Mainstream’s war on salt is causing big problems for men

Years ago, iodine deficiency was rare. But thanks to the government’s war on salt, it’s now back with a vengeance. And it’s causing a slew of health issues—especially for men.

In his Insider’s Ultimate Guide to Perfect Prostate Health, Dr. Marc Micozzi explains, “Iodine is a critical mineral for prostate health. It’s required for normal thyroid function and metabolism. And it’s used in virtually every cell in the body—especially glands such as the adrenals and the pancreas.”

And he adds, “Plus, researchers now link iodine deficiency to prostate cancer as well.”

Adding iodine to salt was a big solution to the problem of iodine deficiency once upon a time. And that solved the problem. But if you cut back on salt, you’re not taking in the iodine that you would typically get, which creates the problem of iodine deficiency.

The U.S. Institute of Medicine’s recommended daily allowance (RDA) for iodine is 150 mcg/day for adults and adolescents. “And believe it or not”, Dr. Micozzi says, “In this instance, the government RDA is actually correct. Unfortunately, the government’s outdated and misguided advice to cut salt is what’s likely keeping a lot of men from ever achieving this target.”

The good news is, protecting yourself from iodine deficiency is very easy to do. And this is one instance where you don’t even need to rely on a supplement.

Other than adding more iodized salt to your diet, you can generally get all the iodine you need simply from eating salt-water fish—halibut, mahi-mahi, Pacific wild-caught salmon, sea bass, and yellowfin tuna.

Seafood—like crabs, oysters, scallops, and shrimp—also rich in iodine and is also very healthy in many other respects.

Another excellent choice Dr. Micozzi recommends is sardines. They’re an ideal source of omega-3 fatty acids, and the average tin of sardines contains about 25 percent of the RDA for iodine.