Seaweed. Useful properties and possible harm. Medicinal properties for the body. Seaweed is indispensable for the body Therapeutic collection with chopped seaweed

Seaweed or kelp is very nutritious and healthy, has many healing properties, since ancient times it has been used as food and as a remedy by the inhabitants of many nations in places of natural growth of kelp.

Seaweed contains almost all the chemical elements of sea water in the form of mineral salts and organic compounds that are easily absorbed by the body.

Laminaria Laminaria is a genus of brown seaweed. In the seas of the temperate and arctic zones of the Northern Hemisphere, especially in the Pacific Ocean, about 30 species of kelp are common. Two species grow off the coast of Brazil and only one off the southern coast of Africa.

Laminaria seaweed description

Sea kale or sugar kelp is a large brown algae from the Laminariaceae family, from 5 to 15 meters long. The thallus consists of a ribbon-like plate 20-50 cm wide, turning into a stem-like formation - a trunk with root-like processes - rhizoids, with which kelp is attached to the ground. Thallus algae greenish-brown, slimy.

Like all algae, kelp reproduces by spores. Laminaria are macroscopic multicellular organisms; sporangia - organs where spores are formed are located on one or two surfaces of the plates. The edges of the plate are wavy, in autumn the plates are shed, on the remaining stem a new plate develops the next year.

Seaweed kelp sugar forms in the coastal zone of the seas of the Pacific and Arctic oceans at a depth of 2 - 20 meters extensive thickets - "underwater meadows", the biomass of which is 5 - 10 kg / sq. m and more.

For medical purposes, also under the name of seaweed, they extract and use the thallus of Japanese kelp from the Far Eastern seas and palmately dissected kelp growing in the North Seas, they are also of great commercial importance, Japanese kelp is grown on marine plantations.

More than 500 years ago, the inhabitants of Japan were ordered to consume seaweed in order to maintain their health. In Japan, there are many ways to eat it in the preparation of the first, second and third courses of Japanese cuisine, it is also preserved.

Seaweed is dried on the shore, then cut into ribbons and stacked in packs. Fresh and dried seaweed is consumed with meat, rice, fish. Marshmallows, sweets are made from it, and used in a candied form. The main part of algae is processed into flour, which is used for cooking, kelp is well absorbed by the body.

Japanese kelp is considered a valuable commercial species, it grows in the southern regions of the Sea of ​​Japan and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, in places with constant circulation of water from the surface to a depth of 25-30 meters, it is mined from a depth of 4-10 meters. The largest biological mass of Japanese kelp is obtained near some islands of the Lesser Kuril Ridge - up to 140 kg / sq. m.

Japanese kelp has the best taste. The thallus plate is thicker and less rigid than in other species. The thalli of the second year acquire the greatest nutritional value, especially the middle thickened part of the thallus; thalli of the first year are generally considered non-commercial, although they reach large sizes.

All algae of the genus Laminaria are edible, there are no harmful forms among them, there are only coarse and tasteless ones that are not eaten. Unsuitable for food thalli and their parts are processed by the chemical industry to obtain alginates.

What is useful seaweed?

Seaweed composition. Seaweed thallus contains polysaccharides - laminarin, mannitol, fructose, fiber, alginic acid; organic acids - glutamic, malic, oxalic and others. Seaweed contains a large amount of iodine, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, bromine, cobalt, manganese, phosphorus and sulfur compounds, vitamins A, B1, B2, B12, A, C, D, E, folic acid.

For medical purposes, the best seaweed thalli are selected, sorted and dried. Dried kelp is ground into grains with a diameter of up to 2 mm or crushed into powder, packed in boxes, which are then used for various purposes - they are sold in this form or used in the confectionery industry. Fresh sea kale is preserved, while its healing properties are fully preserved.

The high content of iodine in seaweed makes it possible to widely use laminaria thallus in medicine for the treatment of goiter - a disease of the thyroid gland, for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis, for gastrointestinal diseases - as a mild laxative for chronic constipation, especially in old age. Seaweed is used to improve metabolism in obesity, with thrombophlebitis.

Sea kale useful properties and contraindications

Laminaria seaweed improves metabolic processes and digestion, strengthens the immune system, normalizes the function of the thyroid gland, nervous and cardiovascular systems, replenishes the body with vitamins and minerals. Laminaria and preparations from it remove cholesterol, remove toxins, radionuclides due to the content of alginic acid, which is part of the cell walls of algae.

