Supercharge your health with seaweedSaturday, June 22, 2013 by: Dr. David JockersTags: sea vegetables, seaweed, superfoods |
The term seaweed actually encompasses a number of different "sea weeds" including kelp, nori, dulse, wakame, kombu, arame and many others. All of these are used by coastal communities around the world and particularly in Asia. They are known for Asian dishes such as sushi and nori wraps.
Seaweed a great source of vital nutrients:
Gram for gram, sea vegetables are higher in essential vitamins and minerals than any other known food group. These minerals are bio-available to the body in chelated, colloidal forms that make them more easily absorbed. Sea vegetables contain critical nutrients that benefit brain function and development. This includes folic acid, iodine, choline and omega-3 fatty acids.Many individuals lack adequate iodine which plays a critical role in thyroid function. Seaweed is considered the world's most potent source of naturally occurring iodine. They suck it right out of the ocean and into the cells of the plant. Some species of sea vegetables have been found to concentrate iodine by up to 30,000 times the amount in sea water.
Sea vegetables are rich in electrolytes and major minerals like sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium and a powerful source of blood purifying chlorophyll. It is also one of the best sources of the trace mineral vanadium. Vanadium is especially important for insulin signaling pathways and healthy blood sugar regulation.
Sulfated polysaccharides
Sea veggies contain a unique group of fucoidan polysaccharides. Fucoidans contain sulfur molecules that reduce inflammatory conditions within the body. They have been studied to reduce pain and reverse atherosclerosis and blood clot formation. In fact, many popular pharmaceuticals use the sulfated polysaccharide structure to reduce blood clots in the body. These drugs are synthetically derived and have toxic effects in the body. Naturally occurring fucoidans do not have such side effects.These fucoidans are able to do all these actions by blocking pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and enzymes. They have an inhibitory affect on an inflammatory glycoprotein called selectins and the prostaglandin phospholipase A2 (PLA-2). Both selectins and PLA-2 are some of the strongest inflammatory inducing agents the body produces.
Sulfated polysaccharides have powerful anti-viral and immune boosting properties. They have been shown to be able to block the binding sites used by many virulent viruses such as Herpes. Without available binding sites the virus is unable to get the nutrition it needs to survive and replicate.
Safest source for sea vegetables
Sea vegetables act like a sponge and absorb minerals and heavy metals in the water. This is why they are such rich sources of calcium, magnesium and iodine but they also can soak up lead, arsenic and cadmium. Many ecologists use sea vegetables as a biomonitor to determine levels of heavy metal pollution in a body of water. They seem to absorb arsenic more than other metals. Hijiki has been tested to have the highest levels of arsenic.It is always best to look for sea vegetables from a highly reputable company where it is raised in a certified organic manner. With the radiation fall-out in the Pacific Ocean many are concerned this is affecting the iodine of the sea vegetable. This has yet to be proven but always look for clean organic sources. Some of the best are from the clean waters off the coast of Maine.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.oprah.com
http://www.naturalnews.com
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com
About the author:
Dr. David Jockers owns and operates Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, Ga. He is a Maximized Living doctor. His expertise is in weight loss, customized nutrition & exercise, & structural corrective chiropractic care. For more information go to www.drjockers.com To find a Maximized Living doctor near you go to www.maximizedliving.com Dr. Jockers is also available for long distance phone consultations to help you beat disease and reach your health goals
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