Who Knew Your Next Superfood What Hiding Under The Sea?
What you see as an icky green plant that gets in the way of your ocean swimming, health food circles and natural medicine practitioners see as a valuable superfood. Because it comes from the ocean, seaweed contains different types of nutrients and antioxidants than those we get from land plants, and contains astonishingly high amounts of crucial nutrients our bodies need. Seaweed has been a staple of Asian diets for millennia, its health benefits well known in the Eastern world, but it wasn't until recently that Western research has finally become hip to marine plants. Whether you're adding sea moss into your morning smoothies or snacking on nori sheets, incorporating these underwater vegetables into your diet may just be the best decision of your life. Here are 20 amazing health benefits of eating seaweed.
1. Enhances Gut Health
Seaweed is extremely high in dietary fiber which has been shown to support healthy gut bacteria. This improves digestion and acts as a natural laxative.
2. Controls Blood Sugar Levels
Certain types of fiber found in seaweed can slow glucose absorption into the bloodstream, helping regulate blood sugar levels. This can help prevent and manage type 2 diabetes.
3. Protects The Heart
Seaweed may help reduce the risk of heart disease because it contains potassium which helps balance sodium levels in the body. It also contains a peptide that relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure, keeping the heart strong and healthy.
4. Enhances Skin Elasticity
Seaweed is an excellent source of collagen which helps preserve skin elasticity and a youthful glow. It also has hydrating, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties which help your skin retain moisture and protect against oxidative damage.
5. Supports Weight Loss
Thanks to its extraordinarily high fiber content which promotes satiety, seaweed is a great weight loss aid. Some research also suggests that it inhibits the enzyme responsible for fat being absorbed by the body, allowing it to be excreted instead.
6. May Help Thicken Hair
Seaweed contains a variety of nutrients including amino acids, B-complex vitamins, and calcium, all of which contribute to thicker, healthier hair. It's often an ingredient in shampoos and other hair products.
7. Balances Reproductive Hormones In Women
Research suggests that certain seaweed compounds may help balance estrogen types. Seaweed is also high in iodine which optimizes thyroid function.
8. Slows Aging
Seaweed has the potential to slow down the aging process with its vast array of antioxidants. It also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that fight against age-related disease and collagen that combats wrinkles and sagging skin.
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9. Detoxifies The Liver
Some types of seaweed contain compounds that bind to heavy metals and other toxins in the digestive tract, helping your liver filter them out. It also contains antioxidants that help protect your liver against oxidative stress.
10. Enhances Thyroid Function
Seaweed is one of the richest natural sources of iodine which the thyroid needs to function. The thyroid is a small but important organ that produces the hormones nearly every cell and system in your body requires to work properly.
National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
11. Reduces Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is the result of too many free radicals in your body, leading to chronic diseases and aging. The exceptional abundance of antioxidants in seaweed helps fight off free radicals and prevent oxidative damage and inflammation.
12. May Prevent Cancer
Research suggests that the potent antioxidant makeup in seaweed may even help protect against cancer. This is because there's a known link between chronic inflammation and cancer development.
13. Boosts Immune Function
Seaweed may help prevent you from catching colds and other common illnesses. This is because it strengthens the immune system with its assortment of micronutrients, powerful antioxidants, and gut-supporting fiber.
14. Strengthens Bones
Seaweed is an excellent source of calcium, the main structural component of bones. It's also rich in vitamin K, magnesium, and phosphorus, all of which play a vital role in supporting your skeletal system and staving off osteoporosis.
15. May Reduce Blood Clotting
Seaweed contains a compound that acts as a natural anticoagulant which helps prevent blood clots. What's more, the high omega-3 fatty acid content in seaweed contributes to smoother blood flow and less risk of clotting.
16. Supports Fetal Brain Development
Seaweed supports fetal brain development primarily thanks to its high iodine and omega-3 content. However, pregnant women should be mindful of their iodine consumption as too much of it can result in hypothyroidism in the baby.
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17. Supports Brain Health
The antioxidant, iodine, and omega-3 content in seaweed supports cognitive function by combating oxidative stress and enhancing the gut-brain axis. As the gut and brain are intrinsically linked, seaweed's ability to enhance healthy gut microbiome influences brain function and even mental health.
18. Supports Eye Health
Seaweed contains carotenoids which protect the retina from damage. It's also high in omega-3 fatty acids which have been associated with a reduced risk of age-related eye degeneration.
19. Supports Cellular Function
Seaweed's incredibly rich nutritional profile supplies your cells with the fuel they need to operate. These include iodine, B vitamins, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids, and antioxidants.
20. May Help Reduce Blood Cholesterol Levels
Research on a specific compound found in certain types of seaweed suggests that it may enhance cholesterol excretion and increase the enzyme that helps break down triglycerides. Seaweed is also high in fiber which has been shown to reduce the amount of "bad" cholesterol in the body.
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