What is Kelp?

Kelp is a type of seaweed or algae, sort of like the salad of the sea. It’s a mainstay in many East Asian diets and the health benefits cannot be overstated.

We most commonly see kelp used as wraps for Japanese sushi, but there are a number of other ways kelp can find its way into your diet including soups and supplements.

Kelp is packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and trace elements. It contains iron, magnesium, calcium, copper, manganese, zinc, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin and a number of vitamins including a, B-12 and C.

Kelp The Super Food

There are a class of foods that hold so many health benefits that it sets them apart from other foods in terms of what good it does for the human body. We call them super foods and kelp definitely qualifies as a super food.

So what makes kelp a super food?

Naturally high in antioxidants including carotenoids, flavonoids and alkaloids, it’s no wonder it’s so successful in fighting disease-causing free radicals. Well it’s all about what’s inside and what it can do for you. One thing about kelp that makes it remarkable is that it contains sodium alginate, which has the unique in that it helps protect the body from radiation and aids in its removal from the human body.

According to a 1964 study that appeared in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, sodium alginate has been found to reduce radioactive strontium absorption in the intestinal wall while at the same time binding the strontium, which was excreted from the body.

In addition to binding radiation, kelp also helps prevent and protect against many forms of disease. For example, the compound fucoidan found in kelp is thought to help prevent the spread of lung cancer and prostate cancer. It is also thought to help slow the progression of breast cancer.

In addition to its disease fighting ability, kelp is also good for helping individuals lose weight. So how exactly does kelp help with weight loss?

Well, it comes down to the way the body digests foods rich in fat. Alginate, a remarkable compound in kelp, actually helps block the absorption of fat in the intestinal wall by something like 75 percent. This keeps the majority of fat from finding its way into your system. There are also real cardiovascular benefits to consuming kelp that increase heart health.

Kelp is also very low in calories, which makes a great option for weight loss.

Eating Kelp

So now that you know the benefits of kelp the question quickly becomes, how do we incorporate it into our diet?

• Most of us only see kelp as a wrap for our favorite Japanese sushi, but there are other ways you can get some much-needed kelp in your diet. However, you could also have kelp in your soups and salads in the form of kelp noodles.
• You can also use kelp noodles to make a tasty kelp pasta or get kelp flakes to use as seasoning over various foods.
• Kelp can also be blended with other vegetables to make a tasty vegetable juice.
• Another unique way you’ll see kelp incorporated into food is as a thickening agent. Believe it or not, kelp is commonly used in salad dressings and even ice cream.

Do your research to find creative ways to incorporate this super food into your diet.

Bottom Line

When people think of weight loss and healthy living, kelp is hardly the first thing to come to mind – but it really is a great addition to your diet. Whether you use supplements or find creative ways to integrate it into your everyday meals, kelp is one super food worth adding into your diet.

With its disease preventing qualities, radiation protection, and weight loss benefits, can you really afford not to add this super food to your diet?