Kelp (Atlantic) 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Kelp (Atlantic) 100 g ($11.99), 50 g ($7.99), 25 g ($5.99)

Benefits:
Nutrients:
Because kelp absorbs nutrients from its surrounding marine environment, kelp is rich in:
–  vitamins
–  minerals
–  trace elements
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) say that seaweed, such as kelp, is one of the best natural food sources of iodine, an essential component in thyroid hormone production. Low iodine levels can lead to:

• metabolism disruption
• enlargement of the thyroid gland
• various complications

And can also:

• raise energy levels
• boost brain function

However, too much iodine can also lead to thyroid problems, according to research. This can happen if people use supplements or consume too much kelp.

Kelp (100g raw; 10g dehydrated) contains the following vitamins and minerals:

• 43 calories
• 7.6 grams carbohydrates
• 1.8 gram protein
• 0.7 gram fat
• 1.4 gram fiber
• Vitamin K1: 55 percent of the daily value (DV)
• Folate: 45 percent of the DV
• Magnesium: 29 percent of the DV
• Iron: 16 percent of the DV
• Vitamin A: 13 percent of the DV
• Pantothenic acid: 13 percent of the DV
• Calcium: 13 percent of the DV

These vitamins and nutrients have health benefits. For example, vitamin K and calcium play a key role in bone health, and folate is essential for cell division.

Iodine  Do you know if you’re eating enough iodine? That’s an important question, because iodine-rich foods help protect you from a dangerous deficiency. Iodine is a vital nutrient that helps support a healthy thyroid, protects against certain kinds of cancer, promotes healthy growth and development in babies and children, and even helps you maintain a healthy brain.

A deficiency in iodine contributes to various diseases and disorders, such as thyroid conditions and autoimmune diseases. Because kelp contains an extremely high level of iodine (up to 2,984 micrograms in some varieties), it’s one of the best ways to maintain a healthy level of iodine. Studies show that powdered kelp has been used to treat hypothyroidism in patients with severe motor intellectual disabilities, who are at a very high risk of iodine deficiency. For most people, the primary dietary source of iodine is table salt. While eating kelp could help reduce the chance of having iodine deficiency, there’s no evidence that eating kelp can directly help you treat or reduce the chance of developing any of these conditions.

It’s also possible to consume too much iodine, which can have negative effects on your health. In a 2021 study that examined kelp and weight loss, researchers used iodine-reduced kelp powder to ensure the safety of the study participants.

Kelp is a laxative and contains considerable amounts of iodine. Given its iodine content, it has been used to regulate low thyroid function due to a lack of iodine in the diet (hypothyroidism). However, kelp is no longer recommended for this condition. Kelp also has been proposed as a weight-loss agent. Herbalists rely on kelp’s active ingredient, sodium alginate, to treat heavy-metal toxins such as barium and cadmium, and to prevent the body from absorbing strontium-90, a radioactive substance created in nuclear power plants.

Besides iodine, kelp has an enormous supply of essential nutrients, including protein, essential fatty acids, fiber, sodium and potassium salts, and a variety of other substances. The trace mineral content of kelp is among the highest of any single known source.

Cancer and menstrual symptoms. Kelp has been demonstrated to have anti-estrogenic effects. It is believed to be responsible for the reduced risk of estrogen-related cancers in Asian populations. It also may lower estradiol levels, thereby altering menstrual cycle patterns. In a study using rats, kelp acted as a competitive inhibitor of estradiol, thereby lengthening the estrous cycles of the rats.

Cellulite and skin elasticity. When applied topically, kelp acts as an anti-collagenase and antioxidant, which improve the skin’s elasticity and keeps it supple, and may address cellulite.

Constipation. Kelp is a gentle laxative. Up to 25 percent of its weight consists of algin, a complex carbohydrate that swells in water. Algin forms a gel within the intestines that coats and soothes the intestinal lining and softens the stool.

Weight Loss  Not only is kelp a nutrient-rich food that’s beneficial to any diet, but it also has specific fat-fighting properties. A protein found in most varieties, known as fucoxanthin, has been shown to significantly reduce fat tissue — one of the reasons it’s recommended as a healthy weight loss supplement. One study out also found that a combination of pomegranate seed oil with fucoxanthin promoted weight loss and increased liver function.

