericks at Livestrong.com.

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Although iodine deficiency has been successfully overcome because of iodized salt, too much salt can lead to health issues. People with high blood pressure, for example, are often told to reduce their salt intake. A well-planned diet with iodine-rich foods helps avoid deficiencies.

Care should be taken when including iodine supplements in the diet. Food packaging doesn’t usually include the amount of iodine in foods. The American Thyroid Association points out that including foods with iodine in the diet and taking a multivitamin that contains iodine would provide you with sufficient amounts of iodine for thyroid health.

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