Iodine is essential in the diet because without it, your thyroid gland could not manufacture thyroxine - a hormone necessary for bodily functions such as growth and the prevention of goiter. In some countries, government are encouraging table salt processors to fortify their product with potassium iodide to help ensure that everyone received enough of the mineral to fight iodine deficiency. However, some medical authorities believe that if you eat a lot of seafood or food grown in iodine-rich soil (commonly associated with coastal areas) or drink water that has acquired the mineral from such soil, you may be overdosing on iodine if you also regularly use iodized salt. The iodine-fortified product makes more sense for people who live great distances from a seaboard.

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