Kelp Benefits: A Health Booster from the Sea (KBHS) is a seaweed that contains high amounts of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. These benefits are due to its ability to improve your health, prevent diseases and even cure cancer. Kelp is also known as “sea lettuce” because it grows out of the ocean floor where it’s abundant. It is found all over the world including off the coast of Alaska, Canada and Hawaii. Kelp is used in many products such as cosmetics, shampoos, toothpaste and soaps.
You may wonder why kelp is beneficial for human health?
There are several reasons for this. Kelp is rich in protein which helps maintain healthy bones and teeth. It also provides energy to the body and aids digestion. Kelp also improves blood circulation through its natural antioxidant properties. Kelp is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce the risk of heart disease.
In addition, kelp is very good at absorbing toxins and heavy metals from the water. This means that if you drink contaminated water or eat fish with high levels of mercury, there will be less harm done to your body. Another benefit of kelp is that it has antimicrobial properties which help fight infections. It also lowers the risk of cancer.
It is believed that kelp can prevent and even cure cancer. It does this by boosting the immune system and improving cell growth. This explains why kelp is effective in treating things like arthritis, gout, osteoporosis and high cholesterol. Kelp is also effective when treating ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.
Kelp also has a number of cosmetic uses. It can be used to reduce the appearance of aging, heal skin conditions and even slow down hair growth. It is also a good conditioner which softens your hair and makes it shiny. It can also be used as a sunscreen when you’re at the beach. This is because it protects your skin from the sun’s harsh UV rays and prevents conditions like sunburns.
Kelp is not only good for humans, it’s also good for your pets. It prevents heart disease, boosts the immune system and strengthens bones. This is good for older dogs and cats. Kelp is also a natural insecticide which makes it good for keeping your pets free of fleas, ticks and other parasites.
Kelp is a natural remedy that has been used for centuries and has many health benefits. It’s discovery dates back to 1590 BCE by Chinese physicians who recommended it as medicine. In 17th century, it was recorded that sailors used to eat kelp to prevent scurvy. During this time, people used kelp as a way of life and consumed up to 16 pounds of it daily. In more recent times, kelp has been used as a way of preventing radiation sickness caused by nuclear accidents such as the one at Chernobyl.
Kelp is a type of seaweed and is part of the Laminaria species. There are three main types of edible kelp, including blade, strap and leaf. Blade and strap are the most popular types of edible kelp. Kelp has a high nutritional content. It is a good source of minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and contains more than 20 trace elements.
It also provides healthy carbohydrates and is a high source of iodine, which is essential for maintaining thyroid function.
Why Is Kelp Good For You?
Kelp is good for you for a number of reasons. It is low in fat and has virtually no carbohydrates. It’s also gluten free. Because kelp is high in iodine, it’s great for promoting healthy thyroid function. People who don’t get enough iodine usually suffer from conditions like goiters. Getting an adequate amount of iodine in your diet can help prevent this and ensure the health of your thyroid.
Kelp is also a good source of essential vitamins and minerals. It has vitamin C and vitamin B12. It’s also a good source of vitamin K, beta-carotene, folic acid, selenium and zinc. These vitamins and minerals promote good overall health and enhance your quality of life.
Kelp has been shown to have anti-carcinogenic properties. It helps prevent cancer by activating anti-oncogenes and suppressing oncogenes. It also helps prevent tumors from forming in the first place and stops the spreading of cancer cells.
Kelp is a good source of amino acids. It contains arginine, glycine, histidine, proline, serine, and tyrosine. These essential amino acids help prevent heart disease by lowering your blood pressure and reducing your bad cholesterol levels. They also prevent tissue damage and promote growth and development during pregnancy.
Kelp is rich in bioflavonoids, which help to strengthen blood vessels and capillaries. It also prevents the clumping of blood cells, slows down platelet aggregation and prevents the red blood cells from sticking to each other.
Kelp also helps reduce inflammation and prevents conditions like arthritis, bronchitis and other respiratory conditions. It does this by inhibiting the release of histamine, a chemical that causes allergic reactions and inflammation. Kelp has antioxidant properties and can help prevent inflammatory conditions such as arthritis because of this.
Kelp is also a good remedy for improving your hair and skin. It helps prevent hair loss and promotes new hair growth. It can be used to treat issues like dandruff, thinning hair and brittle nails. It also helps with nail growth and strengthens your hair from the roots.
