Eating foods with iodine is a crucial factor in maintaining good physical health. Certain foods are higher in iodine than others, but there are a variety of foods individuals can choose from to ensure an adequate supply of this important trace mineral. Foods with iodine include salt, dairy products, kelp, seafood and certain plants grown in iodine-rich soil.
Iodine is crucial to proper thyroid functioning, which includes producing thyroid hormones. It is further important for maintaining cellular metabolism, which enables the body to convert food into useful energy. As a trace mineral, iodine is present in soil and seawater and is stored in the human body.
Table salt is one of the most common foods with iodine that people regularly consume. Salt is used to make a variety of processed foods and breads, which makes these food choices particularly high in iodine. While salt and the foods made with salt are good iodine sources, health experts do not recommend eating salt or processed foods in large quantities due to other health concerns that may arise as a result. In moderation, however, salt and foods prepared with salt are good iodine sources.
Among the very highest foods with iodine that a person can consume are kelp and dairy products, such as milk, eggs and yogurt. Mozzarella cheese is also high in iodine, but not as high as certain other dairy products. Seafood also tops the list of foods with iodine, as fish and shellfish retain large amounts of iodine gained from seawater.
Vegetarians and those with allergies to seafood or dairy products may still enjoy foods with iodine. A few such foods include strawberries, navy beans and potatoes. The iodine content in some of these may vary, however, as the level of iodine contained in these foods largely depends on the iodine levels of the soil they were grown in. In some places, iodine levels in the soil are very low and in others it is quite high.
While foods with iodine are the best and healthiest way to obtain this mineral, a nutritious diet is not the only way to do so. For example, to treat or avoid iodine deficiency, many use supplements in tandem with consuming foods with iodine. In this way, it can be assured that a person is receiving enough of the mineral to work to correct or avoid the symptoms of deficiency, such as goiter and hypothyroidism.