For the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis, in the treatment of goiter:

Apply 1 teaspoon of chopped dried seaweed 2-3 times a day with meals or with water, you can with tea.

At the same time, cholesterol secretion increases and its level in the blood decreases.

For the prevention of endemic goiter, it is enough to take 1/2 teaspoon of seaweed powder 2 times a week.

In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - with chronic constipation:

seaweed has a good effect as a mild laxative. The crushed particles of kelp swell strongly, which leads to irritation of the receptors - nerve endings in the intestinal mucosa, and increased peristalsis.

In pharmacies, laminaria seaweed is sold in the form of dried crushed thalli, in the form of powder in packs, cardboard boxes, in the form of granules, the drug Laminarid. Laminaria extract is part of some cosmetics.

Laminaria thallus whole or in powder are used in cosmetology for wrapping procedures for weight loss.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Sea kale is contraindicated in the presence of diseases in which preparations containing iodine cannot be used, these are:

• individual intolerance
• pulmonary tuberculosis
• furunculosis, acne
• nephritis and nephrosis
• hemorrhagic diathesis
• hives

as well as with such diseases:

• peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum
• gastritis, enteritis, colitis
• diseases of the liver and biliary tract.

Seaweed during pregnancy is also contraindicated.

I suggest watching an interesting video:

Seaweed - a storehouse of useful vitamins

Coastal stocks of seaweed in natural conditions suffer from storms and cold winters, so much attention is paid to the artificial increase in the area of ​​cultivation of valuable types of seaweed, the spread of mature thalli with algae spores, and the renewal of kelp stocks.

In a small article Sea kale benefit and harm medicinal properties we examined the medicinal properties of laminaria sea kale, its use in nutrition as a useful product containing many chemical elements and vitamins necessary for the body.

Be always healthy and beautiful!

sea ​​kale useful, edible seaweed. It belongs to the class of brown seaweeds, which are distinguished by a rich set of useful microelements and nutrients. Algae is filtered out of sea water, and then processed into a form acceptable to the human body.

What is in seaweed?

• a complete set of macro- and microelements such as phosphorus, sodium, iron, magnesium, iodine.
• all vitamins from group B, as well as in large quantities E, A, C and D. Moreover, there are several times more vitamins and trace elements in seaweed than in ordinary.
• natural enterosorbents called "Alginates". They are designed to rid the body of toxins, ions, radionuclides and pathogenic bacteria.
• sterols, which prevent the accumulation of excess cholesterol and thin the blood, thereby reducing blood clots.
• an organically bound form of iodine that maintains the balance of this element in the body.
• dietary fiber, they are also pectins, which help to improve the functioning of the digestive system and the gastrointestinal tract.
• fatty acids that prevent atherosclerosis in old age.
• proteins and the most useful amino acids for the body.
• high-molecular type polysaccharides that normalize metabolism, monitor cholesterol levels, balance water and salt, and prevent blood clots from forming.

Seaweed is used in the treatment of the following diseases:

• thyroid disease
• cancer prevention
• helps cleanse the body
• avitaminosis
• anemia
• obesity
• constipation
• improves metabolism
• immunostimulating effect
• anti-sclerotic action
• lowers bad cholesterol
• reduces thrombus formation
• improves memory
• helps fight stress, fatigue, depression
• increases libido

Laminaria is one of the most iodine-rich foods that helps to remove harmful substances from the body, including lead and heavy metals. Iodine also has a good effect on the state of the thyroid gland, in particular, it treats endemic goiter, hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease. Such patients living in the Far East are advised to eat bread baked with the addition of kelp. If you have a bread maker, then you can also produce such bread with a healing effect yourself if you add 0.4 mg of dry seaweed powder per 1 kg of bread.
Laminaria can be used to treat chronic anatomical constipation by making an infusion on dry powder or chopped seaweed. Due to its safe and gentle effect on the intestines, seaweed is able to painlessly remove stagnant formations from it and, in general, has a beneficial effect on the entire digestion process.

An infusion of dry kelp can be used for prolonged stress. Due to the composition rich in bromine and B vitamins, sea kale calms and normalizes the nervous system. Laminaria has a positive effect on the central nervous system, makes the body's performance higher, makes a person stronger mentally and physically.

Useful properties of seaweed used for prevention and additional treatment for arteriosclerosis. If you include seaweed in your daily menu, then excess cholesterol will no longer be deposited on the walls of blood vessels and will be excreted from the body. In addition, kelp contains in its composition such a useful substance as laminin, which has the ability to normalize blood pressure. No wonder seaweed was recognized as one of the most useful products for prolonging youth and longevity.

