A health-conscious person walks into their local health food store. What will it take for them to skip over their go-to pill, powder, or extract and buy a new health supplement from your business? In our experience, it’ll take nothing short of a health supplement that improves their wellbeing with fewer ingredients – and doesn’t empty out their wallet. Sound too good to be true? Not if you’re using all-natural seaweed.
Though many coastal cultures have known the dietary benefits of nutrient-rich seaweed for generations, the world at large is still catching up. Here are some of the health benefits of seaweed – and the science to back it up.
Improved Thyroid Health
Though most consumers don’t know what their thyroid does, they depend on it for hormones that regulate everything from metabolic rate and digestive system to bone and brain development. For the thyroid to function, the human body needs a reliable source of iodine. Many seaweed species provide an abundant supply of the chemical element for any diet. Laminaria digitata is a rich reservoir of iodine, containing 2,984 micrograms of the essential mineral per gram of seaweed. For those people with compromised thyroid function, a doctor should be consulted before consuming a seaweed supplement for iodine.
Proper Cell Rejuvenation
Our cells and tissue are constantly undergoing damage. The air we breathe, the foods we eat, and even the day-to-day functioning of our bodies creates free radicals that weaken our cells over time. Antioxidants help to prevent the ravages of free radicals and regenerate cells, resulting in healthy brains, hearts, skin, and bodies. Many seaweeds are rich in antioxidant properties, providing people with a ready source of this healthy substance with only a small quantity of the seaweed in each supplement. Two of our primary seaweeds, Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus, have been found to contribute ample amounts of antioxidants to satisfy dietary needs.
Greater Appetite Control
Modern, hyper-processed foods have thrown a wrench in human metabolism. Some early exploratory studies are suggesting that ultra-processed foods trigger neural signals that encourage people to consume more calories before satiation activates. Though more scientific research needs to be conducted to prove this hypothesis, there’s no doubt that the obesity epidemic has exploded with the prevalence of these types of foods. One way to reintroduce portion control is for people to eat seaweed or kelp dietary supplements prior to meals. Fucoxanthin, a natural substance found in seaweed such as Ascophyllum nodosum, has been shown to suppress appetite within mammals and limit caloric intake.
Want to leverage the full health benefits of seaweed in your nutraceutical products? Reach out to Acadian SeaPlus® by phone, email or at SupplySide West 2019 to discuss the right seaweed blend for your products.
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