Kelp pills have been selling out on the west coast of the United States since the nuclear disaster started due to concerns about fallout from the nuclear disaster in Japan. This is because kelp contains high levels of natural iodine which, when the thyroid absorbs it, prevents the thyroid from uptaking harmful levels of radioactive iodine present in nuclear fallout.
My dear friend Zephyr went to Lopez Island and brought me back some kelp that she had harvested. So I thought it would be a good time to talk about all of kelp’s health benefits!
Natural Source of Iodine
Kelp protects against radiation poisoning due to its high iodine content. Iodine is also important for the thyroid, immune system, and female hormone regulation.
Thyroid Health
Iodine is essential to the healthy functioning of the thyroid gland. Kelp’s high levels of iodine help to regulate thyroid hormones.
Estrogen-Related Cancer
Japanese women, whose diets are rich in kelp, have lower rates of ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancer. A study at UC Berkeley found that a diet containing kelp lowered serum estradiol levels in women and had phytoestrogenic properties.
Cancer Prevention
The fucoidan in kelp has been shown in studies to have the ability to induce apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells.
Endometriosis
One researcher found that women with endometriosis who supplemented with 700 mg of kelp capsules per day had a significant reduction in pain.
Anti-Inflammatory
Kelp contains fucoidan, a complex carbohydrate that is a powerful anti-inflammatory.
Unique Antioxidants
Sea vegetables contain antioxidants not found in other vegetables and researchers are still discovering all the benefits they might have.
High in Iron
Kelp is a great natural source of iron.
Other health benefits of kelp include helping to loosen extra mucous in the body, lowering blood pressure, treating arthritis and rheumatism and stimulating powerful skin healing thanks to its germanium content, which boosts immune function and combats cancer. Kelp may also be used to help reduce the effects of chemotherapy on the body.
It is recommended to add 1 tsp of sea vegetables to your diet daily. An easy way to do that is to keep a container of kelp flakes on your table or grind some up in a coffee grinder and use that instead of table salt to your meals. You can also add it to soups, vegetable dishes, and salads!
To your health~
