Health From Seaweed Through History

Kelp is a sea vegetable (seaweed) extraordinarily rich in minerals, such as magnesium, selenium and calcium. Sufficient mineralisation from proper nutrition has been known to normalize and calm behavior. A lack of proper mineral nutrition has been implicated in practically every symptom of poor health and emotionally extreme behavior. Kelp is the most abundant food in iodine.

The high consumption of sea vegetables may very likely account for the low rates of cancer and the high life expectancy in Japan. The countries that consume seaweeds and other foods from the ocean regularly, such as Japan and Iceland, tend to live longer than others and have very high life expectancy. At the time of writing this book, Japan ranks as the second highest country in life expectancy, and Iceland ranks seventh.

Due to its extraordinarily rich mineral content, kelp is a great food for men, as the man’s semen contains high amounts of minerals that are lost with ejaculation, and kelp helps replenish those minerals and restore energy after ejaculation.

Kelp also helps displace toxic minerals with healthy minerals (e.g., radioactive iodine with healthy iodine). Kelp is rich in essential sugars (polysaccharides) such as xylose, fucose, and galactose, which are important for immune system function, memory, and cognitive health. Other foods that are rich in essential sugars are noni, goji berries, aloe vera, medicinal mushrooms like reishi and other seaweeds.

Kelp also contains high amounts of the trace mineral selenium, which is another essential nutrient in the process of thyroid function. Selenium is essential for brain health and prevents loss of brain function due to aging.

Kelp contains sodium alginate, which aids the body in detoxifying from heavy metals and is now included in many heavy metal detox products.

Kelp’s content of alginates help absorb toxic metals in the intestines and prevent their uptake by the body. The same is not true of seafood such as fish or shellfish. This is why it is preferred to use kelp as a source of iodine instead of more fish or seafood.

Kelp is also one of the highest foods in vitamin k1.

Kelp is great for moving the intestines and maintaining regular bowel movements and therefore would be great for anyone who is suffering from constipation or irregular bowel movements. Detoxifies the body from heavy metals, radioactive elements, free radicals and toxins. Boosts the immune system.

Benefits and protects the thyroid gland. In fact, kelp is one of the most important foods for supporting the thyroid gland; mostly due to its high iodine content.

Helps those who are overweight by improving the function of the gastro-intestinal tract.
Improves the structure of hair and nails and helps them to grow.

Helps to detoxify smokers from strontium and cadmium.

Seaweed has been used all over the world for thousands of years and is a type of algae. Algae came to existence about three and a half billion years ago and is in 75% of the air we breath.

People from Japan have used seaweed since the beginning of time. Records show that for over 2000 years seaweed has been used as a supportive food in the Japanese diet. It is reported that at least six types of seaweeds were used in 800 A.D in everyday cooking in Japan. In 794, Japanese people used seaweed to make nori, which is a dried sheet of seaweed, which we see in sushi.

Some research also suggests that seaweed has been used since 2700 BC in China. In 600 BC, Sze Teu wrote that in China that seaweed was made for special guests or kings. In 300 BC, Chi Han wrote a book about seaweed. In China, kelp was used in the 5th century for food. In China, Laminara japonica (a specific species of seaweed) was imported from Japan in the 5th century.

In Europe, Mediterranean seaweeds were used as medicine in Greek and Roman times. Greeks even used seaweed to feed animals as early as 100 BC. In the Mediterranean, some red algae were used as sources of dying agents and as a medicine to treat parasitic worms since pre-Christian times.

For thousands of years and in many cultures, seaweed has been used for food and fertilizer. In Ireland, people started collecting algae in 1200 AD. Farmers have used seaweed for hundreds of years as mulch for soil, and even today there is a large seaweed industry in both Scotland and Ireland. In Ireland, Palmaria, a red algae is, known under a variety of Gaelic and English names: duileasc, Creathnach, dulse and dillisk, expressing clearly the long usage and perhaps also the great variation in habit and habitat of this species. There are very early records of the use of Palmaria not only in Ireland but also Iceland. One of the oldest recorded writings in Iceland, dating back to 961 BC, included detailed regulations about coastal property rights to be respected in the collection of sea vegetables. Palmaria is a well-known snack food and is an important source of fiber to the Icelandic people.

The ancient Hawaiians grew kelp gardens. They used 60-70 species of seaweed for food, medicine, ceremonies and even for their leis. In Hawaii, the story is that Hawaiians believe that a shark-man was killed and the ashes turned into a reddish seaweed that was deadly. The Hawaiians smeared it on their spears to make the spears fatal. We have done some extensive research on seaweed and we are not aware of any type that would be fatal. The Tongans have a long history of use with Limu Moui, which a brown sea plant. The Tongans believed Limu Moui would give them longevity and overall good health. For a long time, the Tongans were the only people who knew the secret of Limu Moui. The Tongans consumed Limu Moui for 3,000 years and was a staple in their diet. When Captain Cook visited Tonga in 1777, the Tongans offered him Limu Moui to restore his strength and energy.”

[1]  http://naturalknowledge247.com/seaweed-a-brief-history/

Links:

• Dr Daryl Turner, world renown specialist in thyroid health and how to cure disease related to thyroid issues, lecture on You tube video – approx 11 mins.  https://youtu.be/-dIrfGJf3Mo
• Kelp and seaweed commonly contain vitamins A, B, C, D, K https://thecompleteherbalguide.com/entries/vitamins-minerals/the-surprising-health-benefits-of-kelp/
• Kelp and seaweed contains Polysaccharides, supports gut health. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-science/seaweed-polysaccharides
• Calms gastro intestinal inflammation. Kelp is alkaline, maintains pH balance in the gut.
• Promotes/supports thyroid health when Iodine levels are low * https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/benefits-of-kelp#5
• Kelp contains fucoidan which has anticoagulant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. https://www.nap.edu/read/1222/chapter/17#372
• Supports weight loss with naturally occurring Fucoxanthin, boosting metabolism with low caloric content. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100321203508.htm
• Species of kelp contains antioxidants, vitamin C, Fucoidan which has been shown to cause apoptosis in cancer cells. For centuries fucoidan enriched (kelp brown seaweed) has been well renown for theraputic and medicinal properties to address all sorts of ailments  and conditions such as nausea, congestion, inflammation, digestive issues, abscesses and tumours through to cancers. Without doubt fucoidan extracts are on the path of being known as a superfood gift from the sea. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4178489/
• Beneficial to bone density. Contains immense mineral content manganese, calcium, zinc for good bone health. https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/11-benefits-kelp/
• Natural detoxifyer, enhances the body’s ability to break down unwanted chemicals and heavy metals to remove them from the body more easily. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3654245/
• Immunity booster,with folic acid and iodine – nutrients are known to promote good immunity. https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/11-benefits-kelp/
• Good for your skin’s elasticity with vitamin A, C . Good for inside and out… Kelp is excellent in the bath for a magnesium and alginate skin soak. (Just be careful, it can get a little slippery!)
• Supportive of women’s health, being rich in nutrients like potassium, iron, calcium, folic acid.
• Supportive of good bowel health, the alginates really work! https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/11-benefits-kelp/
• Energy booster. Due to high vitamin B content and many other natural vitamins and nutrients, kelp can assist with boosting energy levels.
• Studies show kelp can support diabetes and autoimmune disease issues. * https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3317716/