Question

What is iodized salt? Why is it advisable to take iodized salt?

Answer 1

Iodine is an essential mineral that is required by our body in trace amounts. The human body does not produce or make iodine. Moreover, iodine helps in the production of the thyroid hormone.

Complete answer: Iodized salt is the salt that has iodine present in it. The iodine salts are present in very little amounts in the chemical salt. Iodized salt is also known by the name of table salt.
It is advised to take iodized salt because iodine is required by our body in very little or trace amounts. Since iodine is not found in the regular diet, we add it to the salt. The iodine is required by our bodies for the normal production of the thyroxine hormone. Thyroxine hormone is a hormone of the thyroid gland. The thyroxine hormone regulates the metabolism of various biomolecules like fat, carbohydrates, and proteins in our body. The deficiency of iodine in our body causes lesser secretions of the thyroxine hormone which is known as hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism causes goiter. In this disease, the thyroid gland swells and enlarges due to which the neck also swells and a very big lump is formed on the neck. Hence, it is advised to take iodized salt to prevent the deficiency of iodine in our body.

Note: The thyroid hormone is known as thyroxine. It is the only hormone that is stored by the body. It is made up of $65\%$ iodine and $35\%$ tyrosine amino acid. Chemically it is called tetra-iodothyronine or T$_4$. As it is the inactive form so it is converted to the active form in the liver.