How Do You Prepare Kelp?
Kelp can be prepared in a number of ways. It can be eaten raw or cooked. It can also be dried and consumed that way. It can be purchased dried and then prepared, or you can eat it straight out of the package. It’s not as common to find on grocer’s shelves as it once was – it is one of the ingredients in many Asian dishes – but you may find it in an Asian food store.
Many cooks prefer the taste of fresh kelp to dried kelp. It’s important to wash your kelp thoroughly before using it because it tends to be covered in sea salt. Be sure to drain all of the liquid out of it before cooking or adding it to a recipe.
You can prepare Kelp in the following ways:
Boil it and then season to make fried “green” noodles.
Boil it then use in soups or stews.
Use it instead of noodles in pasta dishes.
Blend it into fresh fruit juice for a nutritious “smoothie.”
Add dried kelp to soups and stews.
Boil it with potatoes, carrots, onions and other vegetables and then mash or puree the mixture to make a nutritious and delicious soup.
You can also eat dried kelp as is. It has a mild taste that’s slightly “seaweedy.” To prepare, simply put a handful into a bowl, cover with water, soak for five minutes then drain off the liquid. You can then add salt or soy sauce to improve the taste, if you like.
Because it’s high in Sodium, it’s best not to consume large quantities of dried kelp or to eat it every day.
Kelp also makes a good stock for soups and stews. Soak it in warm water for about ten minutes and then drain off the liquid. You can then use this liquid as the base for your soup or stew. You can also add meat, fish, shellfish, and vegetables to the liquid to make a nutritious and delicious soup. Kelp is also available in dried powdered form at some health food stores and online.
What Is Kelp Used For?
While the most common use of kelp is for culinary purposes, it also has a long history of being used medicinally. It has been used for treating a wide variety of conditions from alleviating the symptoms of thyroid disease to preventing hair loss and strengthening the nails.
The main health benefits of eating kelp are:
Cardiovascular Health
Kelp is rich in vitamins and minerals that are essential for cardiovascular health. It’s especially rich in potassium, which helps regulate your heartbeat and prevents it from racing. It’s also rich in magnesium, which prevents the hardening of your arteries.
Mineral Richness
Kelp is a good source of many different minerals including:
Fiber
Kelp is high in soluble and insoluble fiber. While most people associate fiber with digestive health, it has many other health benefits as well. Fiber helps lower your cholesterol levels and reduces your risk of stroke and heart disease. It also alleviates symptoms of diabetes and helps you feel full, which can help if you need to lose weight.
Kelp Granules
You can easily add kelp to your diet by using kelp granules as a salt substitute. It has a subtle “seaweed” flavor and can be used in most dishes. Use it to cook vegetables, rice or pasta for a nutritious and delicious meal.
Kelp Meal or Flakes
You can use kelp flakes much like you would use salt. Sprinkle a small amount over your food to give it a nutritious boost. You can also add it to cocktails, sauces, casseroles and baked goods. Kelp also makes an excellent stock for soups and stews.
Soak the flakes in warm water for at least one hour before using to make them more flavorful.
Dried Kelp
Dried kelp can be used in soups and stews or rehydrated in water to make a nutritious “soup” of its own. Be sure to soak it in warm water for at least ten minutes before using.
Kelp Salt
You can use kelp salt much like you would use regular salt. It has a slightly “seaweedy” taste that makes it a good substitute for sea salt. You can use it to make “salt” flavored dishes or in any recipe that calls for regular salt.
How Can Kelp Benefit My Health?
Kelp is an excellent source of many essential vitamins and minerals. In fact, it contains more than seventy nutrients! (1) These nutrients play a role in every aspect of your health.
