Iodine
Iodine is a really important type of atom that our bodies need to be healthy. It's like a special vitamin that we can't make on our own - we have to get it from our food, mostly from things like sea vegetables, fish, and dairy products.
Iodine does a lot of important things in our bodies! One of the biggest things is that it helps our thyroid gland work properly. The thyroid is a tiny little organ in our neck that helps control things like our energy levels, our weight, and even how fast our heart beats. Without enough iodine, our thyroid might not work very well, which can cause a lot of problems - especially for kids as they grow.
Sometimes, people don't get enough iodine in their food. That can be because they live somewhere where there isn't a lot of iodine in the soil, or because they just don't eat enough foods that have it. If we don't get enough iodine, our body will start to show some signs - like feeling tired, having trouble concentrating, or even feeling cold all the time.
But don't worry too much! Most people in the U.S. get plenty of iodine in their diets. And for folks who don't, there are things we can do! We can take a special kind of salt that has iodine added to it, or even take some iodine supplements. That way, we can make sure we're giving our bodies everything they need to stay healthy!
Iodine does a lot of important things in our bodies! One of the biggest things is that it helps our thyroid gland work properly. The thyroid is a tiny little organ in our neck that helps control things like our energy levels, our weight, and even how fast our heart beats. Without enough iodine, our thyroid might not work very well, which can cause a lot of problems - especially for kids as they grow.
Sometimes, people don't get enough iodine in their food. That can be because they live somewhere where there isn't a lot of iodine in the soil, or because they just don't eat enough foods that have it. If we don't get enough iodine, our body will start to show some signs - like feeling tired, having trouble concentrating, or even feeling cold all the time.
But don't worry too much! Most people in the U.S. get plenty of iodine in their diets. And for folks who don't, there are things we can do! We can take a special kind of salt that has iodine added to it, or even take some iodine supplements. That way, we can make sure we're giving our bodies everything they need to stay healthy!