Move over, kale. There’s a brand new superfood in the neighborhood that
goes by the name of seaweed. Fresh from the ocean, and packed with
plenty of health and weight-loss benefits, seaweed is being increasingly
incorporated into dishes from all around the world. Here are 8 reasons
why you should start eating more seaweed:
1. It makes your bones stronger.
According to Maria E. Rodriguez, RD, CDE of
Mount Sinai Diabetes Alliance, there is approximately seven times more
calcium in seaweed than in milk. This is one of the main reasons why
seaweed is such good food for anyone to eat. It helps to strengthen the
developing bones of children, while it also protects the bones of people
who are aging.
2. It is an excellent source of iron.
diet, then seaweed, and kelp, in particular, may be right for you.
According to Kylene Bogden, MS, of the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for
Functional Medicine, “kelp can be especially helpful for people
following a diet with low or no animal proteins, as animal protein is a
rich source of iron.” In fact, a third of a cup of kelp contains close
to 30% of your recommended daily allowance for iron.
3. It absorbs fat
Research shows that eating seaweed may make
it a lot easier for you to shrink your waistline. According to a 2010
study, seaweed was found to be able to reduce the rate of fat absorption
by as much as 75%! This is because seaweed inhibits the effect of the
digestive enzyme, lipase.
4. It fights bloating.
Seaweed produces a diuretic effect on the human body, meaning that it
reduces the amount of water your body is holding. This means that you
will be able to add gas-producing foods, such as beans, to your dishes
more liberally as long as you add some seaweed too. Nori seaweed has
been found to be the most effective kind of seaweed when it comes to
reducing gas and bloating.
5. It boosts your mood.
While most people who get diagnosed with
clinical depression typically end up taking antidepressants for a
substantial period of time, a 2015 study actually found chlorella
seaweed to be a profoundly effective option, too. According to Cassandra
Suarez, MS, of Boston, “in a six-week pilot study, 1.8 grams of
chlorella extract was found to greatly improve physical and cognitive
symptoms of depression as well as anxiety symptoms in patients who were
receiving standard antidepressant therapy for major depressive
disorder.”
6. It strengthens your immune system.
Chlorella seaweed is also very good at keeping your immune system on its
toes. This is because it contains heaps of magnesium, which according
to Suarez “protects against nearly every modern disease, and can be
therapeutic for difficult-to-treat inflammatory conditions such as
fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and arthritis.”
Uncontrolled high blood pressure vastly
increases your risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack, but
thankfully you can help keep your blood pressure in check by adding
chlorella seaweed to your diet. According to Suarez, “one study in
hypertensive patients found that 1.5 grams of pure chlorella per day
resulted in decreased blood pressure over a six-month period, as well as
lowered hypertension-related symptoms.”
8. It helps to regulate your thyroid.
Most kinds of seaweed, but wakame seaweed, in particular, provide our
bodies with a great deal of iodine, which is essential for your thyroid
to function properly. According to Bogden, “our bodies do not make
iodine, so it’s important that we consume it through food.” Start eating
seaweed regularly and you will never have to worry about your iodine
intake again.
