The mineral that takes care of your mind, thyroid, and nerves – in summer we lose it faster than we think

Chronic mineral deficiency is very common in the summer. Much more than in winter! This causes headaches, fatigue, and many other problems. We must not forget that with increased sweating we lose water more quickly, but also minerals and vitamins. Therefore, in the summer, a varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables is even more necessary. And we should not forget about an adequate amount of water either.

In summer, among the minerals, iodine is the most important, because we do not get enough of it with increasingly depleted food. That is why thyroid diseases are drastically on the rise. Besides affecting the function of the thyroid gland, iodine also works on the brain, breasts, skin, stomach... Iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, it is absolutely necessary for normal metabolism and for the proper functioning of the nervous system. If the body lacks iodine, muscle cramps, dry skin, hair loss, poor nails, poor concentration and memory, lack of energy, irritability, increased fatigue and depression can occur, as well as dehydration and emotional disturbances.

Dehydration is to blame for everything!

Lack of fluids in the summer months also leads to mineral deficiency. It's true that we find a lot of iodine in seafood and seaweed, it can also be found in chicken meat, eggs, dairy products, strawberries, blueberries, onions, spinach, chard, radishes... But this is often not enough.

Namely, in 2006, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) began an extensive multi-year study on the iodine content in foods. For nearly three years, they systematically measured iodine levels and found an unequivocal connection between iodine and intelligence, motor skills, and empathy. Participants who were deficient in iodine in their youth had more frequent thyroid problems in middle age, significantly poorer memory, learning difficulties, and more challenges with motor tasks. This problem was particularly evident among young people, whose prospects do not look good. But iodine deficiency today is especially problematic for the elderly...

The solution is, of course, in food, but what can we do if we are proven to eat poorer quality food than in the past. For this reason, food supplements are also a solution, but you must be careful to buy genuinely natural capsules with controlled origin.

And one more finding from EFSA that we should not forget: food in Slovenia contains very little naturally occurring iodine because plants cannot take it up from the soil. Apparently, our soil is very depleted.

And we know what that means...

Finally, a warning: don’t overdo it with iodine, because the good properties can quickly turn into bad ones.


Information on this website is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.