7 Benefits of Seaweed

Seaweed is a species of algae and marine plants that comes in a variety of edible varieties, including nori, kelp, dulse, sea lettuce, kombu, and arame. You can eat them fresh, cooked, dried, or as a powdered supplement. Just one cup of seaweed contains:

Calories: 45
Carbs: 8 grams
Fat: 1 gram
Protein: 5 grams
Fiber: 1 gram
Copper: 56% of the daily value (DV)
Magnesium: 17% of the DV
Iron: 21% of the DV
Folate: 13% of the DV
Riboflavin: 22% of the DV
Thiamin: 15% of the DV

In addition to being high in essential nutrients, seaweed has 7 important nutritional benefits:

1. Heart health – Seaweed contains long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and soluble fiber, both of which are healthy for your heart. It can also help to reduce blood pressure and your chances of developing blood clots.
2. Controlling blood sugar – Seaweed contains compounds that can reduce your blood sugar levels and help prevent type 2 diabetes. Plus, the fiber found in seaweed can slow down the rate at which carbohydrates are absorbed after a meal.
3. Immune function – Eating seaweed can protect you against certain infections as well as disease-fighting properties. The marine plant compounds it contains as well as high levels of antioxidants are beneficial to immune function.
4. Managing weight – If you’re focused on losing or maintaining your weight, seaweed is a great snack choice. It contains leptin, which is a weight-regulating hormone, and fiber that can help you feel fuller, longer. Low in calories, seaweed is a smart alternative to calorie-rich snacks.
5. Digestive health – If you have concerns with your gut health, eating seaweed may help. Fiber helps to prevent constipation, prebiotics feed healthy gut bacteria, and prevent harmful gut bacteria from sticking to the walls of your digestive tract.
6. Lowering cancer risk – Yet another health benefit of seaweed is that it can reduce your chances of developing certain types of cancer. For women, it helps lower estrogen levels, potentially helping to fight against breast cancer. And in high amounts, seaweed can reduce the risk of thyroid cancer.
7. Thyroid health – For many women, their thyroid health is a top concern, and a healthy thyroid needs iodine to help it function properly. Seaweed is a great source of iodine, especially dulse, kombu, and kelp. Without enough iodine, your thyroid can’t function properly, and can lead to hypothyroidism. When your thyroid is underactive, you can experience dry skin, low energy, depression, weight gain, or tingling in your hands and feet.