Naturally-sourced, complete nutrients from whole food have been found to be much more beneficial to us than synthetic supplements. Many people are discovering the amazing benefits of seaweed and algae as a complete, natural nutrition supplement for the whole family. I sneak it into everything you can imagine, from soup to spaghetti sauce.
With 93 identified nutrients, even synthetic supplements can’t come close to the variety, amount, and bio-availability that seaweed offers.
However, most people have limited their supplementation to Kelp and/or Spirulina in the belief that seaweed is seaweed. That couldn’t be further from the truth. We consume (and feed our pets) a premix of balanced powdered or flaked seaweed because each species offers it’s own variety of nutritional and natural healing benefits.
Individual seaweed species can be higher in protein or specific nutrients. For example, all seaweeds contain chlorophyll, but there are different types of chlorophyll. Green seaweed species contain chlorophyll A and B, red seaweed species contain chlorophyll A, and brown seaweed species contain chlorophyll A and C. Colour is only the beginning of these variations, however, as nutrient content and levels vary among species as well.
Some seaweed species pack a more powerful punch for healing specific ailments than others too, for example:
- Chondrus crispus is used to build immunity and prevent viral diseases, including the treatment of TB.
- The large brown seaweeds known as “Kelp” are rich sources of alginic acids, which remove heavy metals and radioactive isotopes from the body.
- Polysaccharides in red seaweeds also offer detoxification.
An example of the unique benefits found in each seaweed species or variety was recently demonstrated in a Georgia Institute of Technology study.
“Though all the seaweed they studied was from a single species, the researchers were surprised to find two distinct groups of anti-fungal chemicals. From one seaweed subpopulation, dubbed the “bushy” type for its appearance, 23 different anti-fungal compounds were identified. In a second group of seaweed, the researchers found 10 different anti-fungal compounds — all different from the ones seen in the first group.”
And we still don’t know the half of it! Therefore, to receive maximum benefits, we cover all our bases with a good premix of several species of green, red and brown seaweed/algae.
Unfortunately, the number of species available within each group is limited, but they certainly don’t lack variety in the wild:
Green Seaweed – May include Sea Lettuce, Spongeweed, Ulva, etc. There are approximately 4,500 wild green seaweed/algae species.
Red Seaweed – Dulse, Nori, Laver, Irish Moss, Carrageen, etc. There are approximately 6,500 species of wild red seaweed/algae.
Brown Seaweed – Kelp, Wrack, Bladderwrack, Wakame, Kombu, Fucus, etc. There are approximately 1800 wild brown seaweed/algae species.
Following is an infographic that illustrates the many nutritional benefits of spectacular seaweed/algae. It’s perfect for saving as a quick-reference guide or for sharing on social media.
??? Do you use seaweed/algae as a supplement or nutritious seasoning? Please share your experiences in the comments below.
✔ You may also be interested in reading:
10 Natural Remedies for Spring Allergies
Natural Flu Remedies and Prevention
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I’ve been eating dulse by the bag for years and my mother did too. She lived to be 97 so maybe there’s a connection. I didn’t give much thought to other kinds of seaweed but I’d love to try some more. Thanks for the tips.
We’re biologically closer to the sea than we think which makes sea weed even more perfect for us. I use powder, flakes, granules…whatever I can get my hands on. It goes with everything but you have to make sure you don’t use too much or the taste can be overwhelming. Good thing you don’t need much then 🙂