logo
Your Love For Himalayan Pink Salt Over Table Salt Might Be Leading To Iodine Deficiency, Warns Doctor In Viral Video

Your Love For Himalayan Pink Salt Over Table Salt Might Be Leading To Iodine Deficiency, Warns Doctor In Viral Video

NDTV3 days ago
The pursuit of healthier living has led many of us down various paths, from meticulous diet planning to exploring alternative ingredients. One such trend that has gained significant momentum in the recent years is the shift towards Himalayan pink salt. Touted for its various health benefits, it has become a staple in many health-conscious households.
However, beneath its rosy hue and perceived wellness advantages, a doctor's warning has brought to light a potentially alarming consequence: the risk of iodine deficiency, a crucial nutrient for thyroid health and overall well-being.
In a video shared on Instagram, Dr Ali Kazemi, MD (gastroenterology and hepatology), talked about the recent increase in the number of iodine deficiency cases in India. He claimed that the use of Himalayan salt over iodised table salt in food is causing this deficiency in people.
Dr Kazemi captioned his post, 'From a Gastroenterologist: Did you know iodine deficiency, once nearly eradicated, is re-emerging partly due to the popularity of Himalayan salt and sea salt over iodised table salt.'
Highlighting the benefits of iodine rich salt, he added, "Iodine is very important to prevent some thyroid diseases and in pregnancy for fetal brain development. To maintain adequate iodine levels, it's essential to use iodized salt or consume iodine-rich foods such as fish, dairy products, and seaweed."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by The Gut Doc (@the.gut.doc)
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a large-scale study involving more than 20,666 individuals from diverse countries including China, Germany, India, Italy, Malaysia, and South Africa, discovered that iodine supplementation had a profound impact on reducing mortality rates associated with iodine deficiency disorders.
Benefits of Iodine Rich Salt
It is found that iodine rich salt comes handy to decrease the size of the thyroid gland in cases of goitre.
Table salt also enhances both physical and mental development in children.
It also significantly lowers the risk of experiencing symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Experts call for integration of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation into standard stroke care
Experts call for integration of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation into standard stroke care

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Experts call for integration of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation into standard stroke care

New Delhi: On the occasion of National Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) Day, neurologists and rehabilitation experts in the national capital called for urgent integration of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation into India's stroke care protocols. With stroke now the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability in the country, doctors stressed that rehabilitation within the first 90 days is essential - not just for survival but for full functional recovery. "Stroke is a race against time, not just during the attack, but long after hospital discharge," said Dr Man Mohan Mehndiratta, Principal-Director and Senior Consultant, Neurology, BLK-Max Centre for Neurosciences. "While emergency response has improved through ACT FAST awareness, post-stroke recovery remains poorly structured. Without targeted rehabilitation, patients may survive but lose their independence, speech, or memory," Dr Mehndiratta said. Stroke is increasingly affecting younger people in urban centres like Delhi, fueled by rising rates of hypertension, chronic stress and sedentary lifestyles. According to the India Hypertension Control Initiative (ICMR-WHO, 2023), one in four Indian adults is hypertensive, yet only 12 per cent have it under control. Experts are now calling for broader adoption of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR), a multidisciplinary medical speciality that supports recovery after stroke, spinal cord injuries and head trauma. PMR combines robotic-assisted therapy, speech and occupational therapy, cognitive retraining and psychological support, all under a structured, evidence-based roadmap led by rehabilitation physicians. "Rehabilitation is not just exercise. It's a guided, clinical process," said Dr Amit Tomar, Lead Consultant - PMR, HCAH (HealthCare atHOME) said. "The brain's plasticity is highest in the first three months post-stroke. "Every day of delay narrows the window for recovery," he said. In a recent HCAH survey, only 40 per cent of respondents could identify stroke symptoms before hospitalisation. Yet among patients who received structured inpatient rehabilitation , 92 per cent regained core functional abilities within three months. In contrast, 70 per cent of those on unstructured home care took over four months to regain basic functions like speech and mobility. "These numbers reinforce the importance of timely, specialist-led rehab," said Dr Gaurav Thukral, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, HCAH. As stroke cases rise, experts called on national and state health authorities to take bold action to embed PMR into every stroke treatment protocol, expand insurance coverage for inpatient rehab, train more PMR specialists and rehab teams and establish dedicated neuro-rehabilitation centres in both public and private healthcare systems. "Survival should not be the end goal. Recovery with dignity must become the new standard," said Dr Mehndiratta. PTI