Another way kelp can be helpful when trying to lose weight fast is by the presence of particular molecules known as alginates. These alginates are prevalent in some varieties of kelp more than others. One study studied the effect of kelp on pancreatic lipase, finding that its consumption reduced this process by which the pancreas overprocesses fat and stores too much in the body. Instead, this sea vegetable was a vital factor in helping the body expel fat via excrement, rather than absorb large amounts. Essentially, this means it’s considered a lipase inhibitor.

Kelp is low in fat and calories. It also contains a natural fiber called alginate. Studies suggest that alginate may help stop the gut from absorbing fat. A study published in the journal Food Chemistry found that alginate could help block lipase — an enzyme that digests fat — by up to 72 percent. Food manufacturers use alginates as thickening agents in weight loss products, beverages, and ice cream.

Kelp may also have potential for diabetes and obesity, although research is still preliminary. A study published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism found that a carotenoid compound in the chloroplasts of brown seaweed called fucoxanthin may promote weight loss in people with obesity when combined with pomegranate oil.

Diabetes  Those at risk for or who have diabetes may also find kelp a welcome addition to their diabetic diet plan. A Korean study published in Nutrition Research and Practice found that kelp consumption greatly improved blood sugar levels, positively influenced glycemic control and increased antioxidant enzyme activities in patients with type II diabetes.

Kelp contains the natural fiber alginate, which can act as a fat blocker, stopping the absorption of fat in the gut. Does this mean that eating kelp can help you lose weight? According to research, there’s no clear answer.

A 2021 study examined the effects of kelp powder on weight loss in 50 Japanese individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30, which is considered overweight. One group took the powder for 8 weeks, while the other group took a placebo. Male participants who took kelp powder saw a decrease in body fat percentage. There were no major changes in female participants. That said, this study only explored fat loss and not weight loss. In addition, we can’t extrapolate from this study that eating kelp (raw or cooked) as part of your diet would have the same effect in females or males.

In a 2022 animal study on giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), researchers looked at how consuming kelp affected weight in mice fed a high fat diet. Researchers found that adding kelp did not help the mice lose any gained weight. For this reason, more research with humans is needed to understand the effects of kelp on weight loss and obesity.

Studies also suggest that brown seaweed may influence glycemic management and reduce blood glucose levels. This could benefit people with type 2 diabetes.

Blood-Related & Other Disorders  There’s a power nutrient found in many varieties of kelp that, among other things, has shown effectiveness against blood-related problems. It’s called fucoidan. Fucoidan has shown effectiveness in preventing blood clots that can lead to dangerous health problems, including stroke and heart attack. It’s so effective, in fact, that researchers cite it as having potential to be used as an oral antithrombotic agent, potentially reducing the need of prescription drugs to treat blood clotting problems.

This may be relevant especially to those suffering from or at risk for diabetes, as common diabetes symptoms includes excessive clotting — making this brown seaweed a double-whammy on diabetes. Fucoidan also protects cells in your body from ischemic damage, meaning damage caused by improper levels of blood flow to certain parts of the body.

Inflammation and stress are considered risk factors for many chronic diseases. Including antioxidant-rich food in the diet may help prevent them. Kelp is high in antioxidants, including carotenoids and flavonoids, which help fight against disease-causing free radicals. Antioxidant minerals, such as manganese and zinc, help combat oxidative stress and may help protect cardiovascular health and prevent cancer.

Recent studies have explored the role of sea vegetables in estrogen-related and colon cancers, osteoarthritis, and other conditions. Results suggest that kelp may help slow the spread of colon and breast cancers. Studies on isolated cells indicate that a compound found in kelp called fucoidan may also help prevent the spread of lung cancer and prostate cancer.

Cancer  Multiple nutrients in kelp function in tandem to give you protection against cancer. The presence of fucoxanthin was found to be effective against a number of types of prostate cancer. In addition, fucoxanthin can help remove drug resistance in cancer patients undergoing dangerous chemotherapy treatments, thereby reducing the amount of harmful drugs introduced into one’s system in order to treat cancer.

When it comes to cancer-fighting nutrients, fucoidan is now considered one of the most powerful. Studies on fucoidan have found that it causes cancer cells to die (a process known as “apoptosis”) in leukemia, colon, breast and lung cancer. It’s the fucoidan and fucoxanthin combo that makes this sea vegetable one of the most effective cancer-fighting foods.

