A nutrition and psychology expert has revealed an unlikely ingredient that can improve your mental and physical health once added to your diet.
Seaweed (marine plants and algae that grow in the ocean) are highly nutritious, providing fiber, omega-3 fats and key amino acids, as well as vitamins A, B, C and E, which are not commonly found in land vegetables.
Another key benefit of seaweed is its natural iodine content. This mineral plays a vital role in the production of thyroid hormones, which are critical for bodily processes such as metabolism.
Meanwhile, low thyroid hormone levels can lead to problems such as lack of energy, constipation and weight gain.
While several countries, including the United States and Canada, address iodine deficiency by adding the mineral to table salt, the United Kingdom does not follow this practice.
As a result, the World Health Organization now ranks the UK as seventh among the ten most iodine-deficient countries in the world.
Speaking to FEMAIL, UK-based nutritionist and chartered psychologist Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart discussed the key benefits of incorporating seaweed into your diet…
According to Dr. Naomi Newman-Beinart, seaweed can help skin cells regenerate, resulting in a revitalized appearance.
1. Increase your libido
Dr Newman-Beinart said: ‘When people think of boosting libido, a plate of seaweed is probably the furthest thing from anyone’s mind!
‘However, studies have shown that algae can improve sexual function, increase energy and enhance sexual desire.
‘Seaweed is packed with iodine and having adequate iodine levels could make all the difference when it comes to being in a good mood.
“This is because iodine is essential for the production of thyroid hormones. Iodine deficiency is one of the main causes of low thyroid hormone levels, which often leads to problems such as lack of energy and low libido.”
2. Prevents dry and flaky skin
‘Thyroid hormones, which contain iodine, help skin cells regenerate. When thyroid hormone levels are low, this regeneration does not occur as frequently, which can cause the skin to become dry and flaky.
“When people are iodine deficient, they often find their skin is dry and flaky, and it is thought this may be due to low levels of thyroid hormone,” said Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart.
Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart told FEMAIL that a key benefit of seaweed is its natural iodine content.
3. Promotes healthy hair growth.
According to the nutritionist and psychologist: ‘Thyroid hormones help control the growth of hair follicles, so when your thyroid hormone levels are low, your hair follicles may stop regenerating.
‘That’s why people with iodine deficiency can also suffer from hair loss.’
4. Increases brain power
Dr. Newman-Beinart explained that an iodine deficiency can ultimately affect IQ, according to certain studies.
She said: “Scientists collected more than 20 studies that looked at the relationship between iodine status and IQ, and all of the studies found that iodine deficiency was associated with lower IQ.”
‘Research has also found that people with lower levels of thyroid hormone performed worse on memory tasks than those with higher levels.’
5. Support your child’s intelligence
“Not many people realize that iodine deficiency is the most common cause of preventable mental decline in the world,” said Dr. Newman-Beinart.
‘Scientists found that low iodine levels during pregnancy were linked to a 60 percent increased risk of the child having low verbal intelligence and poor reading skills in early years.
‘For this very reason, the World Health Organization recommends higher levels of iodine during pregnancy to promote brain development in children.’