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Nutrition Resources

This guide has information resources useful for research on the nutritional aspects of food, food composition, dietary guidelines, dietetics, and food service.

About Iodine

Iodine is a chemical element that is important for the production of the thyroid hormone in the human body. Iodine in its elemental form is a light charcoal color and appears very glittery. In its liquid form it has a deep brownish-red color. Iodine was discovered by Bernard Courtois, a French chemist, in 1811. Iodine is not naturally found in the body so the only way to get iodine is through different foods. Iodine is naturally present in soil and seawater as well.

 

Iodine in the Body

 

The iodine element is a key part of the production of the thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland is a endocrine gland in the front, lower part of the neck. The job of the thyroid gland is to create thyroid hormones which are released into the blood and carried to all the tissue in the body. Thyroid hormones also helps the body stay warm, use energy and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working as they should. Not having enough of this element in your body can lead to enlargement of the thyroid (also known as a “goiter”), hypothyroidism, and intellectual disabilities in infants and children who did not get enough iodine during the mothers pregnancy.

 

Foods That Are High in Iodine

Foods that are high in iodine are: iodized salt, some breads, grains and cereals, fish and other foods from the sea (like shellfish), beef, poultry, pudding mixes, foods containing agar-agar, milk and milk products (like ice cream, cheese, yogurt, and butter),vitamins like kelp and dulse, herbal supplements, FD&C red dye #3 that is in Maraschino cherries and some beverages, egg yolks, whole eggs and foods containing whole eggs, milk chocolate, Blackstrap Molasses, and soy products.