Improved Immunity and Other Benefits of Kelp

You may call it seaweed but its official name is kelp. It is an underwater algae that grows in forests in clear, shallow parts of the oceans, growing best below 68 degrees F. Kelp is famous for its ability to reproduce, growing as much as 20 inches a day and reaching over 200 feet long!

In most kelp, the body or thallus consists of flat or leaf-like structures known as blades. Blades come from elongated stem-like structures called stipes. A root-like structure, called the holdfast, anchors the kelp to the floor of the ocean. In American species gas-filled bladders form at the base of blades, and keep the kelp blades close to the surface, holding up the leaves by the gas in them.

Kelp is available in a dried, capsule, or powder form. It can be added to drinks or used as flavoring or as a salt substitute. Kelp can be added to soups, stir fries, stews, and cooked with beans or various types of grains.

Over 70 minerals and growth hormones, trace elements, enzymes, vitamins, and proteins are found in kelp, including potassium, iodine, magnesium, calcium, and iron. According to Wikipedia, 100 grams of kelp contains 9.6 grams of Carbohydrates, .6 grams of sugars, 1.3 grams of fiber, .6 grams of fat, 1.7 grams of protein, and from 3% to 45% of the daily requirement of another 13 vitamins and minerals.

Kelp has many health benefits. Here are a few of them. can boost body immunity and increase energy levels. It has been shown to fight heart disease, cancer and to suppress AIDS. Kelp can help to alleviate the pain of arthritis and has been used to improve liver function.

Because kelp stimulates metabolism, it is used to control appetite and can help keep weight normal. The iodine in kelp helps treat hypothyroid problems. It also is used to alleviate problems of poor digestion, bowel gas, and constipation.

Kelp helps to lower cholesterol levels and to maintain mucous membranes. It kills the herpes virus and is even used to reduce hair loss. Kelp ash can be used in soap and glass production. Alginate, a carbohydrate coming from kelp, is used as a thickener for such things as ice cream, jelly, salad dressing, and toothpaste, and is used as an ingredient in exotic dog food.

Kelp is also used frequently in fertilizer and as such is known as vraic. Some types of kelp are also considered a delicacy in the far east.

A daily intake of kelp in capsule or sprinkled on food as powder will help regulate the body's systems and provide needed vitamins and minerals. You will be benefited from making kelp a regular part of your diet.

But there are more benefits of kelp to be discovered. Visit More Than Alive, an online store for bulk herbs and a trusted resource where you can get kelp powder and learn about many other herbs.

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