Seaweed has been a well known Asian health product for over 2,000 years. Grown in the depths of the ocean, it contains high levels of minerals and vitamins, is easy to digest and is a good source of protein. Specific forms of seaweed treat illness, improve health and helps prevent disease.
Dietary Benefits
Seaweed is high in vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamins A, B and C, fiber and alpha lipoic acid. Seaweed is a good source of incomplete protein, containing only some of the essential amino acids. Combining seaweed in a salad with another protein, such as fish or eggs, will provide your body with a complete source of protein essential to your daily diet.
Improves Health
Dark-green seaweeds such as kombu and wakame boost the immune system. These seaweeds also serve as a detoxifying agent in the body because they contain chelating agents, causing the body to eliminate toxins. The stem of the seaweed, Ecklonia maxima, is used to heal burns faster.
Prevents Disease
According to a 2010 study in the online publication "PLoS ONE" conducted by Andreas Leibbrandt, et al., seaweed contains a "compound known as carrageenan, an effective treatment against the common cold, viruses and even H1N1 influenza." Seaweed extract has treated disease such as enlarged thyroid. The substance carrageenan works by binding directly to viruses, preventing them from spreading.
Source of Weight Loss
Sea kelp contains a natural fiber called alginate, which has been found to be a fat blocking agent, according to a Newcastle University study presented by Dr. Iain Brownlee and colleagues at a March 2010 American Chemical Society Spring meeting in San Francisco. This natural fiber prevents 75 percent of fat from being absorbed in the body, being more effective than any current anti-obesity treatment.
References
- "Food and Nutrition Tips for a Healthier You; The World's Greatest Treasury of Health Secrets"; Joy Bauer, RD, CDN; 2008
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis Balch, CNC; James Balch, M.D.; 2000
- "PLoS ONE"; Seaweed Extract Found to Prevent H1N1; Andreas Leibbrandt, et al.; Dec. 14, 2010
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