The Heath Benefits of Seaweed

When I was having digestive issues I turned to my herbalist for some help and guidance and he handed me a bag of dried seaweed. I looked back at my herbalist and asked him why he was giving me seaweed and his answer was to help cleanse and nourish the digestive system back to health. So, I grabbed the bag of dried seaweed headed out the door of the herbalist office and decided to do some of my own heavy research on seaweed. After doing hours of my own research for a couple of days I did learn that seaweed in fact is healthy to the digestive system and very nourishing and cleansing to the whole body, which got me finally eating the bag of seaweed he gave me, which by the way does taste like the ocean.

What is Seaweed?

Well, some people know seaweed as kelp. Seaweed is algae that grow in the ocean in several different colors such as green, brown, black and red. When seaweed is wet and floating in the ocean, it feels slimy and wet. To give you a description of what seaweed looks like floating in the depths of the ocean, seaweed looks like tall floating leafy vines. When the tides of the ocean come in onto a beach, they tend to bring tons of loose seaweeds along with them, which is why we see tons loose seaweeds on the beaches when the tides goes out. After the seaweeds sits on the beach for hours in the sun they become dry and crunchy with a deep color to them. Many people collect the seaweed and use it in meals as garnishes, or sprinkle it into cuisine dishes and smoothies to help add nourishment and flavor. Some people even collect and use seaweed for beautifying purposes since seaweed does have the ability to remove toxins from the skin naturally.

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What Does Seaweed Taste Like?

If you are wondering what seaweed taste like, my answer is it tastes like the ocean. It is salty and crunchy when it is dry, and salty and slimy when it is wet. Typically, I find it is best to chop up dried seaweed and toss it into my rice dishes and casseroles so I do not see it or taste it. I find it is easier to eat this way. On some occasions, I do eat dried seaweed, as it is when I need relief from digestive discomforts like bloating, nausea, constipation, diarrhea and gas. I even eat dried seaweed, as it is when I am trying to detoxifying my body from heavy metals and toxins. You can eat seaweed whichever way you feel is best for you.

What Are The Nutrients in Seaweed?

Vitamins A, E, D, K, C, and B complex
Calcium
Iodine
Protein
Fiber
Iron
Magnesium
Selenium
Manganese
Sodium
Potassium
Omega Fatty Acids
Carbohydrates

What Are The Health Benefits of Seaweed?

As I mentioned I use seaweed in my diet to help keep my digestive system healthy and working properly. However, people who suffer from Grave's Disease as I do can benefit from adding seaweed to their daily diet. Seaweed contains high amounts of iodine, which is needed by the thyroid to help keep it working properly. However, too much iodine can also be a bad thing for the thyroid depending on your thyroid condition. Those with diseases that weaken the immune system can benefit from eating a few pieces of dried seaweed each day because seaweed contains minerals and vitamin in it that help strengthen and protect the immune system naturally. If you are looking for away to protect yourself from colon, prostate or breast cancer snacking on seaweed can help you do just that. Seaweed contains many antioxidants in it that help fight off the free radical cells that can cause cancer and even aging in the body. Those of you suffering from inflammatory diseases like arthritis and gout should add seaweed to your diet because it contains anti-inflammatory properties in it that can relieve inflammation and body pains naturally. Everyone can benefit from adding seaweed to their daily diet to help prevent colds, the flu and other viral and bacterial infections. Seaweed contains B vitamins and minerals in it that help energize the body naturally. This can even help everyone stay energized better than a cup of coffee can. Seaweed is even good to eat daily to keep our bones and teeth healthy and strong naturally. Unbelievably, seaweed has more calcium in it than cow's milk. See, everyone can benefit from adding seaweed to his or her diets.

Precautions

Adding too much seaweed to your diet could cause thyroid disorders and blood sugar levels. Too much seaweed can even thin the blood so people on blood thinners should talk to a doctor before adding seaweed to their diets. Never eat any seaweed that has been near polluted waters because it will make you sick.

References:

• https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/seaweed.html
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-seaweed
• https://selfhacked.com/blog/kelp/