Iodine – Important mineral that prevents GOITER
Iodine is one of the first mineral to be recognized as vital for good health. Iodine comes in three forms: calcium iodide, potassium iodide, and sodium iodide. It occurs in a variety of chemical forms, the most important being: iodide (I-); iodate (IO3-), and elemental iodine (I2). The thyroid is a gland that regulates development, growth and metabolism, producing hormones that support most systems within the human body.
Practically, in countries where iodine is lacking in the soil and water, people are suffering from Goiter. Japan is the only country which is free from this disease and this is because of high consumption of seaweed as food.
- Iodine is grayish black in color.
- Iodine, when heated, yield corrosive fumes of a rich violet color.
- Iodine forms an essential component of thyroxine, the main hormone produced by thyroid gland.
- Iodine is absorbed from gastro-intestinal tract into the blood.
- Iodine is concentrated mainly in thyroid gland, where it is stored in the form of thyroglobulin, a complex of protein and iodine.
- When amount of thyroid hormone is serum is decreased, the pituitary gland releases a thyroid-stimulating hormone which causes the thyroid gland to produce more cells and to increase in size in an attempt to manufacture more hormones. This results in enlargement of thyroid gland, which is also called goiter.
FUNCTIONS OF IODINE IN HUMAN BODY
- Iodine is essential in maintaining the function of the thyroid and parathyroid glands in the human body.
- Iodine is essential to the production of thyroxine, a hormone associated with the thyroid gland and proper thyroid functioning.
- Iodine also promotes general growth and development within the body as well as aiding in metabolism.
- Iodine controls the utilization of sugars.
- Iodine regulates the rate of energy production and body weight.
- Iodine increases heart rate and urinary calcium excretion.
- Iodine improves mental alertness.
- Iodine promotes healthy hair, nails, skin, and teeth.
- Iodine is considered very important for breast shape and health.
- Iodine is used to treat eye infections, also iodine protects against UVB radiations.
- Iodine acts as an antioxidant in the blood.
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS OF IODINE IN HUMAN BODY
- Cretinism occurs in children whose diet lacks in iodine. A cretin is a dwarfed child who is mentally retarded, enlarged thyroid gland, defective speech and a gait that is clumsy.
- Extreme fatigue.
- Slowing of both physical and mental processes.
- Weight gain, facial puffiness.
- Constipation and lethargy.
- Anemia.
- Slow pulse rate.
Excessive intake of foods like cabbage, cauliflower, and raddish causes iodine deficiency as these foods contain a substance which reacts with the iodine present in food and makes it unsuitable for absorption.
FOOD SOURCES RICH IN IODINE
- Iodized salt.
- Seaweed, yogurt, cow’s milk, mozzarella cheese, eggs and strawberries.
- Cod liver oil.
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Categories: Anemia, benefits, Goiter, Iodine Tags: benefits, Body, Deficiency, Development, Diet, Element, Food, Functions, Gland, Goiter, growth, Hormones, Iodine, Mineral, Salt, Sodium, Sources, Symptoms, Thyroid, Thyroid gland
Breast Cancer – causes and symptoms
Abnormal development of cells leads to the growth of tumor, when tumor is malignant in nature they are termed as cancer. The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. Usually breast cancer either begins in the cells of the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands, or the ducts, the passages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple. Over time, cancer cells can invade nearby healthy breast tissue and make their way into the underarm lymph nodes, small organs that filter out foreign substances in the body.
Causes of Breast Cancer
The exact cause of breast cancer is not known but some causes associated with breast cancer are :
- Age : As the person gets older, chances of having breast cancer increases.
- Family history : Any close relative diagnosed with breast cancer increases the risk factor.
- Early start onset of menses and early menopause are also associated with breast cancer.
- Exposure to chemicals.
- Exposure to radioactive rays increases the chances of breast cancer.
- Late childbearing increases the risk of breast cancer.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Initially, breast cancer may not cause any symptoms. A lump may be too small for you to feel or to cause any unusual changes you can notice on your own.
* swelling of all or part of the breast.
* skin irritation or dimpling.
* breast pain.
* nipple pain or the nipple turning inward.
* redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin.
* a nipple discharge other than breast milk.
* a lump in the underarm area.
These changes also can be signs of less serious conditions that are not cancerous, such as an infection or a cyst. It’s important to get any breast changes checked out promptly by a doctor.