2. Increased sensitivity to cold
A lack of iodine can make it more difficult for us to regulate the temperature of our bodies. Iodine activates brown fat deposits, which are responsible for keeping our body temperature warm enough; wihtout it, it is more difficult for us to regulate our temperature in a cold environment. Also, as stated before, when we have an iodine deficiency, the function of our thyroid gland is affected, and we can’t produce as much thyroid hormones as we need.
Thyroid hormones regulate the metabolism in our bodies, which is the sum of all chemical reactions that take place inside our cells, and that release the energy that we need for all our functions and internal processes. These chemical reactions release heat as a side product. The less metabolic activity, the less heat, and therefore, the lower our body temperature is, so we can’t fight the cold in the environment.