A simple product is often overlooked as a source of health benefits, but seaweed is highly nutritious.
It provided fiber, omega-3 fats and key amino acids, as well as vitamins A, B, C and E, which are not commonly found in terrestrial vegetables.
Another key advantage of seaweed is its natural iodine content. This mineral plays a vital role in the production of thyroid hormones, which are essential 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.
According to Dr. Naomi Newman-Beinart, algae can help skin cells regenerate, resulting in a revitalized appearance (file photo)
Consequently, the World Health Organization now ranks the UK as seventh in the top ten most iodine-deficient countries in the world.
FEMAIL spoke to registered nutritionist and psychologist Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart, who revealed her top five benefits of incorporating seaweed into your diet, including increased brain capacity and increased libido.
1. Increase your libido
‘When people think about increasing libido, a plate of seaweed is probably not on anyone’s mind! However, studies have shown that seaweed can improve sexual function, increase energy and enhance sexual desire,” explained Dr. Newman-Beinart.
‘Seaweed is packed with iodine and having adequate levels of iodine could make all the difference in putting you in a good mood.
«This is because iodine is crucial 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. Prevent 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, possibly leading to dry, flaky skin.
“When people are iodine deficient, they often find that their skin is dry and flaky, and it is thought that this may be due to low levels of thyroid hormone,” said Dr. Naomi Newman-Beinart.
Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart told FEMAIL that a key advantage of seaweed is its natural iodine content (file photo)
3. Promote healthy hair growth
According to Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart: ‘Thyroid hormones help control the growth of hair follicles, so when thyroid hormone levels are low, hair follicles may stop regenerating.
“That’s why people with iodine deficiency can also suffer hair loss,” the expert added.
4. Increase brain power
‘Did you know that iodine deficiency can affect your IQ? “Scientists compiled more than 20 studies looking at the relationship between iodine level and IQ, and all of the studies found that iodine deficiency was associated with lower IQ,” said Dr. Naomi Newman-Beinart.
“Research has also found that people with lower levels of thyroid hormone demonstrated worse performance on memory tasks than those with higher levels.”
5. Support your child’s intelligence
‘Not many people know that iodine deficiency is the most common cause of preventable mental disability in the world.
“Scientists found that low iodine levels during pregnancy were linked to a 60 percent higher risk of their child having low verbal intelligence and poor reading skills during their early years,” explained Dr. Naomi Newman. Beinart.
“For this same reason, the World Health Organization recommends higher levels of iodine during pregnancy to support the development of the child’s brain.”