Because of its high content in trace minerals, antioxidants, amino acids and protein, Nori seaweed can be linked hair growth. In 1904, Rene Quinton, a well-known French biologist, proved that seawater and human blood plasma have the exact same nutrient ratios. Ever since, researchers have continued to find ways that humans can benefit from minerals and nutrients derived from the sea, and seaweed is prime example.
Effects
Nori seaweed is believed to stimulate hair growth for a variety of reasons. First, it has a high concentration of both iodine and selenium, which are trace minerals needed by the thyroid gland to produce hair. It also contains amino acids, which build protein; biotin, which is known to strengthen hair; vitamin B12, which helps the body maintain healthy red blood cells; and antioxidants, which reduce cellular damage by binding with free radicals. Plus, it is alkalizing and rich in calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc.
Misconceptions
Some people may assume that seaweed can only be harvested in Japanese waters. However, there are only two requirements necessary for its growth: seawater and enough sunlight to trigger photosynthesis. Although it is still most commonly consumed in Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam and Cambodia, seaweed is also now cultivated in European and American waters, as well. Plus, it has become increasingly popular in many diverse countries, including France, Scandinavia, Ireland, Peru and Chile.
Significance
Millions of people consume seaweed as part of their regular diet in Japan, and the proponents of a seaweed diet enjoy pointing out that their life expectancy is the highest in the world. According to Masao Ohno, professor of marine biology at Kochi University, "Seaweed lies at the foundation of Japan's good health."
Nori is the most popular type of seaweed used by American sushi chefs, and according to a 1999 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry by researchers at Kochi Women's University in Japan, it is "the most excellent source of vitamin B12 among edible seaweeds."
Where to Find It
The most common way to include Nori seaweed in the American diet is to buy it wrapped around a sushi roll. However, you can also buy packages of dried seaweed in many health-food stores. Plus, it is usually available both pill and powder form. Or, if you would prefer to buy it fresh, there are many existing online recipes that explain how to pickle seaweed, use it as make a salad or even bake it into bread.
Expert Insight
If you are not able to find a way to include seaweed in your diet, using a shampoo or conditioning treatment that contains it is also beneficial. According to Dan Fryda, author of "The Ocean Within," "Whether eaten or applied topically via micronized seaweed products, [seaweed] is virtually a perfect sustenance for the body and skin, providing the richest source of minerals, trace elements, amino acids, antioxidants, phytohormones, polysaccharides and enzymes found anywhere in nature."
References
- womenshealth.gov: Staying Active and Eating Healthy
- mayoclinic.com: Vitamin B12
- "Better Nutrition"; Oceans of Beauty; Kat James; August 2004
- "Food Chemistry"; Bioavailability of nutrients in rats fed on edible seaweeds, Nori (Porphyra tenera) and Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), as a source of dietary fibre; Montserrat Gudiel Urbano and Isabel Goñi; March 2002
- "The Wall Street Journal"; Seaweed Gets a Place at Table: Marine Plants Are Getting Gobbled for Potential Health Benefits; Peter Landers and Davina Wright; June 2002
- "Better Nutrition"; Under the Sea; Kim Schoenhals; May 2004
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