The slogan “Maging matalino, mag-iodized salt tayo!” has become a cliché in the 90’s when Republic Act 8172 or An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN) Law and for related purposes was enacted in 1995. The continuous promotion of ASIN Law is spearheaded by the Department of Health and the National Nutrition Council. The Local Government Units are enjoined to issue resolutions and ordinances to support its implementation. The Barangay Nutrition Scholars and/or the Barangay Health Workers are tasked to monitor the availability of Iodized salt through regular household surveys done during the family profiling in the barangays. Nowadays, NNC partners with them to determine the number of households using “asin na may saktong iodine” (Please click the link to view the Saktong Iodine sa Asin video https://www.facebook.com/237515169629299/videos/2051104364974471/).
What is Iodine or “yodo”? Why is it important? Iodine is an essential nutrient needed by the body in minute amount. It is an integral part of the thyroid hormone responsible for the regulation of body temperature, metabolic rate, reproduction, growth, nerve, and muscle function.
If you are pregnant or lactating, you need 200 microgram (mg) of iodine daily. It is not hard to get this 200mg/day of iodine because iodine is naturally present in foods. The richest sources of iodine are those found in the sea such as clams, oysters, crabs, and seaweeds, among others. If you are used to including seafoods and seaweeds in your daily meals, you don’t need to worry on your iodine requirement for the day. For example, ½ cup or 40 grams (240.52 mg) of kulot, ½ cup or 40 grams (73.80 mg) of balbalulang, ½ cup or 75 grams (120.75 mg) shelled, cooked snail or kuhol, ¼ cup 20 grams (31mg) cooked crab meat or alimango or ¼ cup or 75 grams ( 74.62 mg) shelled, cooked salt water mussel or tahong, ¼ or 65 grams (61.68 mg) cup shelled, cooked fresh water snail or susong pilipit. Measurement of items mentioned are based on the Food Exchange List developed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.
Another easy way to ensure iodine supply in your body is through the use of iodized salt in preparing meals. Iodized salt is salt fortified with iodine at levels above the natural state. It is food grade salt, fit for human consumption, and contains the prescribed level of iodine. Iodized salt is just like ordinary salt used to season and make food taste good. It does not make food taste bad or bitter. Iodized salt is not always fine salt o “pinong asin”. It is any salt, whether rock (coarse or “magaspang”), fine or those available in the market using the takal system. Just like any other food, iodized salt can be bought in groceries, supermarkets, sari-sari stores and even in health centers nationwide.
Alamin: Iodine, bakit nasa asin?
By:
NO III Angelita M. Pasos
15 July 2019
