Actress Sarah Snook has seemingly revealed that Kieran Culkin and his wife Jazz Charton have already welcomed their third baby.
A new study found that most pregnant women are missing out on a key nutrient for their baby.
The survey, conducted by the National Dairy Council in September, found that 57% of expecting mothers and parents of children under the age of two understand that iodine needs increase during pregnancy.
The NDC adds that iodine is a “quiet powerhouse in brain development during the first 1,000 days.”
The “first 1,000 days” refers to the crucial period of growth and development from conception to a child’s second birthday — consisting of roughly 270 days of pregnancy plus the first two years of life.
According to the National Institutes of Health, recommendations for iodine go up 50% in pregnancy.
While the recommended dietary allowance for iodine is 150 mcg for most adult men and women, that number is increased to 220 mcg during pregnancy and 290 mcg during lactation, per the NIH.
That’s because iodine plays a crucial role in brain and cognitive development.
“We know that if there is inadequate iodine nutrition in those first 1,000 days, it can lead to lower IQ, particularly verbal IQ and measures of language,” Dr. Elizabeth Pearce said, according to U.S. Dairy.
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“There also are suggestions in the literature that maternal iodine deficiency in pregnancy may be linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and possibly to autism spectrum disorder in children,” Peace added.
Unfortunately, Pearce warns that there’s a “huge knowledge deficit” when it comes to iodine deficiency.
“I don’t think pregnant women and the general public really understand what iodine does as a nutrient,” Pearce said — adding that iodine deficiency is “the leading preventable cause of intellectual disability.”
What does iodine do for brain development in early childhood?
Iodine is a key nutrient — not just for pregnant women, but also for babies and toddlers.
According to the American Thyroid Association, iodine plays an important role in the synthesis of thyroid hormones, which are essential for normal brain development in babies during pregnancy.
Thyroid hormones also play an important role in weight management, energy levels, internal temperature, skin, hair and nail growth, metabolism and much more, according to the Endocrine Society.
Without enough thyroid hormones, your baby’s brain won’t develop properly or fully.
In fact, iodine deficiency is one of the leading causes of hypothyroidism — an underactive thyroid gland — worldwide, according to the ATA, and it often stems from not getting enough iodine during pregnancy.
Not only that, but iodine helps develop coordination, alertness and the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch), according to the New South Wales Government.
How to increase iodine in pregnancy and the first 1,000 days
The good news is that iodine is extremely easy to add to you and your child’s daily diet.
For example, one glass of milk and a serving of yogurt provides as much as 60% of the iodine needed during pregnancy — and most babies can get the iodine they need by making milk their go-to drink.
Other iodine-rich foods include fish, kelp, nori, wakame, kombu, eggs and dairy products.
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Milk, cheese and yogurt are three of the most popular iodine-rich dairy products in pregnancy — and they contain a wide range of other nutrients that are key to you and your baby’s health and development.
In fact, most dairy products are also high in choline, protein, vitamin B12, selenium, zinc and Vitamin A.
While babies get most of their iodine from milk (either dairy milk or breast milk), you can start introducing them to other dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese, as early as 6-12 months.
Parents should aim for more than one cup of dairy in the child’s first two years and at least two cups of dairy between the ages of two and eight, according to U.S. Dairy.
There are also lactose-free dairy products available for those with lactose intolerance.
“Before you get pregnant is the most critical time to make sure that you have good nutrition and are healthy enough to make a human being,” said Carol Cheatham, PhD, according to U.S. Dairy.
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“We know nutrition is central to brain development across the lifespan,” she added.
