Seaweed - pros and cons
Seaweed is known to have lots of health benefits but is there such a thing as too much seaweed?
Discover the benefits and disadvantages of incorporating seaweed into your diet.
- Eating seaweed is an excellent way to increase your antioxidant intake and help protect against cancer. It's also a good source of zinc, needed for immune health; B vitamins and iron, to improve energy levels; and iodine, for healthy thyroid function.
- Seaweed is one of the richest sources of iodine, the mineral that is required for optimal thyroid and metabolic function, which are in turn crucial for optimal energy and mood. It’s also a great source of calcium, for strong bones and teeth.
- Seaweed is rich in iodine, a trace element essential for healthy thyroid function and a healthy metabolism. Iodine is particularly vital for pregnant and lactating women. The minerals, amino acids and beta-carotene in seaweed help maintain collagen in the skin, improving tone and texture. Seaweed also contains zinc and antioxidants, which help strengthen immunity.
- A 2010 UK study found alginate, a natural fibre found in sea kelp, may help to tackle obesity. Researchers say it can reduce fat intake by up to 75 per cent by simply preventing the body from absorbing fat, and is more effective than over- the-counter obesity treatments.
- Last year scientists discovered that a form of seaweed, undaria, contains a compound that acts strongly against the H1N1 virus.
- In recent years hijiki seaweed has been found to contain high levels of inorganic arsenic, leading governmental agencies including Food Standards Australia New Zealand to issue warnings to limit or avoid its consumption. But experts say light occasional consumption should cause no harm.
- In February, a young New Zealander died from a viral infection after eating a rare and toxic form of seaweed at a market in Thailand.
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