Sea kelp is a type of edible seaweed that is packed full of nutrients that benefit your health. Sea kelp contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Taking sea kelp supplements has been linked to weight loss, boosting your cardiovascular health, and improving digestion. The high level of iodine in kelp means that it can also help address thyroid disorders.
Sea kelp has been used in Asian cooking for centuries. Recently, using powdered sea kelp or sea kelp supplements has become popular because of its many health benefits. However, there are a few precautions that you need to take if using kelp products for medicinal purposes.
In this article, I will look at what scientific research has revealed as to the many benefits of sea kelp.
What is Sea Kelp?
Sea kelp is a type of large brown algae that grows in nutrient-rich seawater around the coasts of many countries. Kelp belongs to the Laminaria species and is also called brown seaweed or kombu in Japan and China. (1)
Kelp is boiled and then dried before being turned into a powder. Kelp is sometimes used as a thickener for soups, jellies or ice cream. From all types of seaweed, sea kelp has the highest content of iodine. (1)
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In Asian cuisine, kelp is a delicious food that is enjoyed almost daily by many people.
Kelp Nutrition
Many of the kelp health benefits are due to its rich content of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that 10 grams of kelp contain the following nutrients: (2)
4 calories
17 mg calcium
9 mg potassium
3 mg iron
18 mcg folate
Kelp also contains trace amounts of vitamins A, C, and K.
One of the reasons that many people take kelp pills is for its iodine content. The journal Thyroid Research reported that the average content of iodine in dried kelp is 1,542 mcg/g. (1) The National Institutes of Health says that the recommended daily intake (RDA) of iodine is 90–150 mcg in children and adults and 220 mcg in pregnant women. (3)
Studies show that the bioavailability of iodine from seaweeds is very high. This means that a high percentage of the iodine is absorbed by the body. (4)
Many of the sea kelp benefits come from its high levels of antioxidants. Research published in the journal Marine Drugs found that brown seaweeds such as kelp contain a group of compounds named fucoidan. These compounds have an antioxidant effect with anticancer properties. (5)
Benefits of Sea Kelp
Let’s look in more detail at how kelp extracts may benefit your health.
Kelp for Weight Loss
Taking seaweed tablets or kelp pills may help you lose weight.
One of the reasons that scientists say kelp promotes weight loss is because it contains alginates and fucoidans. These seaweed compounds have anti-obesity properties because they inhibit lipid absorption and increase feelings of fullness. For example, researchers noted that brown seaweed powder mixed in a beverage helped to suppress food intake. (6)
Sea kelp tablets can promote natural weight loss because antioxidant substances in seaweed help to reduce body weight. Research has found that fucoxanthin found in kelp helps prevent body fat accumulation. (7)
Clinical trials on obese women found that seaweed tablets for weight loss containing fucoxanthin and pomegranate seed oil helped to reduce body weight and body fat. (8)
Researchers from England discovered that dietary fiber in sea kelp can help fight obesity. In one trial, taking kelp extracts helped fat to pass through the body quicker without being absorbed. The scientists said that alginates from sea kelp help to “significantly reduce fat digestion.” (9)
The journal Nutrition Reviews reported that seaweeds contain proteins and antioxidants that aren’t found in other types of food sources. Many of these compounds can help to improve gut health and reduce obesity. (10)
Of course, using kelp for weight loss isn’t a miracle pill in itself, but you can combine it with other measurements to lose weight, such as these 12 simple tweaks for weight loss.
Sea Kelp Contains Iodine and Can Help Regulate Thyroid Levels
Kelp is a rich source of iodine and can help to treat various thyroid disorders.
One study on the benefits of kelp on thyroid function found that kelp stimulated thyroid hormones. Over a 4-week period, taking kelp pills helped to increase thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). (11)
Another trial found that taking powdered kelp supplements can help treat hypothyroidism. People with an underactive thyroid took 1-2 g kelp powder a day. This contained 200-400 µg iodine. Researchers noted that the kelp supplementation helped to normalize thyroid function and treat hypothyroidism that is due to an iodine deficiency. (12)
Do you know how to identify if you have a thyroid disorder? Learn about common thyroid disorders and how to regulate your thyroid hormones naturally.
Sea Kelp Can Help Prevent Blood Clotting
Compounds in kelp have anticoagulating properties that can lower risks associated with blood clotting.
The journal Thrombosis Research found that compounds called fucoidans in brown algae (kelp) help reduce blood clotting. Scientists found that kelp extract supplements prevented thrombosis in rats. They concluded that extracts containing fucoidan from brown algae have the potential to be an antithrombotic oral supplement. (13)
Other studies have suggested that kelp extracts could be a natural alternative to heparin to prevent blood clotting. Heparin is a popular drug to prevent deep vein thrombosis. (14)
Know how to avoid serious complications of blood clots caused by deep vein thrombosis.
Sea Kelp Can Help Keep Your Heart Healthy
Extracts from sea kelp also benefit your heart because they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
A review of around 580 studies found that polysaccharides from brown seaweeds have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. Kelp extracts help to lower blood pressure, prevent clotting, and reduce inflammation. These effects can help prevent cardiovascular disease. (15)
You can also make a few simple lifestyle changes to help improve your heart’s health.
Sea Kelp May Help Lower Blood Pressure
One of the benefits of kelp extracts in keeping your heart healthy is that kelp pills can help regulate blood pressure.
Researchers have found that foods like kelp and seaweed have anti-hypertensive properties. Seaweed and algae extracts contain minerals and fiber that help decrease blood pressure. (16)
Other studies have found that polyphenols in seaweed extracts such as kelp can help to control hypertension. These act similar to how ACE inhibitors hypertension medications work. (17)
Find out what else you can use to lower your blood pressure without medications.
