Salt is evil, right? That's the new nutrition mantra. But wait: What about people who need iodized salt to prevent iodine deficiency? Take our quiz on sources of this micronutrient.
1. Why does the body need iodine?
a) To stimulate the pituitary glands and enhance growth
b) To produce a thyroid hormone that keeps the gland functioning
c) To raise the heart rate of those with abnormally low blood pressure
2. How much iodine does the average person need per day?
a) 150 micrograms
b) 500 micrograms
c) 1 gram (1 million mcg)
3. According to the journal Science, iodized salt was introduced in the United States in 1924 because of what problem?
a) Goiter
b) Gout
c) Gingivitis
4. One gram of iodized salt contains 77 micrograms of iodine. Which food contains more than that?
a) Cod (3-ounce serving)
b) Shrimp (3 ounces)
c) Tuna, canned in oil (3 ounces)
5. By far the highest level of iodine found in food is in dried seaweed. How many micrograms are in 1/4 ounce?
a) 150
b) 607
c) 4,500
6. Most people's diets supply less than 1,000 mcg of iodine a day. But in Japan, where many eat seaweed daily, how much iodine is consumed daily, according to the journal Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease?
a) 9,000 mcg
b) 80,000 mcg
c) 1 million mcg
ANSWERS: 1: b; 2: a; 3:c; 4: a (cod contains 99 mcg); 5:c; 6: b.
Sources: Linus Pauling Institute (lpi.oregonstate.edu); nutritiondata.com
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(c) 2010, The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.). Distributed by Mclatchy-Tribune News Service.