Seaweed

Nutrition:

Seaweed is full of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A and E, B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron and iodine. It is also a good source of protein and fibre, as well as containing omega-3s and polyphenols. It has been a staple in Asian diets for years, and has recently found its way into western culture.

Health Benefits:

Supports thyroid function

The thyroid gland relies on iodine to create hormones to help control growth, energy production, reproduction and the repair of damaged cells in the body. If the thyroid is insufficient in iodine, the body may experience symptoms like weight change, fatigue or swelling of the neck over time. Seaweed has the unique ability to absorb concentrated amounts of iodine from the ocean, far more than land vegetables can from soil. The iodine content of seaweed varies depending on the type, varying anywhere between 11%-1989% of the recommended dietary intake. Seaweed also contains tyrosine, an amino acid which alongside iodine is used to make two hormones that help the thyroid function as it should.

May support gut health

Seaweed is a great source of fibre, which is known to promote a healthy gut. In fact it can make up about 25-75% of seaweed’s dry weight – higher than the fibre content of most fruits and vegetables. The fibre in seaweed can resist digestion and be used as a food source for bacteria in the large intestine instead. As well as this, sulphated polysaccharides are sugars found in seaweed that have been shown to help the growth of good bacteria in the gut.