5½ Reasons You Need To Think About Iodine
I thought this mineral belonged in the ocean - until my doctor told me my body needed it immediately…
Sally McNeill, Health Editor
Published October 30 2025
Have you spared a thought for the iodine you’re eating?
My guess is - probably not. Because nobody tells you how important iodine is for your body, your brain health, and your very ability to live a happy life.
And here’s a scary thought: you might not be getting enough of it.
Today I want to share with you 5 crucial reasons why you need plenty of iodine in your diet. Plus, one bonus reason why you’ll definitely want it!
Also, I’ll show you the easiest way to make sure you’re getting your daily dose of iodine, to support your physical and mental health.
First, though, I want to show you what happens if you don’t get enough iodine…
Because 2 years ago, eating too little put me in the worst health of my life.
It was just 1 month after my 60th birthday, when I noticed my skin was flaking like dandruff across my arms. I didn’t think much of it, telling myself it was just a little eczema. But no cream or moisturiser made a difference. My arms got drier and drier, until my skin was so sore I couldn’t wear sleeves.
Then I started forgetting. It started with little things, like leaving my keys at work. But soon I struggled to focus on conversations. I couldn’t remember what happened on Strictly the morning after. Then my daughter had to remind me to buy her own birthday card.
I thought it was nothing. Just part of getting old.
But then a slight cramping in my stomach turned into digestive agony. I was constipated, on and off, for 4 months. The pain was so intense, I couldn’t leave the house 5 days out of 7, and I only saw things getting worse and worse…
Finally, my husband persuaded me to go to the doctor. He ran some tests.
The results gave me hope again.
I wasn’t getting "old", he said. I just wasn’t eating enough iodine.
And by adding just one food to my diet, I could get enough iodine to feel better.
But here’s the thing - eating more iodine didn’t just stop me feeling ill. After 3 weeks, adding just a pinch of this food to my dinner every evening, I felt literally years younger.
Because getting all the iodine you need will transform your body from the inside out.
Here's 5 reasons why you need iodine (plus, 1 reason why you'll definitely want it)
Reason 1: It sharpens your brain.
Struggling to concentrate? Forgetting more than you used to?
That might mean you need more iodine.
You see, iodine feeds your thyroid - the gland that makes hormones to power your brain. If your thyroid doesn’t get enough iodine, your mind runs at half speed. That’s when “brain fog” kicks in.
A 2017 study of Scottish adults aged 60+ linked lower-iodine diets to smaller brain volume, and slower brain function.
But eating enough iodine helps you think quickly and clearly, banishing "brain fog" for good.
Reason 2: It fires up your metabolism.
Those thyroid hormones don’t just power your brain. They’re also rocket fuel for your metabolism.
That means your body needs them to convert food into energy, for all you’re doing that day.
And if your thyroid can’t produce those hormones properly, your whole body goes into first gear…
Leaving you feeling exhausted every hour of the day. Piling inches of fat onto your waist, arms, and hips.
But the science shows eating iodine helps your body burn calories fast. At the same time, it charges up your energy on the go. So, you can stay a healthy weight and enjoy doing what you love each day.
Reason 3: It soothes your digestion.
We all know what it’s like to have digestive problems every now and then…
But if you’re struggling with pain, constipation or diarrhoea that won’t go away, iodine might help you.
Your thyroid hormones also play a key role in running your digestion system like a well oiled machine. Supporting them with iodine will help your body process food at a controlled, comfortable pace.
Reason 4: it steadies your mood.
We all know hormones impact how we feel. Anxiety, nerves, and even finding that cousin a little more irritating than normal - all this is affected by your hormones being out of whack.
Like other hormones, your thyroid hormones don’t just impact your physical health. They also affect your mental health.
Eating plenty of iodine helps to balance the production of hormones in your thyroid gland. This stabilises your mood, so you can live a happier, healthier life.
Reason 5: It might help you live longer.
Not only does iodine help you live a happier life now, the evidence shows it could work wonders down the line.
In one study, the British Journal of Nutrition studied diets of people in two Danish towns. They found that people who ate more iodine generally lived longer.
Including plenty of iodine in your diet today might give you more time with the people you love.
And a bonus benefit...
Turns out, it’s not just teenagers whose skin problems are hormonal…
Studies show unhealthy thyroid hormones can cause many skin issues, like dryness, rashes, lumps and spots.
But nourishing your thyroid with plenty of iodine does wonders for your skin…
Giving you a smooth, glowing complexion all over your body.
Plus, it supports thick, gorgeous hair…
Making iodine a beauty essential!
Now you’re probably wondering…
How can I get the iodine I need?
While you can buy supplements in pharmacies, having too much iodine can actually be harmful. So it’s best to get it naturally, through your diet.
Dairy, fish and seafood are great sources of iodine. But many Brits eat them regularly, and could still do with a mineral boost.
The truth is, the best natural sources of iodine are foods we don’t eat much of in the UK. Even though we’re literally surrounded by them.
Because science shows the best sources of iodine are seaweed, and sea salt. But not your average sea salt. I’m talking about iodine rich sea salt: a seasoning that flavours your food and nourishes your thyroid.
The issue isn’t just that not many of us eat seaweed on the regular. It’s also that iodine rich sea salt is basically impossible to find in the UK. You see, most sea salt is stripped of minerals before it reaches the supermarket.
But there’s one British sea salt I eat every day. And it gives me a better iodine boost than any other on the market.
It’s Celtic Shores, from Aeons.
This is a nutritional powerhouse, straight from the ocean. It’s a pure British mixture of Cornish sea salt and Scottish seaweed, blended for a complex, smoky flavour.
And it doesn’t just pack in more flavour than your typical salt. Just one pinch contains 100% of your daily iodine needs.
I saw a definite improvement after 3 weeks of cooking with Celtic Shores. Now I’ve been using it for 5 months, and I can honestly say the difference is incredible. My digestive issues vanished. I’m remembering little details that would have passed me by 10 years ago.
Besides, the flavour is just fantastic.
Scooped straight from the sea, it’s not only iodine Celtic Shores provides for your body. It contains more than 60 other minerals, to uplift your health and happiness from within.
(And did I mention - it tastes just delicious!)
For all the iodine you need, just switch your salt to Celtic Shores. It will brighten up every mealtime.