I usually buy the salt that says “this salt supplies iodide a necessary ingredient.” But yesterday I accidentally bought one that says “this salt does not supply iodide..” which always makes me wonder… if iodide is a necessary nutrient why would salt be sold without it.. and explicitly state that ???
Anyways, I’m basically wondering if it’s bad enough that I should go out and buy the salt that supplies iodide. I know it’s not a life or death ordeal but I’m just now beginning my ✨caring about what I put in my body✨ journey so if this salt will only give me all the bad components of salt without any good ones, I’ll go get another one.
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Some people need to monitor their iodide supply more carefully. Especially those with a thyroid gland problem. Those should buy non-iodid salt so they can more easily take the correct amount as supplement
Salt itself isn’t bad components, sodium and chloride are both also essential for your body, but especially sodium can be overdosed.
A general truth about eating healthy is that for many things a moderate amount is better than none or a lot.
Iodine was added like 100 years ago to help prevent iodine deficiency related illness like goiters. If you eat a half way decent in 2024, it’s not needed. (I don’t know your case so ask your doc if you have a question here)
Also, iodine can mess up some baking, canning, and pickling recipes.
Because iodide is bitter in many recipes and many people already get enough daily iodine
I never buy it.
Iodine in salt isn’t natural. We added it because it solves the issue that a lot of people don’t get enough from their food. If you’re eating a nice amount of seaweeds and fish there’s a good chance you are getting enough Iodine already. It’s possible to get too much Iodine as well. Also some people don’t trust things getting added to their food so there’s a market for plain salt.
Most people should get the Iodized salt. If you have a good reason to, get the non-iodized salt. Also like most food, non-iodized salt contains good components but too much of something good can be bad. Just like too much sodium is bad we could for example also overdose on calcium if you took too much.
Lots of reasons.
If you’re doing something that involves salt and some kind of biological activity like making bread or cheese or fermented foods, then the iodine can cause problems (e.g. harm or kill the bacteria/fungi). Iodine can affect the flavor of foods. Some medical conditions are helped by limiting the intake of iodine. Pickling with iodized salt can turn out weird.
The iodine can also cause problems for non-food applications. A couple of examples off the top of my head where the iodine can cause problems are dyeing fabrics, and using salt water to treat infected/unhappy piercings.
I knew a guy who used to think iodide was a “communist” plot. He thought the same thing about fluoride in the water, and bought strange (and probably useless) filters for his tap. He no longer believes in communist plots though, because he became pro-Russia a few years ago.
People who need to monitor their iodine intake carefully don’t need to have to guess how much they’re ingesting via salt. There’s also a strong “no extra chemicals in my body!” movement that’s driven up the demand in recent decades, plus there are specific instances in which the chemical presence of iodine is unhelpful, like in dyeing or certain types of cooking/baking that involve yeast/fermentation.
However, hypothyroidism and goiters (a huge, enlarged thyroid gland that can get really visible and makes it hard to swallow) are symptoms of an iodine deficiency; if you read older books (like, pre-1950s), there are often side characters mentioned who have goiters, or who had surgery to have one removed and there’s a visible scar. Agatha Christie would often describe this. Weight gain, fatigue, pregnancy/reproductive problems including loss of fertility, puffy skin, thinning hair…
Look up images of goiters; iodine specifically prevents you from getting those. They used to be common; now they are not, because of iodized salt.
Iodide can change the taste of foods slightly, there is a maximum recommended level of iodine per day, and there is an additional cost associated with adding iodide to salt. Plus, some people are just creeped out by any kind of additive. So not all salt gets iodide added.
Unless you live in some remote village in northern Sweden, your diet probably contains enough iodine already. Seaweed/seafood, dairy, eggs, bread, etc are all efficient ways to get enough iodine. The only people today who need to consider additional iodine are pregnant women.
There are no bad components of salt. Salt is an essential nutrient that our body needs. Too much salt in your diet can lead to high blood pressure, and could possibly be linked to a higher incidence of stomach cancer. Eat enough of it and you’ll remain healthy. Try to check the salt content of foods and try not to exceed the daily recommended amount too much.
I recommend just keeping a thingy of iodized table salt around for whenever you need table salt, and non-iodized (or any kind) of kosher salt around for when you need kosher salt. Don’t even think about it, and you will remain goiter-free.
There is absolutely no problem using non-iodized salt at home. Many cooks prefer kosher salts without iodide. If you eat seafood, eggs, strawberries, seaweed, potatoes, or lots of other foods you’re getting some. If you eat commercial baked goods, you’re getting some. If you eat at restaurants, you’re probably getting food prepared with iodized salt.
Basically, there’s enough iodized salt in the food supply that most people never have to think about it and can safely ignore the warning on the box. If you cook exclusively at home and do not eat a wide variety of foods, either use iodized salt or look up foods that contain some.
Iodized salt is not recommended for home food preservation because it causes darkening, discoloration, and/or spotting. Iodide in salt is like fluoride added to tap water: a broad-range preventive that helps some a lot, most people get a boost, and some people not at all.
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