Iodized table salt provides more than the daily requirements for iodine if used regularly.
Found in many foods, iodine is a naturally occurring element that is essential to good health and disease prevention. Many areas of the world have low iodine levels in the soil, and crops that draw iodine from the earth are therefore deficient in the indispensable nutrient. In most developed countries, iodine is added to livestock feed and table salt to prevent deficiency. Sold in a wide variety of stores, iodine is often coupled with potassium. "Strong iodine," called potassium iodide, is available by prescription only.
Water Purification
Adding iodine will kill bacteria and parasites infecting potentially contaminated water, though it does add an unpleasant taste to the water. Most backpackers are familiar with prepackaged iodine water treatment pellets and tablets.
Infection Treatment or Prevention
Iodine is most widely used to disinfect skin wounds. As opposed to alcohol, iodine does not sting badly and is a stronger disinfectant, which is why hospitals use iodine (or Betadine or providone, both of which are chemical variations of iodine) to sterilize skin prior to operations or procedures that require penetrating the skin. Iodine is also used to treat acne, and a providone-iodine solution is widely used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis. In addition, some people add about 10 drops of iodine to water or juice and drink it prior to flying to prevent the runny nose that so often results from air travel, sometimes called "airline sinusitis." Bladder infections can be treated by drinking 10 to15 drops of iodine in water every three to four hours until the infection passes, though if this does not help within two days it is best to seek medical help.
Uses of Potassium Iodide ("Strong Iodine")
The most common use for potassium iodide is to treat problems with the thyroid. A deficiency of dietary iodine can lead to an overactive thyroid, which often results in gout. In addition, potassium iodide is used to protect the thyroid from the effects of radiation poisoning. In the event of radiation poisoning from a nuclear reactor accident, a "dirty bomb" or nuclear fallout, potassium iodide is strongly indicated.
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