Nutritionist and chartered psychologist, Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart warned of iodine deficiency.
“Iodine is an essential mineral that your body can’t make by itself, so we must depend on food or supplements to get what we need,” said Dr Newman-Beinart.
“Iodine plays an important role in the production of thyroid hormones, which are important for vital bodily processes.”
Dr Newman-Beinart added: “Did you know that being iodine deficient can affect your IQ [intelligence quotient]?
“Scientists collated over 20 studies looking at the relationship between iodine status and IQ.
“And all of the studies found that iodine deficiency was associated with lower IQ.”
Research has also shown that people with lower thyroid hormone levels “performed less well on memory tasks than people with higher levels”, Dr Newman-Beinart pointed out.
Dr Sarah Bath, a Health Scientist at The Association of UK Dietitians, noted there is an “increasing concern” about iodine deficiency.
Dr Bath elaborated: “In the UK and other developed countries, there is more concern about the effects of mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency.”
If you are feeling low and are suffering from memory troubles, it’s worth speaking to your doctor about your symptoms.
Low mood and memory problems are also symptoms of dementia, but a simple thyroid function test can help to rule out this condition.
Should you have an underactive thyroid, such symptoms could lift with the treatment of levothyroxine.
Yet, if your thyroid functions are healthy, then other tests can be done to get to the root of your symptoms.