Anti-Inflammatory  As a general defense against most diseases, it’s often recommended to follow a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods. Inflammation is at the root of most diseases, and it’s hypothesized that chronic inflammation may be caused by an overactive immune system, flooding the body with dangerous hormones.

Certain kinds of kelp have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties (and serve as antioxidants), meaning they help reduce the overall inflammation in your body, which in turn reduces your probability of disease. Fucoidan, found in kelp, has also been shown to work as an anti-inflammatory and also to improve cholesterol levels in the blood, responsible for heart conditions.

Bone Building  Are you at risk for osteoporosis or other bone diseases? Kelp can help. First, it’s a rich source of vitamin K — you get almost a quarter of the daily recommended intake of vitamin K in just one serving. One of the many benefits of vitamin K is its role in creating denser bones that don’t as easily succumb to arthritis and osteoporosis. It’s also worthwhile to note that if you’ve been on antibiotics lately, you might need to increase your vitamin K intake to avoid vitamin K deficiency. Fucoidan also contributes to healthy bones. Low molecular weight fucoidan helps prevent age-related bone loss and improves the mineral density in bones.

However, people on blood-thinning drugs ought to avoid extra vitamin K, as it can affect how the drugs work.

Recommended Use
Kelp can be eaten as an occasional dietary item in any quantity desired. It should not be eaten every day, though, to prevent consuming too much iodine. It has been reported that the average kelp-based supplement contains 1,000 micrograms of iodine per dose. The recommended dietary intake of iodine for adults in the United States is 150 micrograms per day, with intakes above 2,000 micrograms per day considered potentially harmful. You should therefore limit consumption of kelp to once a week unless otherwise directed. Make sure that the kelp is harvested from non-polluted waters. Kelp has been known to contain heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, which can cause kidney disease.

Since iodine is a critical element in many thyroid hormones, it has long been thought that increasing available iodine with kelp would stimulate thyroid hormone production. However, scientists have since learned that too much iodine can actually inhibit thyroid activity. Studies of Japanese coastal cities in which large amounts of kelp are eaten show that this type of diet is associated with very high rates of low-level hypothyroidism, or low thyroid activity. It is as if constant consumption of kelp first stimulates and then depletes thyroid function. For this reason, kelp is no longer recommended for hypothyroidism. You should not take kelp if you suffer from hyperthyroidism, have heart problems, or are pregnant or nursing. Kelp should not be used by patients who have hormone-sensitive cancers. It may have an increased effect when taken with cholesterol-lowering and antihypertensive medications.

Botanical Name: Ascophyllum nodosum
English: Algae
Also, known as: Sea Weed
Habitat: North America
Origin: Canada
Harvested: Wild
Parts Used: Kelp

General Information:
A part of the brown algae family (Phaeophyceae), kelp is full of exceptionally rich, nutrients, such as iodine and various B-vitamins. Iodine improves the function of the thyroid gland, which produces stores and release hormones like TSH means Thyroid Stimulating Hormone that is essential to other bodily functions Iodine is also a blocking agent When taken orally, it saturates the thyroid with non-radioactive iodine, which in turn reduces the amount of radiation absorbed by the thyroid. When functioning optimally, the thyroid gland produces a number of enzymes and hormones that are required for the health of your metabolism, growth, and development.

Kelp is also an excellent source of fiber-its cellulose structures are particularly strong and can withstand different tide movements. The fiber composition of kelp (alginate) has been shown to lower fat absorption in the gut, which supports weight loss and improved dietary balance,

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Kelp is available fresh or frozen, but it can be hard to find unless you live in an area where it’s grown or harvested. Most consumers eat dried kelp or kelp noodles. Kelp is sometimes marketed under the Japanese name, kombu. Here are some ways you can use kelp:
Use kelp to flavour miso soup broth, called dashi
Use kelp flakes to give vegetarian salads the taste of the sea
Combine kelp noodles with shredded vegetables to make a salad
Make pad thai using kelp noodles instead of traditional noodles
Make kombu salad by mixing: water, dried kelp carrots, cucumbers, and flavouring
Use kelp flakes or powder to add umami to dried beans
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.