Seaweed has become a popular ingredient and snack not just here in the UK but around the world. This isn’t a new phenomenon, edible seaweed has been consumed by a variety of populations for thousands of years. It’s no myth that eating seaweed can have a great impact on your health. It’s an excellent source of iodine and is packed full of other great vitamins and minerals that can really help improve your health.

Seaweed is so nutritious because it absorbs its minerals directly from both the sun and the sea. What's more, when it's dried, those minerals become even more concentrated. No other food is as good a source of iodine as seaweed, and that’s not all. Seaweed is a good source of sodium, fibre, protein, calcium and more. It’s also low in calories and fat and suitable for vegans and those that are gluten-free. It’s not an overestimation to say that adding a moderate amount of seaweed to your diet could do wonders for improving your health and nutrition. This simple superfood from the sea can help fill in those nutritional gaps you might have.

If you’re still struggling to see why you should be adding a little seaweed to your life then keep reading, we have 10 more reasons why you should be eating seaweed:

1. Thyroid Gland

The Thyroid Gland can be found in your neck and one its primary roles is to produce hormones that control your body’s metabolic rate. This is an important function that helps maintain your heart health, brain development and a number of other vital processes. A crucial component that is needed for the thyroid gland to work is iodine. If you do not have enough iodine, your body cannot produce enough thyroid hormones and your body, and health, can be heavily impacted. Iodine, however, is an essential mineral, which means that we must digest this vital ingredient through food as the human body does not produce it on it’s own.

Up to a third of the global population are at risk of having an iodine deficiency and two thirds of Western women are iodine deficient and don’t know it. The recommended dietary intake for iodine is 150mcg per day. Seaweed, especially kelp, is an effective way to help your body get the iodine it needs because, as we mentioned before, seaweed is one of the best natural food sources of iodine. Adding a moderate amount of seaweed to your diet is a simple way to keep your thyroid functioning normally and avoiding any potential health risks in the future. 

Additionally, thyroid hormones can be low during menopause, which can result in hot flushes, irritability and tiredness and seaweed could help ease these symptoms.

2. Healthy Heart

High blood pressure is bad for your heart health because it can damage your arteries and cause them to harden or thicken, which can have severe consequences to your health and increase the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular complications. Eating more seaweed can help you maintain a healthy heart and reduce the risk of heart complications by providing a source of potassium. 

Potassium can help lower your blood pressure and is also needed to help regulate your heartbeat. Seaweed is a good source of bioavailable potassium, which means it can be easily absorbed into your bloodstream. Heart disease can also be caused by excessive blood clotting and seaweed contains compounds called fucans, which may help prevent the blood from clotting.

3. Immunity Boost

Seaweed also helps to benefit your health by containing a multitude of vitamins and minerals, like Vitamins C, A, iron and more, all of which have been proven to help strengthen your immune system, reduce the risk of getting ill and reduce the duration of illnesses. Seaweed also contains a variety of protective antioxidants, flavonoids and carotenoids which can combine with damaging free radicals and make them less reactive and less likely to damage our cells. Plus seaweed is packed with Vitamin D in its most bioactive form which is vital for a healthy immune system.

4. Weight Loss 

Seaweed is an excellent source of dietary fibre. Fibre has a number of benefits to your health including improving your overall gut health and metabolism. Fibre can also help you stay fuller for longer by slowing stomach emptying, delaying your hunger and reducing your need for snacking. That’s why increasing your fibre intake by snacking on some seaweed can be helpful for your weight loss journey.

5. Improve Blood Sugar Regulation

Seaweed may also benefit your health by helping to reduce blood sugar levels. Having high blood sugar levels can have disastrous consequences for your health, including increasing the risk of heart disease, kidney disease and more. An 8 week study of 60 people in Japan found that the fucoxanthin found in seaweed helped reduce their average blood glucose (sugar) levels. Other studies have found that another substance in seaweed called alginate prevented an increase in blood sugar levels after a high sugar meal. One theory is that alginate may help to reduce the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.

6. Promotes digestion

As mentioned above, seaweed is an excellent source of fibre and can help promote good gut health by increasing the growth of ‘good’ bacteria. Fibre is also essential for digestive health by keeping the whole process ‘moving’. Fibre absorbs water and keeps bowel movements soft and easy to pass, which is incredibly important for maintaining the health of your colon cells and reducing the risk of infections. 

7. Strong Bones and Teeth

Among the multitude of nutritious vitamins and minerals in seaweed there are some that help to contribute to strong and healthy teeth and bones. Seaweed is actually one of the best vegetable sources of calcium, which is widely known for being essential to keeping your bones and teeth strong. Seaweed also contains high levels of magnesium, which is vital for bone density. Plus, it provides the calcium and magnesium in a form that is easily absorbed into the body.

8. Reduces Fatigue 

Seaweed is also a good source of iron, which can reduce feelings of tiredness and fatigue by helping to transport oxygen around the body. Seaweed is also a good source of magnesium and B vitamins which can help you manage stress. Reducing stress can help you sleep better, which can ultimately reduce your feelings of tiredness and fatigue.

9. Post-Exercise Recovery

Not only is magnesium essential for maintaining healthy teeth and bones, it is also necessary for the continued health of your muscles. When you have a magnesium deficiency your muscles can find it hard to relax, which can cause cramping and pain. Low levels of magnesium after a work-out can also create a buildup of lactic acid, which is known for causing muscle tightness and pain. That’s why seaweed can help you with your post-exercise and muscle recovery. Magnesium and electrolytes can help your muscles relax and reduce the risk of cramping. The protein found in seaweed can also help to contribute to muscle building as well.

10. Improve Body Fluid Balance

Sodium is necessary for keeping the fluids in the body balanced. However, too much sodium increases blood pressure, which can be bad for your health. Seaweed contains just the right amount of sodium, about 85% less than table salt, to reduce these risks and help maintain the correct body fluid balance.

Can I eat too much seaweed? 

Actually, while seaweed is a highly nutritious food that can have numerous positive impacts for your health, you can have too much of a good thing. While seaweed is the best dietary source for iodine which helps support your healthy thyroid function, too much iodine can also negatively impact your thyroid gland. Because seaweed has such a high content of iodine, people may be at risk of consuming too much iodine if they eat it in excessive amounts. Remember, the daily recommended intake of iodine is 150 micrograms a day.

Here at The Naturality Lab, we have taken the amazing health benefits of nutritious seaweeds like Kelp and combined it with the superfoods Spirulina and Chlorella plus land supergreens Artichoke, Green Tea, Ashwagandha and Cayenne Pepper to create our Organic Supergreens Plus Marine D powerful vegan all-in-one nutritious health boost.

  

 

 

 

Sources: Zava T T & Zava D T (2011) Assessment of Japanese iodine intake based on seaweed consumption in Japan: A literature-based analysis; Mikami N, Hosokawa M, Miyashita K, Sohma H, Ito Y M & Kokai Y (2017) Reduction of HbA1c levels of fucoxanthin-enriched akamoku oil possibly involves the thrifty allele of uncouplingg protein 1 (UCP1) : a randomised controlled trial in normal-weight and obese Japanese adults;