Is salt a natural source of iodine?
Yes, salt does naturally have iodine. Regular, totally natural (NOT iodized) salt has about 10% of the daily requirement of iodine per quarter tsp.
Why is iodine added to salt?
Iodine is essential for health. And a bad thyroid problem can result from an iodine deficiency.
During the draft for WWI, in the midwest, there was a limited supply of fresh seafood, which is the biggest source of iodine for most people. In addition to that, refined sugars and processed foods had become very popular. So when the U.S. military discovered many men weren’t qualifying for the draft because of this problem–which led to a lower number of recruits available in the midwest–the U.S. government began to research how they could force iodine consumption. Not unlike the way many municipalities across the country add fluoride to water, the U.S. government decided to add iodine to a food source.
Salt was not the first choice; they considered adding iodine to flour or water, but it turned both flour and water a reddish purple color, since iodine is purple. They discovered it could be added to salt and remain stable, and, since salt was a necessary ingredient in everyone’s diet, it enabled a forced iodine consumption.
Then they required all salt manufacturers (and they still do today) to add a warning to their product if they did not add additional iodine.
But, guys, salt was NEVER supposed to be a natural source of iodine.
How much iodine is in iodized salt?
In 1/4 tsp of iodized salt you’ll find 45% of your daily recommended amount of iodine.
But–this is what no one tells you–less than 10% of that 45% iodine is actually bio available when it’s attached to salt.
Ummm, what!?
How can you prevent iodine deficiency?
To prevent an iodine deficiency, simply seek out foods rich in iodine (like seafood and mozzarella cheese), or find a good iodine substitute.
Other tips?
Remove or reduce halogen exposure by having a good water filter.
Avoid enriched flour, which is enriched with bromide. While bromide is a flour conditioner/volumizer,
enriched flour is also an iodine inhibitor!
Sidenote: Dairy products are some of the best sources of bioavailable iodine.
The Ultimate Guide to Salt–with Darryl Bosshardt of Redmond Real Salt (S7, E1) - Souly Rested