"The Best Beverage For High Blood Pressure Is..." AIIMS, Harvard Gut Doctor Reveals
"The Best Beverage For High Blood Pressure Is..." AIIMS, Harvard Gut Doctor Reveals

NDTV

timean hour ago

  • NDTV

"The Best Beverage For High Blood Pressure Is..." AIIMS, Harvard Gut Doctor Reveals

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common condition which can lead to serious health issues. When blood pressure remains elevated for prolonged periods, it can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease, stroke and kidney problems. Hypertension is usually known as a "silent killer" because most individuals may not experience noticeable symptoms, yet it can cause significant damage over time. Diet plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy blood pressure numbers. A diet rich in fibre, potassium, and magnesium, with low sodium intake, can help reduce blood pressure significantly. Best beverage for high blood pressure Drinking beetroot juice is one of the effective ways to control blood pressure through dietary changes. In an Instagram video, Dr. Saurabh Sethi, popularly known as the "gut doctor" and a gastroenterologist trained at AIIMS, Harvard, and Stanford Universities, revealed that beetroot juice is a beverage for high blood pressure. Several studies suggest that dietary nitrate, found in beetroot juice, can effectively lower blood pressure. Drinking beetroot juice can lead to a significant decrease in blood pressure, especially in those who already have high levels. Beetroot juice is rich in nitrates, which the body converts into nitric oxide. This compound helps to relax and widen blood vessels, improving blood flow and potentially reducing blood pressure levels. Additionally, beetroot is a good source of potassium, a mineral which helps nerves and muscles function properly and lowers blood pressure effectively. Beetroot juice is also rich in iron, magnesium, sodium, zinc, copper and selenium. Incorporating beetroot juice into a balanced diet, alongside other lifestyle changes can be an effective strategy for controlling high blood pressure. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, consuming a low-sodium diet and managing stress can effectively aid in lowering blood pressure.

'That is business suicide': IIT Kanpur graduate shares lessons from his failed investment that once looked promising
'That is business suicide': IIT Kanpur graduate shares lessons from his failed investment that once looked promising

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

'That is business suicide': IIT Kanpur graduate shares lessons from his failed investment that once looked promising

What happens when a well-funded startup, backed by top VCs and built around a high-impact mission, still fails to survive? Harsh Pokharna , an IITian and CEO, recently took to Instagram to share the harsh lessons he learned after a health-tech startup he invested in shut down. His brutally honest post has since gone viral, not just for its candour, but for the clarity it offers to anyone trying to crack India's notoriously complex healthcare market. He revealed that he invested in the health-tech start-up in 2020. The startup aimed to be an aggregator for cancer hospitals, giving patients a platform where they could browse treatment options, consult doctors online, and choose where to receive care. With over $7 million raised from investors and a strong organic reach of 25,000+ monthly visitors and over 1,000 unique cancer patient leads, the start-up had all the signs of a high-potential venture. But even with these numbers, it couldn't survive. 'We really thought hospitals would see the value in owning or partnering with a brand like this,' Pokharna wrote. 'But it didn't work out that way.' Critical lessons he learned According to Pokharna, the failure wasn't due to a lack of vision or execution—it was rooted in the structural reality of Indian healthcare. In his post, he listed three critical lessons that founders (and investors) should take seriously: - Hospitals hold all the power According to Harsh, aggregator platforms may look good on paper, but in reality, they're completely at the mercy of hospitals. Payments get delayed, contracts are disregarded, and any profit margin gets wiped out by compliance and collection costs. Hospitals simply don't need middlemen. Digital-only doesn't work (yet) The Indian market isn't ready to pay for purely online healthcare services, claims Harsh. Digital tools are useful for generating leads, but they can't sustain a business. Offline is necessary—and expensive Indian patients still prefer in-person consultations and physical centres. But building offline infrastructure is a heavy lift. According to Pokharna, each centre takes 12–24 months to break even and requires massive upfront investment. If a startup can't afford to scale offline, it stalls. His biggest takeaway? For Pokharna, the biggest takeaway is simple but sobering: startups trying to be aggregators in healthcare are walking a dangerous line. Without strong differentiators or leverage, they risk becoming powerless middlemen—with no margins, no sustainability, and no way out. He cautioned that building an aggregator-only business in Indian healthcare is a risky move. Without solid solutions to the structural challenges of the sector, founders risk setting themselves up for failure from the very start. In Pokharna's own words, it may look like a promising pitch deck, but if you're not careful, it could be business suicide.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store