edited by: Mark Stapleton

The Importance Of Seaweed In The Diet

The importance of quality seaweed in our diet is numerous. Even though seaweeds contain little amounts of energy, for example, a cup of Wakame seaweed contains about twenty calories per cup; seaweed contains a high amount of essential nutrients that are indispensable for healthy living. Some of the important minerals are iodine, vitamin K, calcium and iron.

 

Powerhouse Of Vitamin K

Seaweed provides the right proportion of vitamin K needed by the body. Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin and should always be taken with a fat source.  Ghee makes an excellent addition to seaweed dishes… Vitamin K is associated with platelets which is a type of cell that forms blood clot.  When a person is injured, the body sends messages to the platelets to accumulate in that area and forms a blood clot in order to stop the bleeding. Without adequate vitamin k levels, healing can not take place.  The daily required amount of vitamin k in the system is ninety micro grams for women and a hundred and twenty for men. A cup of Kelp, which is an excellent source of seaweed, contains about twenty seven micro grams of vitamin K which will cover a reasonable percentage of the daily required amount.

 

Maine Coast Kelp & Kombu Bag Organic, 2 oz

 

Iodine And Thyroid Health

Deficiency in iodine causes changes in the thyroid gland, directly leading to a degrading function of metabolism and immunity in the body. Some seaweeds like kelp contain a large amount of iodine needed by the body. Thyroid problems, which affects millions of people around the world including developed countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe etc, require iodine which is presently the most important nutrient to maintain proper function. Losol Iodine is the most widely used iodine since 1945. Kelp is one of the seaweeds that contains Losol Iodine. About two milligrams of iodine is needed by the body daily and can be obtained by consuming seaweeds. This is why individuals with thyroid problems are being advised to consume reasonable amounts of seaweed daily.

 

Full Of Iron And Calcium

Sea vegetables and some wide varieties of seaweed contain iron and calcium. Iron provides energy needed for day to day activities and also plays an important role in the circulatory system to improve the flow of blood. Deficiency of iron can be dangerous, as it induces a faded skin complexion and shortness of breath. A cup of seaweed like kelp and wakame contains around one milligrams of iron. This is ten percent of the daily required intake. Also, the addition of seaweed in your diet boosts the level of calcium. Calcium helps in keeping the bones and teethes strong; small amount of calcium helps the contraction of muscles, and contributes to the well being of the nervous system. A cup of kelp contains six percent of the daily required intake.

 

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