Here are some of the health benefits of eating kelp:
Improves Brain Function
Kelp is high in a special group of nutrients called preserve enzymes. These enzymes protect brain cells from free radical damage and improve the efficiency of mitochondria, the parts of your cells that produce energy. Eating foods rich in these enzymes have been linked to improved brain function, reduced symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, and may even help protect your brain as you age. (2)
Promotes Heart Health
Kelp is rich in magnesium, a mineral that plays an important role in heart health. Magnesium helps relax your arteries and veins, lowering your blood pressure and reducing your risk of stroke and heart disease. (3, 4) It can also reduce tension in your blood vessels, preventing a spike in blood pressure after a stressful event. (5)
Promotes Urinary Health
Kelp is high in iodine, a mineral that’s required for proper thyroid function. Iodine is also essential for the health of your thyroid gland, which regulates how quickly your body uses energy, makes proteins and controls your metabolism. A lack of iodine can cause goiter, a swelling of the thyroid gland in your throat. It can also lead to more serious conditions like cancer. (6, 7)
In addition, kelp contains a natural plant-based source of sodium alginate, a substance that can help relieve the discomfort caused by urinary problems like cystitis and incontinence. It does this by binding to excess uric acid in the urinary tract and helping to remove it from the body.
Promotes Regularity
Kelp is high in both soluble and insoluble fiber, making it an excellent source of fiber to promote digestive health and regularity. Foods rich in fiber help feed the friendly bacteria in your gut, promoting optimal digestive function. They also slow the movement of food through your digestive tract, giving the body more time to absorb nutrients from food and relieving the symptoms of stomach issues like cramps, gas and diarrhea.
Is Kelp Safe to Eat?
Kelp is safe for most adults to eat in reasonable amounts. Be sure to use kelp that comes from a safe source, however. Like other seaweeds, it can become contaminated with toxic metals and chemicals that are found in rivers and oceans. For this reason, it’s recommended that you only use kelp from a reliable, organic source.
How to Eat Kelp
Kelp can be consumed as a snack or incorporated into your favorite recipes. It’s great on its own, added to salads or even used as a replacement for salt in cooking. It can also be used as a flavoring in soups, stews, and other dishes.
Kelp noodles are a popular alternative to traditional wheat-based pastas. They’re low in calories, high in nutrients and very easy to prepare. In addition to being delicious on their own, kelp noodles can be substituted for regular pasta in your favorite pasta recipes. Just make sure to pick up a kelp noodle-friendly sauce.
Where to Buy Kelp
While you can find dried kelp in most health food or specialty stores, it’s much easier to use while it’s fresh and found in the refrigerated section of your local Asian grocery store. You can also find dried kelp at most health food stores and online.
Next time you’re in the Asian section of your grocery store, pick up a bag of kelp. You’ll be amazed at how many ways you can enjoy this nutritious and delicious food!
Precautions
While kelp is safe for most adults to eat, you still need to be cautious when using it. Be sure to purchase your kelp from a reliable source to avoid contamination from heavy metals, pesticides and other toxins that are found in some seaweeds. In addition, talk to your doctor before adding kelp to your diet if you have a diagnosed medical condition or are taking prescription medication.
Kelp may interfere with the way certain medications are processed by the body and can increase the effects and side effects of some drugs.
Final Thoughts
Kelp is a nutrient-dense ingredient commonly consumed in Asian cuisine. This seaweed is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. In fact, just a one-cup serving of kelp contains over 4,000 percent of your daily need for vitamin K and 3,700 percent of your daily need for vitamin C!
Kelp is high in iodine, a mineral important for thyroid health. The fiber in kelp also promotes digestive health and helps regulate blood sugar levels, while kelp’s antioxidants help fight free radical damage.
Kelp is a nutritious ingredient that can be easily incorporated into your favorite meals. It’s delicious in soups and stews, added to salads for extra flavor and eaten with rice for a healthy, balanced meal. You can also try making kelp noodles or use it as a meat alternative in recipes.
If you’re looking for a nutritious alternative to salt, try using kelp. It can be used in place of regular table salt to add flavor and nutrients to your meals.
Sources & references used in this article:
Therapeutic health booster: Seaweeds against several maladies by L Mohapatra, P Pati, R Panigrahy, SK Bhattamisra – 2013 – nopr.niscair.res.in
The ‘Great Southern Reef’: social, ecological and economic value of Australia’s neglected kelp forests by S Bennett, T Wernberg, SD Connell, AJ Hobday… – Marine and Freshwater …, 2016 – CSIRO
Best Sea Greens Supplements by NJRA Seaweed – supplementhq.com
Germplasm banking of the giant kelp: Our biological insurance in a changing environment by S Barrento, C Camus, I Sousa-Pinto, AH Buschmann – Algal Research, 2016 – Elsevier
Harnessing synthetic biology for kelp forest conservation1 by MA Coleman, HD Goold – Journal of phycology, 2019 – Wiley Online Library
