For the majority of people seaweed conjures up an image of a smelly,
green or brown, unpalatable tough weed washed up on a shoreline
somewhere. Alternatively, it could be that dried stuff you get in sushi
bars or Japanese and Chinese restaurants. Very few people realise the
health benefits of seaweed and just how versatile it really is.
Described
as "perfectly balanced natural food" certain seaweeds, like certain
land plants have been used for centuries by different cultures for
medicinal and nutritional purposes, fertilizers and even to awaken
sexual desire.
Seaweed has been confirmed as one of Nature's
"all- round pharmaceutical miracles" with claims that it can accomplish
everything from warding off and treating
several types of cancer, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, thin the
blood, prevent ulcers, kill bacteria and even cure constipation.
It's
not just the Japanese who have appreciated the health benefits from
daily consumption of seaweed either as there are reports of people
living high in the Andes consuming it on a regular basis. Both cultures
are renowned for their hardiness but just why is this natural vitamin
supplement so good for us? The answer is the ocean.
For millions
of years minerals and nutrients have been draining from the land into
the sea and it is more or less a constant chemical medium.
The
ocean contains the same minerals and trace elements as human blood and
these are integrated into the living tissue of seaweed. As the seaweed
is organic (easily broken down) and the natural vitamins, foundation
minerals and vital nutrients are in such an assimilable form, this
wonderful sea vegetable is of huge nutritional benefit and really is a
natural whole food vitamin supplement.
For example, it has been
estimated that certain seaweeds are up to 30 times higher in minerals
than land food, which is affected by depleted nutrient levels in our
soils.
Many people are understandably concerned about consuming
produce from the oceans these days because of media reports of
pollution, but this issue is widely misunderstood. Generally the ocean
is a far less polluted growing medium than land soil especially farm
soil because of the widespread use of pesticides, insecticides and
fertilisers as well as airborne industrial pollutants.
Some
seaweeds, particularly certain varieties of wrack have been the subject
of scientific study over many years in connection with specific medical
conditions where they have been found not only to have therapeutic
value, but are a powerful nutritional component in a wide range of
treatments.
For several years seaweed has been used as part of
the protocol for detoxification in mercury amalgam extraction and may
prove helpful where there is evidence of mineral imbalance and thyroid
disorders.
The thyroid gland directly affects metabolism and
regulates many other bodily functions. It requires iodine to operate
smoothly and seaweed is a rich source.
In ancient Egypt seaweed
was used as a treatment for patients with breast cancer but the modern
use of chemo and radiation therapy makes the health benefit of seaweed
far more evident because it provides a natural detox.
Seaweed has
no significant fat and contains a high level of the rare antioxidant,
selenium, making it exceptional value in candida treatment.
Cholesterol,
blood pressure, heart disease are all familiar medical conditions in
our modern society and a link has often been made to high salt intake.
Very small amounts of whole salt, ideally in the form of seaweed have
been shown to be an antidote to excess sodium consumption.
Also,
seaweed can prove beneficial for bronchitis and other respiratory
infections as it is a natural multivitamin containing soothing,
mucilaginous gels which specifically rejuvinate the lungs and
gastrointestinal tract.
Another problem seaweed can assist with
is helping the body to maintain the acid/alkaline balance in blood,
lymph and cells. Modern diet tends to favour carbohydrates, protein and
fats, which can all become surplus acid deposits if our bodies do not
have the means to fully metabolise them. Often this produces food
allergy and intolerances, with acid build up in the system which is a
cause of heartburn, indigestion, and ulcers. Seaweed can neutralise
these acids so they can be safely eliminated and help restore balance.
Seaweed
has been described as "the most nutritious form of vegetation on this
planet", so the next time you spot some on the sea shore remember it is
far more than a smelly w