Iodine is a trace mineral critical for the function of your thyroid gland. Seawater is rich in iodine, and thus foods from the sea are potent dietary sources. The highest measured iodine intake has been found in northern Japan, where seaweed makes up a substantial part of the diet. Though levels may vary between species and harvesting region, all seaweed is high in iodine.
Iodine
Iodine is stored in your thyroid gland where it is used to make thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones control how your body releases energy from internal stores, such as fat. Thyroid hormones are also critical for growth, development, recovery from injury and the effectiveness of neurotransmitters and other hormones. Due to the addition of iodine to salt, iodine deficiency is rare in the developed world. Iodine levels in vegetables, including seaweed, can vary widely depending on soil conditions, making it difficult to anticipiate your intake from these sources.
Seaweed
Seaweed is a broad class of macroscopic, multicellular algae that grows in the oceans. It includes classes of red, brown and green algae. Seaweed is also commonly called sea vegetables. According to the American Cancer Society, despite claims that seaweed is nutrient rich and has numerous health properties, well-controlled clinical studies are lacking. Nevertheless, preliminary research suggests potential health benefits of seaweed.
Benefits
According to the American Cancer Society, people who eat a diet high in seaweed tend to have lower rates of some cancer, such as breast cancer. However, diets high in sea vegetables also contain seafood, a major source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and other important nutrients. Because seaweed is dried, nutrients are more concentrated by weight. However, it is not clear that seaweed contains nutrients that are otherwise unavailable. Some of the chemicals in seaweed have inhibited the growth of isolated cancer cells in culture. However, as of 2011, these benefits have not yet been investigated in humans.
Avoiding Seaweed
Though low iodine in the body can cause low levels of thyroid hormones, a medical condition called hypothyroidism, it is unclear whether excessive iodine intake will raise thyroid levels. Seaweed is high in iodine, though very high intake may cause thyroid and skin disorders in some people. People with thyroid disease should talk to their doctor before taking seaweed supplements or adding a large amount of seaweed to their diet. Seaweed also contains a large amount of sodium. People with high blood pressure should factor this into their sodium intake.
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