Iodized salt – Small habit, big benefits

National Iodized Salt Day is a meaningful activity to raise people's awareness of the essential role of iodine in human health and intellectual development. This is an opportunity for the whole society to review the achievements in the prevention of iodine deficiency disorders, and at the same time call on everyone to maintain the habit of using iodized salt in daily meals.

Iodine is an essential micronutrient that helps the thyroid gland function normally, producing hormones that regulate brain development, height and metabolism. Iodine deficiency can cause many serious consequences such as goiter, memory loss, fatigue, intellectual development disorders in children and increased risk of miscarriage and birth defects in pregnant women. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have affirmed that using iodized salt is the simplest, cheapest and most effective measure to prevent iodine deficiency disorders.

Iodine is abundant in natural foods , especially seafood such as: sea fish, shrimp, crab, clams, seaweed, and dried fish. Some types of eggs, milk, cereals and vegetables grown on land near the sea also contain a certain amount of iodine. However, because the diet of many Vietnamese families mainly depends on food from the mainland, the amount of natural iodine in the diet is often not enough to meet daily needs. Therefore, iodine supplementation through iodized salt or iodine-fortified products is essential to ensure health and comprehensive development.

In Vietnam, since the National Program for Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders was implemented, the rate of households using iodized salt has increased, contributing to the elimination of endemic goiter and significantly improving the nutritional status of the community. However, in recent years, this rate has tended to decrease due to people's subjectivity, and many production and business establishments have not complied with the mandatory regulation of iodine fortification in food salt. This has caused the risk of iodine deficiency to return, affecting the quality of the breed and the intellectual development of future generations.

In response to the National Day for the Use of Iodized Salt, the local health sector has been promoting propaganda and mobilizing people to use salt and iodized products such as fish sauce and seasoning powder, in order to maintain sustainable results in preventing iodine deficiency disorders. Along with that, the authorities have strengthened the inspection and supervision of product quality, ensuring that iodized salt reaching consumers meets the iodine content standards as prescribed by the Ministry of Health .

Each person and each family should start with small actions - choosing and using iodized salt in daily food preparation, guiding children to understand the health benefits of iodine and spreading this good habit in the community. It is not only a responsibility to oneself and family, but also a practical action that contributes to improving the stature and intelligence of Vietnam.

Source: https://soyte.camau.gov.vn/bai-khoa-hoc-chinh-tri-va-xa-hoi/muoi-i-ot-thoi-quen-nho-loi-ich-lon-290441