THIS ALGAE IS A SOURCE OF HEALTH FOR OUR BODY BECAUSE, IN ADDITION TO IODINE, IT CONTAINS VITAMINS A, B, C AND E ALONG WITH MINERALS SUCH AS POTASSIUM, CALCIUM AND IRON
In a previous article on the properties of kelp algae, we began studying KELP algae, analyzing its characteristics and properties, and pointing out what it was indicated for.
Its importance is such that in this article we are going to focus on developing what are the benefits of KELP on human health. Let’s see, in more detail, these benefits.
Its composition means that the benefits attributed to the KELP algae (Hannan, Dash, Haque, Mohibbullah, Sohag, Rahman, Uddin, Alam and Moon, 2020; Malyarenko, Zdobnova, Silchenko, Kusaykin and Ermakova, 2019; Santos and Muñoz, 2016) are can be summarized in:
- Its daily consumption favors the performance of the thyroid gland responsible for regulating metabolism. As we well know, a healthy and strong metabolism is important for weight control, which is essential for those seeking to maintain a healthy weight.
- Being rich in fiber, it fights constipation, also reducing flatulence. To this must be added its diuretic effect, which makes it essential in any attempt to control weight.
- The consumption of KELP provides the necessary vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are of great help for women during menstrual cycles, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- It contains a natural antibiotic that helps the body fight infection, making it especially useful during cold and flu season, or for those who are susceptible to congestion due to allergies or who have an immune system. virus that has changed our lives, this aspect is especially interesting.
- KELP seaweed is very beneficial for blood circulation, as it creates a favorable environment for the growth of red blood cells, given its high content of vitamins and minerals. This gives us energy, keeping us strong, resilient and vital, contributing greatly to coping with stress and fatigue.
- This KELP seaweed is a powerful antioxidant, it protects healthy cells by fighting potentially dangerous free radicals. An intake that combines KELP and Astaxanthin, ensures an extra benefit to the body, because neither of them acts as a pro-oxidant, but quite the opposite.
- KELP seaweed is anti-inflammatory, it helps us in the treatment of pain because it helps reduce tissue inflammation, relieving and mitigating the symptoms of rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis.
- It slows down the possible appearance of neurodegenerative diseases, according to a study published by the US National Library of Medicine.
- It helps us regulate and control cholesterol, while cleaning and purifying the arteries, improving blood pressure.
- Interestingly, research indicates that it protects us against the effects of radiation and heavy metals.
- It has an anticoagulant effect, so it is beneficial for people with vascular risk (yes, caution, because it should not be consumed in combination with aspirin or any other drug intended to reduce blood pressure).
- KELP seaweed is very beneficial for irritated bladder, helping to eliminate harmful bacteria and reducing fluid retention, as it has a wide field of action that reduces the problems derived from benign prostate hyperplasia in men.
- In the case of women, the KELP seaweed can become one of the reference foods, since its concentration in iron, potassium and calcium makes it an ideal candidate to help in periods in which these minerals are essential, such as menstruation, pregnancy and postpartum.
- In pregnancy, it is also highly indicated since KELP contains a generous amount of folic acid, an essential vitamin for the correct development of the fetus in the first weeks of pregnancy.
KELP ALGAE, SLIMMING AND THYROIDS
KELP seaweed is an extraordinary help when trying to fight against overweight, since in addition to being low in fat and having few calories, it has the natural power to slow down the absorption of fat in the intestine.
Because KELP seaweed contains a natural fiber called alginate, research has been carried out to analyze its possible properties for blocking the absorption of fats (Li, Liu, Sun, Zhang, Wu, Sun, Cheng and Chen , 2020). The studies collected in the scientific journal Food Chemistry suggest that it can stop fat absorption in the intestine by 75%, something that gives it some very interesting properties to take into account in weight control diets.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THOSE CASES IN WHICH THERE IS NO WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT?
Sometimes we are faced with people who, after having suddenly gained a lot of weight, try to lose weight, submitting to rigorous restrictive and / or low-calorie diets, also practicing regular exercise.
And yet, despite their effort and sacrifice, they do not lose an ounce of weight, so their desperation is increasing. If that is the case, we are very possibly facing hypothyroidism, or low activity of the thyroid gland (Malyarenko, Zdobnova, Silchenko, Kusaykin and Ermakova, 2019). Hypothyroidism implies a decrease in the activity of the thyroid, and this irregularity in the normal functioning of this gland causes:
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Bad mood
- Forgotten
- Lack of concentration
- Sexual loss of appetite
- Impotence (in men)
- Worsening of the appearance and health of hair, nails and teeth.
Not surprisingly, approximately 80% of the iodine present in the body is located in the thyroid gland, and its deficiency implies, as we discussed in the previous article, unpleasant consequences for health, such as those described above.
