Want to hear a little good news about our planet for a change?
What if I told you that the fastest growing weed on earth — one that can grow up to 20 inches a day and doesn’t require land or fresh water — was the new superfood you need? And as it grows, it cleans the water it’s in. It’s true! I’m talking about kelp.
Why is Kelp such a powerful supplement?
Let’s start with iodine. Most of us watch our salt consumption. And that’s a good thing for our blood pressure and various other reasons. But now nearly two-thirds of us may be deficient in iodine. And that’s a bad thing because it can contribute to obesity, heart disease, psychiatric disorders, and some types of cancer. Fortunately, kelp can help.
Since it grows in the ocean, it’s loaded with iodine. So kelp can keep your thyroid (and, therefore, your metabolism) at peak function. In fact, a lot of people take kelp just for weight loss. But it does so much more!
Kelp provides 46 minerals, 16 amino acids, and 11 micronutrients, including:
- Vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D and E
- Copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc
- Folic acid, and
- Calcium
What other benefits does Kelp have?
- Kelp is jam packed with antioxidants;
- It is an anti-inflammatory agent
- A great source of protein.
Is it safe to eat Kelp?
Some people will caution you about eating kelp, citing concerns about consuming toxic metals, such as mercury. However, if you buy kelp products ensure you are buying from a reputable company and investigate where the Kelp is harvested.
It seems that kelp isn’t only good at improving polluted waters, where it’s sometimes planted just for this purpose. It’s also good at rehabilitating itself. For example, a year after the Fukushima nuclear accident, contamination was found in the waters off California, and this included contaminated kelp. But just a month later, the kelp tested as clean.
How should I eat Kelp?
It’s best, if possible, to eat your kelp in its fresh, plant form, rather than as a supplement. It’s most effective that way. You’ll avoid getting needlessly high doses, which is a mistake that many people who take kelp as a supplement make.
The best places to get fresh kelp are at health food stores or bigger markets as well as some Asian markets. You can use it in salads, soups, smoothies and sauces (especially in Asian dishes). You can also get kelp noodles, which are a tasty and fun way to eat kelp. There’s no established amount of fresh kelp you should eat every day, but the Japanese diet traditionally includes about three tablespoons daily. So that’s a good guideline to follow.