The Duma proposed to enshrine it at the legislative level Measures to prevent iodine deficiency casesBecause this problem is still very acute in the Russian Federation. This proposal was made by State Duma deputy for health protection Sergei Leonov. “Moscow Evening” asked a specialist what distinguishes iodine deficiency and how necessary preventive measures are at the legislative level.
Why is this procedure necessary?
According to general practitioner Nadezhda Chernyshova, iodine deficiency is a condition in which the body does not receive enough iodine to maintain the normal functioning of the thyroid gland.
Iodine compounds are part of thyroid hormones responsible for metabolism, growth, tissue development, and cardiovascular function. The doctor said: “When there is a deficiency, the entire body suffers, so preventive measures are necessary to identify the problem in a timely manner and avoid health problems.”
She said that many regions of the Russian Federation suffer from iodine deficiency, but in particular:
- Mountainous and foothill areas.
- Volga region
- Central region
- Ural.
On the contrary, iodine is sufficient in coastal areas. Among them is a doctor named:
- Krasnodar region
- Kaliningrad region
- the Far East.
— In these areas, people’s diet allows them to obtain the required amount of iodine. They usually eat a lot of fish, seafood, and algae. Here you can get iodine even by inhaling sea air: even just walking along the seashore, you can make up for the deficiency.
What measures can be taken to prevent iodine deficiency?
Depending on your doctor, measures to prevent iodine deficiency may look like this:
- Change in diet – it should contain more seafood (kelp, seaweed, fish, shrimp, squid, caviar);
- Use of iodized salt – it should be added to the food of people living in areas with a deficiency;
- Drug therapy – In cases where nutritional correction and salt use did not help a person overcome iodine deficiency, doctors prescribe medications that increase iodine levels.
“The combination of these methods allows us to deal with the deficiency much faster. If a person feels constant fatigue, irritability and his extremities are cold – which are signs of iodine deficiency, he needs to see a doctor so that he can choose the right method to normalize the condition,” said Chernyshova.
A sufficient amount of fish in the diet not only allows you to control the level of iodine in the body, but also helps improve memory, speed of thinking and resistance to stress. Nutritionist and candidate of medical sciences Elena Solomatina Vechernaya Moskva told more about this.