It has been proven that kelp is a powerful aphrodisiac, it is able to treat ailments that are associated with hormones. It also helps to keep in good shape and act as a prophylactic against female diseases - inflammation of the appendages, diseases of the uterus and trichomonas colpitis.

Sea kale is used as an effective means of getting rid of a sore throat, and as a good remedy for strengthening immunity, which, as you know, stands to protect our body from colds and infections.

Seaweed has been widely used among the inhabitants of the Far East in the treatment of gout, inflamed joints and other rheumatic diseases: for this, pour 2 tablespoons of dry kelp in a thermos with 1 liter of hot water and let it brew for 10 hours. Pour the infusion into a bowl and hold the sore spot for 15-20 minutes (infusion temperature 37-38 degrees). Then wipe dry and wrap in something warm. Such baths are recommended to be done every other day until the pain in the joints disappears completely.

The low incidence of breast cancer in Japanese women, scientists explain, the constant presence of kelp in their diet.

Who Shouldn't Eat Seaweed?

Laminaria is not indicated for those who are allergic to iodine. It is not recommended to eat and take it in powder form for pregnant women suffering from urticaria, rhinitis, acne, furunculosis. Among the people who should not eat seaweed are those suffering from nephritis, tuberculosis, diseases of the stomach and intestines in the acute stage, hemorrhoids, nephrosis and any other kidney diseases.

How to use seaweed

For preventive and therapeutic purposes, it is enough to eat 2 teaspoons of dry seaweed per day. You can drink infusions from it, add it as a healthy seasoning (instead of salt) to soups, sauces, salads, vegetable purees, after grinding it into flour.

If seaweed appears too often in the diet, then in the end this can lead to the development of furunculosis. Therefore, everything, as they say, should be in moderation.
What cabbage is better not to eat?
If the algae was extracted from the waters of the Barents Sea, then it is better not to buy it, as it is known about severe water pollution in this region. Therefore, be interested in the manufacturer of the finished product.

It is not recommended to take pickled and canned sea kale - it contains additives that are harmful to health, this raises doubts about its beneficial properties. Therefore, buy dried kelp, which is always sold in pharmacies. It comes in the form of plates, briquettes, crushed, and also in the form of a powder. During its manufacture, only moisture was extracted, and all valuable vitamins and microelements were completely preserved.

How does seaweed help you lose weight?

Valuable algae is a very low-calorie, dietary product, 100 g of it contains only 5.4 kcal. It promotes weight loss by filling the stomach and causing a feeling of satiety. In addition, it absorbs fluids and fills the intestines, breaks down fat cells. All this makes it possible to successfully use it to reduce excess weight and in the fight against cellulite.

Seaweed, or, as it is also called, sea ginseng, kelp is a valuable source of useful trace elements and vitamins necessary for the human body for growth and successful development.

In fact, seaweed is algae that have adapted to any adverse environmental conditions: they freely tolerate severe frosts, being at very low temperatures close to absolute zero (down to minus 238⁰C) for a long time.

Seaweed does not lose its vitality in the springs of geysers, where the temperature sometimes reaches +90-95⁰C).

The use of seaweed

Currently, sea kale is used in agriculture (poultry farming, crop production, animal husbandry), textile and perfume industries, and, of course, in.

Useful algae are common national dishes in many countries of the seaside East: our Far East, Japan, China, the islands of Polynesia.₂

In recent years, the population of many regions of Russia has fallen in love with seaweed.

The benefits of seaweed

Studies by scientists from many countries have proven that seaweed used for medicinal purposes is a rich chemical laboratory containing a variety of useful substances that are very important for the life of living organisms.

The plant contains various vitamins from the B group (i.e. B₁, B₂, B₆, B₁₂), C, D, K, F, PP and folic acid.

Since vitamin B₁ tones tissue cells and regulates carbohydrate metabolism, it is very important to use it in diseases of the digestive system, neurological, endocrine diseases, etc.

Seaweed in nature occupies one of the top places in terms of the amount of vitamin C, second only to green onions, citrus fruits and. The presence of this vitamin in human food helps him fight many infectious diseases.

Vitamin D ensures normal bone growth, prevention of rickets in children. Folic acid and vitamin PP improve blood circulation, work, restore.

Among other things, seaweed contains a huge amount of useful trace elements, such as cobalt, potassium, sodium, molybdenum, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, etc.

These and other substances are necessary for the body to ensure the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system in patients and, with diseases of the musculoskeletal system (,,).

