Kelp and other seaweed may seem an exotic dish to a westerner, but eastern cultures have eaten these edible sea vegetables for a long time. They provide low-calorie, low-fat nutrients and are plentiful from the ocean. Kelp is particularly high in folic acid and iodine, making it popular with people who want to add those nutrients naturally. However, kelp's high iodine content can make it dangerous for those with thyroid problems, so make sure you check with your doctor before eating large amounts of it.
Edible Seaweeds
In Japan and China, people have eaten seaweed for thousands of years. The three most common types of seaweed eaten in Japan are nori, kombu and wakame. Nori is a purplish seaweed with a 30 percent to 50 percent protein content, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and it is high in vitamins A and C, folic acid and niacin. Kombu, or kelp, is the name of seaweed from the Laminaria species, and it has fewer nutrients overall than nori. However, this seaweed is higher in iron and iodine than other seaweed. Wakame is high in dietary fiber and niacin, but it loses many of its nutrients in processing. Without processing, it is high in essential trace minerals such as copper, iron and zinc. Many other types of seaweed are eaten in different parts of the world, from the United Kingdom to Australia.
Kelp Explained
Kelp is often used as a blanket term for all seaweed, but that is actually incorrect. Kelp refers to seaweed specifically from the order, or group, Laminariales. They are large seaweed and are part of the brown algae group. Many different types of seaweed qualify under the title kelp. The main species used in Japan is Saccharina japonica, according to The Seaweed Site, but many other species of kelp are a food source in Japan, elsewhere in Asia and around the world. It is called kombu in Japan and kunbu in China.
Kelp Uses
Researchers are studying the effect of kelp on some diseases, particularly cancer prevention. One study published in the "Journal of Nutrition" in 2005 showed that kelp lowers the amount of a breast-cancer-causing hormone in rats, according to the University of California. Kelp also may have some impact on infectious diseases such as HIV, herpes simplex and influenza, but researchers say more study is needed into the medical qualities of kelp.
Kelp Dangers
Kelp contains high amounts of iodine, and eating too much of it can cause hyperthyroidism -- producing too much thyroid hormone -- or hypothyroidism-- producing too little -- according to New York University Langone Medical Center. If you already have problems with your thyroid, do not eat kelp without talking to your doctor. Kelp has also caused some acne conditions to worsen. If you take a kelp supplement, be aware that large amounts of arsenic have been found in some pills, so choose your supplements carefully after talking to your doctor.
References
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Seaweeds Used as Human Food
- The Seaweed Site; Seaweed as Human Food; Michael Guiry
- University of California; New Study Finds Kelp Can Reduce Level of Hormone Related to Breast Cancer Risk; February 2005
- New York University Langone Medical Center; Kelp; August 2011
Member Comments