Nutritional content in Seaweed that you should know?

In your daily meals, you must have used seaweed for your meals at least a few times, right? But the truth about the value of seaweed inside will be very few of you care and understand about it. Here, let’s learn about the nutritional content of seaweed with Van Thinh Phu:

1. What is seaweed?

Seaweed belongs to a type of seaweed, it usually grows in sea waters, corals and rivers. Seaweeds are generally edible, while in freshwater they tend to be toxic. Seaweed plays a very important role in organisms and is the main source of food for many types of organisms in the ocean.

2. Nutrient content in seaweed

Seaweed is rich in minerals and trace elements. It usually contains higher levels of nutrients than other common foods. The nutritional content of seaweed can vary based on where it grows. So different types will contain different amounts of nutrients

Carbs: 10 grams
Protein: 2 grams
Fat: 1 gram
Optical fiber: 35% RDI
Magnesium: 180% of the RDI
Vitamin K: 80% of the RDI
Manganese: 70% RDI
Iodine: 65% of the RDI
Sodium: 70% of the RDI
Calcium: 60% of the RDI
Folate: 50% of the RDI
Potassium: 45% of the RDI
Iron: 20% RDI

Small amounts of other nutrients: omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins A, C, E, phosphorus, B vitamins and choline. Seaweed is a rich source of antioxidants. It also contains high amounts of sulfated polysaccharides (sPS), which are beneficial plant compounds believed to contribute to health benefits.

3. Seaweed May Promote Thyroid Function

Normally, in seaweeds, there is a certain amount of iodine. In the daily meal, if the amount of iodine is not enough, the body will have hypothyroidism. Most people can meet this requirement by eating seaweed several times a week. Some like kelp, kombu and dulse tend to contain very high amounts of iodine and should not be eaten often, or in high amounts.

4. Seaweed improves heart health

Seaweed contains a number of beneficial nutrients that help keep the heart healthy. It also contains soluble fiber and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, both of which may benefit heart health. They can also help lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels and total cholesterol. A two-month study in type 2 diabetics supplemented with spirulina or a placebo every day. In another study, a daily spirulina supplement reduced participants’ total cholesterol by 166% more than a placebo group over a two-month study period.

5. Helps stabilize blood sugar

Adding seaweed to the diet may reduce the risk of diabetes. Researchers believe that certain compounds found in seaweed may play an important role in stabilizing blood sugar levels and preventing type 2 diabetes. One of these is fucoxanthin, a substance. Antioxidants give brown algae its characteristic color. This compound is thought to help reduce insulin resistance and stabilize blood sugar levels. In addition, the type of fiber found in seaweed can slow down the rate at which carbs are absorbed from a meal. This can make it easier for your body to stabilize blood sugar.

6. Seaweed can help you lose weight

Weight loss surgery
Eating seaweed regularly can help lose weight
Eating seaweed regularly can help you lose weight. Researchers believe this may be because seaweed affects levels of the hormone leptin that helps regulate your weight. Combined with its high fiber content, it reduces hunger and increases satiety. In addition, fucoidan, found in seaweed, can enhance fat breakdown and prevent fat formation.

Furthermore, seaweed is low in calories, but rich in glutamate, an amino acid believed to give its delicious umami flavor, so it’s used as a low-calorie, alternative snack.

7. Seaweed can boost the immune system

Seaweed may also help protect you from certain types of infections. Because seaweed contains marine plant compounds that are believed to have antioxidant, anti-allergic and disease-protective properties. Research shows that these compounds may have the ability to fight viruses by blocking their entry into cells.

8. Seaweed can improve gut health

Seaweed can help improve gut health in a variety of ways. It is rich in fiber, which can help prevent constipation and ensure smooth digestion. It also contains agar, carrageenan and fucoidans, which are thought to act as prebiotics. Prebiotics are a type of non-digestible fiber that feeds beneficial bacteria in the gut. The more good bacteria there is in the gut, the less space there is for bad bacteria to grow.

Researchers also believe that the prebiotics found in seaweed have certain anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. This may be in part because, when you eat a prebiotic, the bacteria in your gut produce butyrate. In addition, some prebiotics may be able to block harmful bacteria as H. pylori adheres to the intestinal wall.

9. Seaweed May Reduce Cancer Risk

The presence of seaweed in your diet may help reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Researchers believe that seaweed may help lower estrogen levels, potentially reducing a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. The soluble fiber found in seaweed may also help protect against the development of colon cancer. What’s more, some research suggests that a compound found in brown varieties like kelp, wakame, and kombu, may help prevent the spread of cancer cells.

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