Iodized salt helped raise Americans' IQ scores
TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2013 11:33 AM

The trace mineral and nutrient known as iodine is essential for the metabolism of cells to take place inside the human body, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. When people do not receive enough iodine, they could develop the intellectual and physical disability known as cretinism.

Not many Americans have to worry about cretinism, as iodine is not scarce. However, there was a time when the mineral was not as easy to come by. In a recent study, researchers from The National Bureau of Economic Research set out to see what effect the introduction of iodized salt in 1924 had on Americans. As it turns out, the impact was quite significant.

According to the researchers' findings, IQ scores increased for a full decade following the introduction of iodized salt. Overall, IQ rose by one standard deviation. This shows how significant an impact something as simple as iodized salt can have on society.

If individuals do not feel they are consuming as much iodine as they should, they may want to take an IQ test and see how their diet is affecting their cognitive abilities.