Kelp is a nutritious seaweed form that is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It is easy to digest and helps your body maintain its proper acid and alkaline balance. An article on the Gaia Research website claims that kelp helps to expel parasitic infections while promoting healthy bacteria. Kelp is rich in iodine and may be relevant to weight loss if you have an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism caused by an iodine deficiency.
Hypothyroidism Cause
According to Medline Plus, women are more susceptible to hypothyroidism, which is caused by an underactive thyroid. According to the article, pregnancy and hormonal fluctuations can trigger its development. The article also cites medication, viral infections, congenital birth defects and thyroid surgery as potential causes. Iodine deficiencies play a major role in the advance of hypothyroidism, as your thyroid depends upon iodine to produce the thyroid hormone thyroxine. When iron levels are low, the thyroid cannot produce necessary amounts of thyroxine, which in turn affects the way in which the thyroid works. When the thyroid is not working effectively, weight gain can occur.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Your thyroid has various functions and is vital to the management of body weight and metabolism. Sluggishness, hair loss, cellulite and weight gain, brittle hair, weak nails, an unhealthy complexion, forgetfulness and irritability reflect thyroid dysfunction and may indicate hypothyroidism. It's important to consult your doctor or medical physician to check your thyroid stimulating hormone or TSH levels before using kelp for weight loss.
Mild Hypothyroidism and Weight Gain
Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, highlighted the difficulties that can occur while testing TSH levels and checking for hypothyroidism in an article on the Women to Women website. The article explained that even slightly elevated TSH levels can produce mild cases of hypothyroidism, but these are often recorded as being normal by traditional medical standards and consequently overlooked. Mild hypothyroidism has the ability to slow down your metabolism, resulting in weight gain and weight loss difficulties. In such cases, Pick suggests incorporating selenium found in foods like almonds, whole grains and soybeans to your diet, and iodine from foods such as oysters, lentils and spinach to restore balance to your thyroid.
Significance of Kelp
Your thyroid is responsible for speeding up your metabolism, controlling your appetite, regulating your heartbeat and stimulating your digestion, clearly making it essential to weight control. Even though little evidence exists to support the theory of kelp promoting weight loss, it can be helpful if you have developed hypothyroidism specifically because of iron deficiencies, as kelp is rich in iodine. Weight gain caused by insufficient exercise, overeating and an unhealthy diet and lifestyle cannot be helped by kelp.
A Natural Remedy
Kelp can be taken in the form of supplements or enjoyed in its natural form. You can bake it in the oven for a healthy alternative to potato chips or soak and chop it to add to sushi, salads and soups. It is highly nutritious, being packed with more than 60 minerals, vitamins and amino acids, and is rich in antioxidants to slow down the aging process while fighting free radicals. Adding kelp to your diet can help stabilize blood pressure and eliminate goiters. Kelp is also useful in remedying symptoms associated with an overactive thyroid, known as hyperthyroidism. It brings balance to hormones and normalizes thyroxine production.
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