Our attitude to life does not depend on other people: only we can deal with it. And view on life is mostly determined by the things you consider most important. Many 50-year old women look excellently now and have wonderful health. Obviously, a 21^st century woman has enough possibilities to influence length and quality of her life, and it depends both on active way of living and more conscious attitude to nutrition. In other words, the foods we eat determine our life in many aspects.For example, lack og iodine in foods can affect immune system, changes activity of cardio-vascular system and respiratory tract.

Why does this happen?

There’re hundreds of glands in a human organism. Their purpose is to produce a substance inside of them and secrete it. Glands, controlling endocrine secretion, are called endocrine glands. Endocrine glands have most important influence on organism. A group of body organs, which we call endocrine glands, plays a huge role in formation of, for example, emotions and our mood.

Chemical and physical changes, which are emotions, are directed through endocrine glands by brain. Thyroid gland is an example – it is an endocrine gland, which weight is 25-30g – a solid formation, situated right under larynx. Thyroid gland absorbs iodine from blood actively. Formation of thyroid gland hormones takes place with the participation of iodine.

These hormones, produced by thyroid gland, play a huge role: they regulate rate of proteins, fats, carbohydrates exchange, heat production, affects activity of cardio-vascular system, respiratory tract, muscular contractility and fatiguability, nervous system excitability, organism resistance to infections.

Main function of a thyroid gland – is regulation of metabolism process. Increase of quantity of hormones quickens metabolism; lowering of quantity of hormones leads to its delay.

In most regions of the world usual food provides coming of iodine to organism in quantity, sufficient for normal production of thyroid gland hormones. The problem of lack of iodine influence on human health is one of the most important and ancient.

It’s so important for our health!

Lack of iodine creates new conditions for work of organism and its systems – as a result of iodine deficiency conditions, which were called iodine deficiency disorders, appear.

Attention concentration can be lowered too. A person becomes irritable, depressed, gets tired quickly. Headaches, worsening of memory, loop of intelligence, lowering of haemoglobin level in blood, frequent chills, in women - menstrual cycle disorder are possible.

In most cases described signs appear little by little and imperceptibly, gradually. So iodine deficiency is called a “hidden hunger”. In children iodine deficiency provokes hyperactivity, heightened excitability, and also mental backwardness.

What shall you do? First of all, if there’re already some signs, consultation with a doctor is necessary – probably, observation and treatment are necessary.

How to avoid iodine deficiency?

Norm of iodine consumption for an adult person is 150-200 microgrammes per 24 hours. This necessity is increased in pregnant and breastfeeding women up to 200-300 microgrammes. In purposes of prophylaxis of iodine deficiency disorders it’s recommended to eat sea food (they contain many iodine): fish, shrimps, crabs, squids, laminaria. Laminaria is the cheapest and accessible sea product, containing iodine. Fortunately, it contains most quantity of iodine. Such fruits, as kiwi and pineapple guava, and such vegetable as spinach contain plenty of iodine.

How many iodine foods contain?

100 g of these products contain:

herring – 66 mcg of iodine

dairy produce – 4-11 mcg

shrimps – 190 mcg

vegetables – 1-10 mcg

oysters – 60 mcg

laminaria – 0,3 g

trout – 3,5 mcg

chicken eggs – 10 mcg

meat – 3 mcg.

You need to eat iodized salt surely. You just should remember this rule: it’s recommended to salt hot dishes with iodized salt 10 minutes before you finish cooking. Keep iodized salt in dry rooms for no longer than 6 months. And, of course, pay attention to various vitaminic complexes, your doctor will help you to investigate their variety.