Fortunately, nature provides us with KELP algae to combat this problem, since one of the great benefits of KELP is that it helps regulate and treat the thyroid. In particular, it fights hypothyroidism and optimizes metabolism, although we must be cautious and always consult our doctor before using it when there are problems in this gland (Malyarenko, Zdobnova, Silchenko, Kusaykin & Ermakova, 2019).
For people with high blood pressure, or for those who have to reduce their salt intake, KELP seaweed is the best alternative, since the mineral sodium is consumed from a natural source, free and pure of pollutants, so that normalizes and regulates the situation (Linares, Vida, Canals, Kersting, Amblass, Aspillaga et al., 2015).
Why? Quite simply, because the sodium levels in seaweed are 10 times lower than in common salt (sodium chloride), so consuming KELP instead of salt causes a reduction of more than 90% in the levels equivalents of salt in food (Pozharitskaya, Obluchinskaya and Shikov, 2020). Today, seaweed is used successfully in commercial applications to replace salt in baked goods, soups, sauces, cheeses, etc.
In the case of suffering from hyperthyroidism (that is, an overproduction of the thyroid gland), it is NOT recommended to use KELP seaweed, since one of its functions is to stimulate this gland and, if there is an increased function of it, the Overstimulation could produce an imbalance in metabolism (Zhai, Li, Yang, Yu and Yao, 2014).
COSMETIC USES OF KELP ALGAE
Seaweed not only serves as a vitamin supplement, but, being a great source of nutrients, it benefits the regeneration of various parts of the body, as well as providing vitality and energy.
In this sense, research indicates that the nutritional properties of KELP seaweed are used by the cosmetic industry, and that many makeup products and facial creams include it among their components, since its vitamins, minerals, amino acids and trace elements are ideal for revitalizing the skin, so that it has a profound nourishing effect (Santos and Muñoz, 2016).
In the same way, its high content of vitamins K and E prevent aging and the appearance of wrinkles, avoiding the formation of free radicals, chemicals that age the body, keeping the skin fresh for longer (Bakunina, Chadova, Malyarenko and Ermakova, 2018).
Research in the cosmetic field indicates that KELP algae is effective in treating acne, in which cases it is recommended to use it as a natural facial mask, as it will act directly on the affected area and eliminate blackheads and accumulations of grease. Likewise, its vitamins also regenerate the fragile tissues of the body such as nails and hair, giving them greater hardness, vitality and shine, while preventing hair loss, managing to regenerate it when the follicle is alive (Linares, Vida, Canals, Kersting , Amblass, Aspillaga et al., 2015).
In short, KELP seaweed puts the best of the sea at our fingertips. We should take advantage of its properties and consume it, either fresh (in salads and soups), in powder (in yogurt or sprinkled on purees and vegetables), or as a nutritional supplement, thus ensuring the intake of a natural and chemical-free product.
Referencias
Bakunina, I., Chadova, O., Malyarenko, O. y Ermakova, S. (2018). The Effect of Fucoidan from the Brown Alga Fucus evanescence on the Activity of α-N-Acetylgalactosaminidase of Human Colon Carcinoma Cells. Marine drugs, 16(5), 155.
Hannan, MA., Dash, R., Haque, MN., Mohibbullah, M., Sohag, A., Rahman, MA., Uddin, MJ., Alam, M. y Moon, IS. (2020). Neuroprotective Potentials of Marine Algae and Their Bioactive Metabolites: Pharmacological Insights and Therapeutic Advances. Marine drugs, 18(7), 347.
Li, Y., Liu, L., Sun, P., Zhang, Y., Wu, T., Sun, H., Cheng, KW. y Chen, F. (2020). Fucoxanthinol from the Diatom Nitzschia Laevis Ameliorates Neuroinflammatory Responses in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated BV-2 Microglia. Marine drugs, 18(2), 116.
Linares, C., Vida, M., Canals, M., Kersting, DK., Amblass, D. Aspillaga, E. et al. (2015). Persistent natural acidification drives major distribution shifts in marine benthic ecosystems. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 4(1). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0587
Malyarenko, OS., Zdobnova, EV., Silchenko, AS., Kusaykin, MI. y Ermakova, SP. (2019). Radiosensitizing effect of the fucoidan from brown alga Fucus evanescens and its derivative in human cancer cells. Carbohydrate polymers, 205(1), 465–471.
Pozharitskaya, ON., Obluchinskaya, ED. y Shikov, AN. (2020). Mechanisms of Bioactivities of Fucoidan from the Brown Seaweed Fucus vesiculosus L. of the Barents Sea. Marine drugs, 18(5), 275.
Santos, JM. y Muñoz, S. (2016). Biomarkers of colorectal cancer: A genome-wide perspective. Cancer Transl. Med., 2(1), 182–188.
Zhai, Q., Li, X., Yang, Y., Yu, L. y Yao, Y. (2014). Antitumor activity of a polysaccharide fraction from Laminaria japonica on U14 cervical carcinoma-bearing mice. Tumour biology: the journal of the International Society for Oncodevelopmental Biology and Medicine, 35(1), 117–122.
