Written by &you Labs Team
Updated September 29, 2026
Your thyroid is a small gland in your neck. It makes hormones that control your energy and metabolism. To make those hormones, it needs one key building block: iodine.
Iodized salt has wiped out severe iodine deficiency in most of the Philippines. But mild deficiency still shows up in some Filipinos, and it can quietly affect thyroid health.
Iodine is a mineral your thyroid needs to make its hormones. Iodized salt has wiped out most severe deficiency in the Philippines. Mild deficiency still shows up in pregnant women, plant-based eaters, and Filipinos who skip iodized salt. A urine test is the standard way to check iodine. Most adults here get enough from everyday iodized salt already.
Your thyroid uses iodine to build two hormones: T4 and T3. Both control how fast your body burns energy.
Without enough iodine, hormone production drops. This can cause:
Severe iodine deficiency used to be common here. It was worse away from the coast. It caused visible goiters and hurt children's brain growth. Health officials once treated it as a major problem.
Over the past few decades, the Philippines added iodine to table salt. This one fix wiped out most severe deficiency.
Today, severe deficiency is rare. But mild deficiency still lingers in a few groups of Filipinos. We cover those groups below.
Group | Daily iodine |
|---|---|
Adults | 150 micrograms |
Pregnant women | 250 micrograms |
Breastfeeding women | 290 micrograms |
Children | 90 to 150 micrograms, depending on age |
Food source | Iodine level |
|---|---|
Iodized salt | The main source for most people. Roughly 15 to 40 micrograms per gram of salt |
Seaweed (nori, kelp, wakame) | Very high. Can easily provide more than you need in one serving |
Dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese) | Moderate, and it varies |
Seafood | Moderate |
Eggs | Small amount |
Some processed foods | Varies by ingredients |
Most Filipinos who cook with iodized salt reach their daily target without trying.
A few groups are more likely to fall short.
Group | Why |
|---|---|
People who skip iodized salt | Unrefined "natural" or sea salt has little to no iodine |
People on low-salt diets | Less salt means less iodine, unless it comes from other foods |
Plant-based eaters | They often skip dairy and seafood, two natural sources |
Pregnant and breastfeeding women | Their daily need is higher |
People with thyroid problems or low selenium | Selenium works alongside iodine in the thyroid |
The main test checks iodine in your urine. Doctors call it urinary iodine. It is the best single check we have.
It works best for large groups, not one person. Your iodine intake can shift a lot from day to day. So one urine sample only tells part of the story.
A few other tests exist too.
Test | What it tells you |
|---|---|
Thyroglobulin | A thyroid protein. Gives a rough clue, mostly useful for large groups |
Your regular thyroid tests. Do not measure iodine, but can show if low iodine is hurting your hormones | |
Hair iodine | Used in research. Not part of everyday care |
For most people, a urine iodine test only makes sense in specific cases. Pregnancy is one. Suspected deficiency is another.
If your thyroid is the real question, a &you Labs panel checks those markers for you.
You can get too much iodine too. Seaweed-heavy diets, some old home remedies, high-dose pills, and a few medicines can all push you over.
Effect | What happens |
|---|---|
Paradoxical hypothyroidism | Extra iodine can slow your thyroid down. Doctors call this the Wolff-Chaikoff effect |
Hyperthyroidism | A too-fast thyroid, in people prone to it |
Goiter | A swollen thyroid gland |
Autoimmune thyroid disease | Your immune system attacks your own thyroid |
Steady, moderate intake is safest. Skip long-term, high-dose iodine pills unless your doctor has a clear reason for you to take them.
A baby's brain growth depends on the mother getting enough iodine. Severe deficiency during pregnancy can cause lasting harm to a baby. Even mild deficiency may affect a child's thinking skills later on.
For this reason, doctors suggest a few simple steps.
Most Filipinos who cook with iodized salt do not need a test. It is worth asking about if you are pregnant, eat a strict plant-based diet, or have a thyroid problem. Talk to your doctor about checking your iodine, alongside a full thyroid panel.
Most adults who use iodized salt do not need them. Plant-based eaters and pregnant women often benefit from a supplement. Avoid high doses unless your doctor recommends it.
Usually not. Most "natural" sea salts skip the iodine. Regular iodized table salt is the fortified option.
Yes. High iodine intake can trigger the Wolff-Chaikoff effect, which slows the thyroid down in people who are prone to it. Avoid long-term high-dose intake.
Only if a test shows you are low, or if you are pregnant. Taking extra iodine when you already have enough can cause harm, not help.
Kelp is very high in iodine. Some products contain far more than you need in a single dose. Use them carefully, and check the label.
The &you Labs Team combines medical science with personal care. We help Filipinos understand their health markers with blood work analysis that is easy to follow, whole person support, and health expertise built for Filipino life.
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