The Importance of Sea Vegetables in Restoring and Maintaining Your Health
by Steven H Horne RH (AHG) IIPA and Kimberley Balas ND
Iodine is a vital nutrient
for good health. Not only is iodine critical for thyroid gland function
and body metabolism, it’s also essential for reproductive tissue health.
The breasts, uterus and prostate require very large amounts of iodine.
It’s also needed for healthy skin, eyes and nerve function. In fact every cell of the body needs some iodine.
Unfortunately iodine is a
rare element and only small amounts of iodine are present in most
people’s diets especially amongst Western societies. Seaweeds and other
sea vegetables such as kelp, dulse and Irish moss are the most
dependable food source for iodine - foods which are rarely eaten, if at
all.
Besides iodine, sea
vegetables are rich sources of iron, magnesium, potassium, boron,
silica, selenium and chromium. They are also loaded with essential fatty
acids, vitamins (including vitamin D) and water soluble fibers which
make them excellent bone-building and tissue repairing foods. Sea
vegetables are also known to improve hair color and quality, skin tone
and texture, fingernail strength and ease arthritic symptoms.
In the Orient, sea vegetables have been used for centuries in the treatment of cancer. Anti-cancer compounds such as lignans
have been found in sea vegetables (kelp, kombu and wakame) which bond
to oestrogen-receptor sites and so inhibit oestrogen-dependent cancers. Fucoidan,
which is found in kelp and bladderwrack, is extremely
anti-proliferative against cancer cells. So, adding sea vegetables to
the diet could be a powerful way to reduce the risk of breast cancer in
women and prostate cancer in men. Fucoidan also interferes with every
stage of viral attack, which is why people who eat lots of sea
vegetables also seem to be more resistant to colds and flu.
Because they are high in
water-soluble fiber, natural chlorine and potassium, sea vegetables have
a protective effect on the heart and cardiovascular system. They can
lower blood cholesterol and reduce high blood pressure. They also have
anti-inflammatory properties.
Sea vegetables have a powerful detoxifying effect
on the body; not only do they absorb toxins and heavy metals, they also
reduce inflammation. When used in baths, the minerals found in
mucilaginous seaweeds are also absorbed through the skin, to aid tissue
repair. The mineral salts found in sea vegetables also help move
lymphatic fluids, so they enhance lymphatic drainage and can be helpful
in softening hardened lymph nodes.
Sea vegetables are excellent
foods for pregnancy. Lack of iodine can cause stunted growth, mental
deficiency, puffy facial features and a lack of muscular development.
Sea vegetables can help increase haemoglobin levels and also reduce
constipation and stretch marks in pregnant mothers.
