Kelp in all its forms is a typical sea plan that has been used in eastern dishes and herbal remedies for hundreds of years. It is now becoming all the rage in western diets as well, and for good reason. Kelp is loaded with nutrients, vitamins, and has some pretty special healing abilities as well.
Some people prefer to take kelp as a vitamin, rather than taking an actual vitamin. This is particularly good for women, because it contains iron, calcium, and potassium. These are the vitamins women often are deficient in.
Because kelp is a sea plant, it has a high salt concentration. In fact, some chefs will use it instead of salt to season certain soups, salads, and other foods. But kelp’s biggest contribution to basic health of the body is iodine. Kelp is one of the biggest natural sources of iodine, and it is this iodine that allows for proper endocrine system function.
Iodine specifically works within the thyroid to create two hormones, triiodothyronine and thyroxine. These two compounds are needed for proper health. Iodine is needed for the brain to develop properly, to ward off goiter, and for regulating the proper metabolism and ensure a proper body weight. In fact, a lack of iodine can result in large amounts of weight gain!
Kelp is probably one of the best sources of iodine, and is superior to the iodized salt that is common in the United States. As a rule, absorption of nutrients from natural sources as opposed to chemical or artificial sources (enriched breads, pill based vitamins, fortified foods, etc) is superior. Iodine is absorbed more slowly and more completely when it is taken in via natural sources like kelp, and rare allergic reactions to iodine are almost non-existent when iodine is taken in via natural sources.
Kelp is also great for healthy nails and many natural remedies specialists recommend it for healthy hair growth. One type of kelp called Laminaria has some lab studies that demonstrate it lowers the risk of breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and will decrease obesity in some people. Some folks use kelp for circulation issues, particularly to help blood flow for people with low body temp problems.
Kelp can also aid the pancreas and the prostate gland in men. It can aid in rebuilding cellular membranes, add fiber to the digestive system, and even remove radiation from the human body. In fact, the proper amount of iodine is necessary for a woman to take in order to have a healthy pregnancy and avoid and unwanted abortion. Kelp can be just the herb for this particular job.
Because of the iodine that kelp contains, eating it may help improve your immune system. Iodine has antibiotic properties, and when it comes in contact with infections in the mouth or throat, it can help to kill them. Many herbalists will recommend a person drink kelp tea to cure strep throat. The easiest way to do this is to add a gelcap of kelp to tea, make sure it dissolves, and then slowly sip it. The iodine in the tea will kill bacteria on contact in the mouth and the throat.
Kelp can be of benefit for those who want to lose weight. Between the iodine helping to achieve an optimum metabolism, and the diuretic effects of kelp itself, you can help yourself achieve your weight loss goals.
But like all good things, kelp can be overdone. Iodine toxicity does exist, and can really throw your body out of whack. So please speak with a medical or herbal professional before you start adding kelp to your diet.
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