Seaweed such as brown kelp and nori is common ingredient in Asian cuisines and is also used in extract form in other food products. CBSNews.com notes that wakame, a type of brown seaweed is mainly used in soups, salads and to enhance flavors. Nori is a common type of seaweed used in sushi and tempura dishes popular in the West. Brown seaweed and other types naturally contain a variety of nutrients and have several notable health benefits.
Weight Loss
Fucoxanthin is an antioxidant compound found in wakame, a brown kelp used in Japanese and Asian cooking. CBSNews.com reports that this natural substance has been shown to increase fat and weight loss in research studies conducted by the Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences at Hokkaido University in Hokkaido, Japan. When fed to rodents, fucoxanthin raised levels of a protein that promotes fat metabolism in the body leading to increased weight loss. The report notes that these findings have not yet been tested on humans.
Healthy Hair and Cells
Brown seaweed is a rich source of mineral such as magnesium, zinc, calcium, potassium, iodine and iron, which are important building blocks in the body. Vitamins found in this type of seaweed vegetable include vitamin A or beta carotene, vitamin B1, B2, B6 and B12, vitamin C, folic acid, pantothenic acid and niacin. These naturally-occurring nutrients are important for the skin, hair, bone, thyroid gland and cell health in the body.
Digestive Health
A study published in the Journal of Applied Phycology reports that the brown seaweed nori in dried form contains high concentrations of natural protein, ash, carbohydrates and vitamins. It also contains the compound taurine, which has been shown to improve liver and gastrointestinal circulation of bile acid. This helps to improve digestion, gallstones and also controls elevated blood cholesterol levels.
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