Element added to table salt control thyroid trouble?

Iodine is added to table salt to help prevent iodine deficiency, which can lead to a number of health problems, including thyroid issues such as goiter and cretinism. Iodine is a mineral that is essential for the production of thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, growth, and development.

When iodine levels are low, the body can't produce enough thyroid hormones, which can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:

* Fatigue

* Weakness

* Weight gain

* Constipation

* Dry skin

* Brittle hair

* Irregular heartbeat

* Difficulty concentrating

* Infertility

* Mental health disorders

In severe cases, iodine deficiency can lead to goiter, a condition in which the thyroid gland becomes enlarged and may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing. In infants and children, iodine deficiency can lead to cretinism, a condition that can cause intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, and physical growth problems.

Iodized salt has been used in the United States since the 1920s to help prevent iodine deficiency, and it has been very effective in reducing the incidence of goiter and cretinism. However, iodine deficiency is still a problem in some parts of the world, especially in areas where people don't have access to iodized salt.