Iodized vs. Non-Iodized Salt: Which Type Is Better for Your Health?

Salt, or sodium chloride, is not just a key pantry staple: It’s also one of the most essential minerals to human and animal health. Sodium helps control your body’s fluid balance, and is critical for nerve and muscle function.

Iodized and non-iodized salt have the same amount of sodium so neither is considered "healthier" than the other, but iodized salt is refined and has added iodine that may help prevent health problems caused by iodine deficiency. Many can consume the recommended amount of iodine through diet. In this video, learn factors to help decide which salt may be best for your diet.

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Written by:

Brittany Doohan

Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.

Reviewed by:

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician. Prior to practicing medicine, she worked as a management consultant.

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