Iodine is a trace element found in seawater, rocks and some types of soil.
Iodine Deficiency. Iodine is an element that is needed for the production of thyroid hormone. The body does not make iodine, so it is an essential part of your diet. Iodine is found in various foods (see Table 1). If you do not have enough iodine in your body, you cannot make enough thyroid hormone. However, the amount of iodine in foods is not listed on food packaging in the U.S., and it can be difficult to identify sources of iodine in foods. See the Iodine Deficiency Brochure for a list of food items rich in iodine. There are plenty of foods that are naturally high in Iodine. They range from seafood to potatoes, and it’s good to get a balance of different foods so that you’re not relying on one source. You can also find Iodine in supplements that contain kelp, as this is another place where Iodine is naturally found. 22 Foods Highest in Iodine. Iodine is an essential mineral that’s vital to the proper functioning of the thyroid. The thyroid gland is responsible for managing growth and metabolism. An iodine deficiency can cause symptoms such as fatigue, high cholesterol, lethargy, depression, and swelling of the thyroid gland. Iodine in food and iodized salt is present in several chemical forms including sodium and potassium salts, inorganic iodine (I 2), iodate, and iodide, the reduced form of iodine [ 4 ]. Iodine rarely occurs as the element, but rather as a salt; for this reason, it is referred to as iodide and not iodine. Iodine concentrations in plant foods can range from as little as 10 mcg/kg to 1 mg/kg dry weight [ 5 ]. This variability in turn affects the iodine content of meat and animal products because it affects the iodine content of foods that the animals consume [ 10 ]. Share. The thyroid gland synthesizes thyroid hormones and iodine is an essential trace mineral that is crucial for the thyroid to function properly. Eating foods rich in iodine ensures the thyroid is able to manage metabolism, detoxification, growth and development. The good news is that there are many popular foods with iodine, all of which are easy to incorporate into your daily diet. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for iodine is 150 micrograms daily for everybody over the age of 14. The RDA for children ages 1-8 is 90/mcg every day, ages 9-13 is 120/mcg every day. Food grown near the ocean tends to be higher in iodine. Iodine is consistently found in only a few foods such as dairy products (iodine solutions are used to clean the cows' teats and dairy equipment and end up in the milk) and seafood (including seaweed). Vegan iodine supplements can be found in most grocery or natural food stores, and most multivitamins contain iodine. In the United States, you can get the extra 75 µg of iodine from 1/4 teaspoon of iodized salt. If you are already eating 1/4 teaspoon of salt per day on your foods, make sure it is iodized Iodine is a trace element that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Iodine concentrations in plant foods can range from as little as 10 mcg/kg to 1 mg/kg dry weight [ 5 ]. This variability in turn affects the iodine content of meat and animal products because it affects the iodine content of foods that the animals consume [ 10 ]. Low Iodine Diet. To increase the effectiveness of your upcoming radioactive iodine therapy, you may be prescribed a low iodine diet. Iodine is used in the care and feeding of animals and as a stabilizer and/or safety element in food processing. Therefore, it may be found in varying amounts in all food and beverages.  Good sources of iodine. Iodine is a trace element found in seawater, rocks and some types of soil. Good food sources include sea fish and shellfish. Iodine can also be found in plant foods, such as cereals and grains, but the levels vary, depending on the amount of iodine in the soil where the plants are grown.
http://www.thyroid.org/iodine-deficiency/ http://bembu.com/iodine-rich-foods http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/ http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/iodine-foods/ http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/iodine http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/ http://www.thyroid.org/low-iodine-diet/ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/Iodine.aspx
what food is iodine found in