is a trace element,

meaning you only need it in tiny amounts, but it’s vital for the health of your thyroid gland and the hormones it produces, which influence the metabolism of your body’s cells. However, a recent study shows that nearly half of UK adults have levels indicative of mild iodine deficiency.7 There’s seasonal variation, too, because the iodine concentration in dairy milk – a major source of iodine for many in the UK – tends to be higher in winter when cattle are housed and fed dietary supplements (including iodine).