For the majority of developed nations, iodine deficiencies are rare. Table salt and most U.S. farmland where food is grown are infused with iodine. However, this is not the case in India, where approximately 350 million people risk developing an iodine deficiency. Foods rich in iodine, such as seafood, dairy or eggs, are oftentimes inaccessible or too expensive to consume regularly. Iodine produces thyroid hormones, which control the body’s metabolism. During pregnancy and infancy, thyroid hormones are responsible for brain development. Pregnant and nursing mothers and their newborn babies have the highest risk of developing an iodine deficiency. Newborns with an iodine deficiency are at risk of brain damage and stunted growth, while pregnant and nursing mothers may face fertility problems and miscarriages. Though supplements exist, millions are unable to afford their expenses. 

The Life Saving Dot

To combat this unfortunate reality and provide tangible solutions for nutritional deficiencies, Grey For Good partnered with Neelvasant Medical Foundation and Research Center to invent the “life-saving dot.” Indian women traditionally wear bindis, colored dots at the center of their eyebrows, for religious purposes or to signal that they are married. Recently, bindis have grown in popularity, and most Indian women wear them. The life-saving dot is a bindi coated in iodine that delivers the recommended amount of 150-220 micrograms of the mineral to consumers every day. To reach as many people in need as possible, the life-saving dot costs only 10 rupees, or 16 cents, for a packet of 30 bindis. 

Risks Associated with an Iron Deficiency

In addition to iodine, iron deficiencies are common worldwide, affecting over two billion people in both developed and underdeveloped nations. Iron is responsible for the transport of oxygen throughout the bloodstream. When one doesn’t have enough of this vital mineral stored, fatigue, shortness of breath and lack of concentration are expected side effects. According to the NHS, “Severe iron deficiency anemia may increase your risk of developing complications that affect the heart or lungs, such as an abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia) or heart failure, where your heart is unable to pump enough blood around your body at the right pressure.” Iron is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency, disproportionately affecting menstruating women, children and those eating a primarily vegetarian diet.

The Lucky Iron Fish

In 2008, a nonprofit (unnamed at the time) set out to innovate another creative solution for nutritional deficiencies. The organization dedicated itself to finding a sustainable and accessible source of iron for the rural Cambodians. Cambodians consider fish as a symbol of good luck. Hence, “The Lucky Iron Fish” was born. The Lucky Iron Fish is a cooking tool that provides consumers with their recommended daily dose of iron when combined with a few drops of citrus and boiled in water for 10 minutes. Consumers can add the fish to their boiling soup or curry dish to iron-fortify their meals. More than 285,000 lives have been positively impacted by this innovation. The nonprofit, now known as “Lucky Iron Life,” partners with organizations and community members worldwide to provide educational resources to help address and present solutions for nutritional deficiencies in their communities. 

–Sophia Loizos

Photo: Flickr