Seaweed contains many nutrients.
The nutrients contained in seaweed are beneficial to the human body in many ways. Seaweed is a great source of calcium and iron, both beneficial to strong teeth and bones. The dietary fiber found in seaweed is good for weight control. Because of all the positive benefits of seaweed, a diet that includes a little seaweed might be worth considering.
Nutrients
Seaweed is loaded with beneficial nutrients, is low in saturated fats and is low in cholesterol. It contains vitamins A, C, E and K. Some of the more common minerals found in seaweed are niacin, phosphorus, calcium, iron, copper and magnesium.
Common Types
A few of the more common types of seaweed are hiziki, kombu, agar, arame and wakame. Hiziki is rich in calcium, while kombu seaweed is a great source of iron, calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Agar can be used to make seaweed salads and is high in iodine. Arame and wakame seaweed are loaded with nutrients, such as vitamins A and B, calcium, iodine and potassium; wakame also contains iron and phosphorous.
Skin Benefits
The nutrients and amino acids found in seaweed help make your skin smooth and soft, reducing subtle wrinkles and lines. People who suffer with the skin condition rosacea find that the vitamin B nutrients in seaweed help to reduce the redness of their skin.
Hair Benefits
A diet that includes a little seaweed promotes healthier hair. It provides the hair shafts and the scalp with the vitamins and minerals needed to strengthen the hair strands, giving your hair a lustrous and shiny look.
Weight Control Benefits
Seaweed can help control body weight. Scientists Dr. Iain Brownlee and Professor Jeff Pearson from Newcastle University in Australia have found that the natural dietary fiber alginate, found in seaweed, stops the body's digestion of fat better than many weight loss products that are currently sold over-the-counter.
Considerations
When compared to plants and vegetables grown on land and to the types of meat consumed, seaweed contains considerably more nutrients. For example, the Japanese seaweed hiziki contain 10 times the calcium of milk and eight times the amount of iron that is found in meat.
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