There’s no time like the summer to eat a cool, crunchy, refreshing salad. Salads are a staple for women who are on a journey to eat healthy and lose weight. Salads are convenient and can be made with just about any healthy food you can imagine!
Well, have you ever thought about mixing in seaweed with your leafy greens? Not only can you eat your salad on the beach, but you can eat the beach on your salad! How and why?
You can do this by tossing kelp in your salad. Kelp is a superfood, seaweed that is packed with many nutritional and health benefits.
Kelp makes up more than 20 percent of the Japanese diet and once you get the facts about kelp, you’ll want to add it to yours!
1. Kelp Has Weight Loss Powers!
Adding kelp to your diet can help you achieve your “Summertime Fine” goals. Kelp has a natural fiber called alginate that studies have shown to suppress the appetite and decrease the absorption of fat in the intestine.
A half cup of dried kelp is only 17 calories!
2. It’s Not Just Good in Salads
If kelp salad is not your thing, that’s ok! The benefits of kelp can be enjoyed in a number of other ways.
For a low-carb option, you can try kelp noodles for your next pasta dish.
If you like to eat your meals on the go, try adding this superfood powder into one of your morning smoothies.
For a light kelp taste, add dried kelp flakes onto your favorite dishes like soup or rice.
For an easy seaweed salad recipe, click here to check this one out.
If you are the grab-and-go type, click here to check out this seaweed and protein powder smoothie.
If NONE of this sounds appetizing, you can take a kelp supplement that comes in the form of a tiny pill!
3. Kelp Balances Your Blood Sugar
With Type II diabetes being a byproduct of being overweight, keeping your blood sugar in check is extremely important.
Vandium is one of the many powerful minerals found in kelp that has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels and can help prevent Type II Diabetes.
Kelp is a diabetes-friendly food with only 4 grams of carbs for a half cup!
4. Anemia? Kelp Can Help!
Due to the menstrual cycle, women are often affected by iron deficiency anemia.
There are several types of anemia, but iron deficiency anemia is the most common one. Iron deficiency anemia occurs when there is not enough iron in the body due to loss of blood or malabsorption.
Well, kelp has you covered! Kelp is loaded with iron and could prevent you from becoming anemic.
When you aren’t anemic, you have more energy to be more active which could help you on your weight loss journey.
5. Kelp is Rich in Vitamins!
Kelp is an excellent source of several vitamins that our bodies need to function on a daily basis and help you with weight loss. Kelp is rich in:
Vitamin K – Needed for blood clotting to heal wounds
Magnesium – Needed for the function of muscles, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and nerve function
Calcium – Needed for healthy bones, teeth, and for nerve health
Vitamin A – Needed for healthy vision, function of the reproductive system, and the immune system
Iron- Needed to carry oxygen from our lungs throughout the body
Folate (B vitamin)- Needed for healthy red blood cells and to prevent birth defects
6. Lower the Risk of Cancer with Kelp
While more research is needed, there is a compound found in kelp that has cancer-fighting capabilities. Fucoidan is a fiber found in kelp that may help doctors and scientists create new treatments in cancer.
Kelp has shown promise in slowing the spread of colon and breast cancer.
7. Hypothyroidism Prevention
If you or anyone else you know has hypothyroidism, it can be difficult to lose weight.
Without iodine, the thyroid gland can’t make the hormones that our bodies need for normal function.
Since our bodies do not make iodine, it is important that we get it through our diets.
Just 1 ounce of kelp has all the iodine you need in a day!
8. Fight Diseases Linked to Inflammation
Inflammation has been found to be a commonality for several diseases and can increase the number on the scale.
Inflammation can cause free radicals to form in the body, leading to disease. Kelp has a high content of anti-oxidants that fight against the free radicals that cause diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative eye diseases.
9. A Little Kelp Goes A Long Way
As mentioned before, just one once of kelp contains all of the iodine that you need for the day. A pound of dried kelp can last you 2 weeks or more!
Although iodine is a necessity in our diets, you must be careful to not overdo it. Too much iodine can damage the thyroid glad and lead to symptoms that are seen in hypothyroidism. Iodine is also found in seafood, iodized salt, and dairy products so, be sure to keep track of your intake.
Kelp is a weight loss superfood you don’t want to miss out on! Not only does it compliment your favorite summertime salad, but kelp can provide your body with powerful vitamins and nutrients all in one bite!
Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about adding kelp to your diet or about taking a kelp supplement if you have a condition in which your iodine intake or Vitamin K should be limited.