Seaweed is a natural source of some key and very essential minerals and vitamins our bodies need - aiding and boasting potential benefits ranging from cancer treatment to weight loss aid and anti-aging properties for the skin.
It's the best dietary source of iodine, which helps support your thyroid gland - contains vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin K, B vitamins, zinc and iron, along with antioxidants that help protect your cells from damage. The thyroid gland controls and releases hormones for energy production, growth, and cellular repair. The thyroid needs iodine to function correctly, but the amount that a person requires depends on the state of the thyroid.
Why is it so important? Iodine is vital for good thyroid health as it ensures your metabolism and hormones maintain their healthy balance. The thyroid gland is a vital hormone gland: It plays a major role in the metabolism, growth and development of the human body. It helps to regulate many body functions by constantly releasing a steady amount of thyroid hormones into the bloodstream.With the changing of seasons and here down-under we are now moving into our winter/cooler months our bodies need some help with supporting our immune system - another area where seaweed can really play a big role in helping and supporting our defence system.
And check this out: Seaweed packs super-high amounts of calcium – higher than broccoli – and in terms of protein, it’s almost as rich as legumes. There’s also a good amount of vitamins B 12 and A, and it’s a great source of fibre. But not just any old fibre. Seaweed is mostly soluble fibre, the kind that turns into a gel, slowing down the digestive process, thus inhibiting the absorption of sugars and cholesterol. The superfood that just keeps on giving!
For our skin - the health benefits of seaweed on your skin for sufferers different types of skin conditions are significant in the healing process. With anti-inflammatory & hydration properties of seaweed your skin will maintain protection against further outbreaks once it has cleared. Seaweed also contains antioxidants, which may protect the body from oxidative stress and reduce inflammation at the cellular level.
Did you know:
Seaweed contains a trace element called Vanadium. Vanadium, is an important mineral that is rarely found in food. It is required in trace amounts to assist in the metabolizing of carbohydrates."Seaweed contains vanadium and the enzyme haloperoxidase that work together to help you lose weight and control carbohydrate metabolism. Seaweed also contains fucoxanthin which is important for weight loss… and seaweed has almost no fat and very few calories! In fact the University of Hokkaido in Japan did a study on seaweed and weight loss, and found that it prevented the accumulation of fat. And did you know that seaweed contains up to 50% protein… that’s right… not many plant based foods have that much usable protein. — Wow!" (Sourced from - https://omtimes.com/2013/02/seaweed-the-super-food-of-tomorrow/)