Kelp
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Where it's from: Cool, temperate waters in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.
Forms: Laminaria Japonica Extract, Fucus Vesiculosis Extract
Benefits of Kelp
- Healthy skin
- Weight management
What is Kelp?
Kelp is a large seaweed that grows on the ocean floor, forming Kelp ‘forests’ in cool coastal waters. Having been used in Japanese cooking for centuries, it has recently become more common in Western diets in the form of a tasty seaweed salad and it has a range of health benefit.
Kelp is packed with a range of important vitamins and minerals. Most significantly, Kelp is a great source of Iodine. Our bodies use Iodine for the production of thyroid hormones which maintain our metabolic rate. However, it’s important to know that Kelp is such a concentrated source of Iodine and consuming too much of it can cause problems with the thyroid’s functioning. You may also enjoy reading ‘Best foods for thyroid health’ and ‘Nutritionist's tips for an underactive thyroid’.
Kelp contains antioxidants that our bodies need to fix potentially harmful ‘free radicals’ (unstable atoms that damage cells). Studies suggest that this antioxidant quality means that Kelp may have anti-inflammatory functions and benefit the skin through skin-repairing and anti-wrinkling effects.
Kelp also contains promising weight-management qualities. Brown seaweeds like Kelp contain ‘fucoxanthin’ which studies associate with anti-obesity effects. Additionally, it may play a role in reducing body and liver fat content, influencing glycemic (blood sugar) control and managing metabolic diseases.