Moreover, in diseases of the hematopoietic system (anemia, anemia), the endocrine system (,), etc.

Seaweed in terms of the content of useful trace elements occupies the leading first place among all plants in nature. For example, it contains 4-5 times more boron than beets and potatoes.

Being a marine product, kelp has a huge supply of iodine. In one kilogram of seaweed, as much iodine was found as it is dissolved in one hundred liters of sea water!

That is why preparations, which include seaweed, are used both for the treatment and prevention of thyroid diseases. In pharmacies, you can always buy dried kelp.

In addition, it is used to produce medicines such as alginates and enterosorbents. The food industry introduced the consumer to seaweed in conventional canned food.

Healthy Seaweed Recipes

Seaweed salad with celery

Ingredients: 2 celery roots, 2 tablespoons of canned seaweed (or seaweed salad), 150 g apples (two medium fruits), 2 boiled chicken eggs (preferably 4 quail), hard-boiled.

Refueling: 30 ml of any vegetable oil, 20 ml of lemon juice, 2-3 g of table salt, 1 tsp. .

Cooking: rinse all vegetables thoroughly, dry, peel and grate on a coarse grater, chop boiled eggs, mix in a bowl, season with a mixture of lemon juice and vegetable oil; add honey and salt to taste. You can season with parsley.

Seaweed salad with beetroot

Ingredients: 100-120 g of canned sea cabbage, 80-100 g of fresh beet tops, 15-20 g of green onions, a bunch of parsley; 30 ml vegetable oil, 15 cilantro and 20 ml lemon juice.

Cooking: wash the tops of young beets, cut them into strips, scald with boiling water in a colander, let all the water drain; chop greens and onions, mix all the ingredients together with seaweed, season with a mixture of vegetable oil and lemon juice.

Appetizer of seaweed and fresh cucumbers

Ingredients: 200 g of canned sea cabbage, 3-4 medium-sized fresh cucumbers, salt to taste, 15 g of celery, onion and parsley; a tablespoon of natural honey, 2 cloves, 20 ml of lemon juice, 2 tbsp. l. vegetable oil.

Cooking: rinse the cucumbers, cut them into cubes, mix with seaweed; sprinkle with chopped herbs, season with lemon juice and vegetable oil. Add salt and honey to taste, chopped garlic.

"Attention! You can use dry kelp powder for prophylactic purposes (if there are no contraindications), adding it to various dishes twice a day for ⅓ teaspoon.

Traditional medicine recipes with seaweed

For patients with elevated thyroid function

Drink warm 100-150 ml three times a day half an hour before a meal. The course of treatment is from 6 to 8 weeks, after a thirty-day break, repeat the treatment. Annually, 3-4 such courses should be carried out for therapeutic purposes, and for preventive purposes - two courses a year for two months (in October-November) and in spring (in March-April).

For patients with cardiovascular insufficiency

Compound: 10 g of dry powder of kelp, cudweed marsh herb, motherwort and lemon balm; 20 g of wild strawberries; 15 g of fruits of chokeberry and blood-red hawthorn.

Cooking: boil on low heat a tablespoon of the mixture in 300 ml of boiling water, leave for 45-60 minutes, filter. Take 3 or 4 times a day in a warm form, 50-70 ml of decoction after meals after 30-40 minutes. The course is 4-6 weeks, 2-3 treatment courses are carried out per year.

Be healthy, God bless you!

About the benefits of the "grass of life" for the body and appearance.

China, XIII century. The emperor, in order to take care of his people, issues a decree ordering all the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire to eat at least half a pound of “grass of life” daily, as seaweed was called in China.

In order to provide his subjects with a sufficient amount of algae, the emperor ordered that kelp be delivered to cities and villages at public expense.

Since then, seaweed has occupied one of the most honorable places on the tables of the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire. Some scientists believe that this is the secret of Chinese longevity, because kelp is a real elixir of youth.

Vitamins from the Deep

As British scientists have found, seaweed reduces fat intake by more than three-quarters, which can help with obesity. A group of researchers from Newcastle University, led by Dr. Ian Brownlee and Professor Geoff Pearson, conducted a scientific study, the purpose of which was to find new dietary supplements that can limit fat intake. To do this, scientists have developed a model of artificial intestine, which tested the absorption of fat using 60 different dietary fibers. As a result, it was found that seaweed, known to all, reduces the amount of fat that is absorbed by our body by three-quarters.

Almost all vitamins and microelements can be found in seaweed. Seaweed leaves contain a lot of ascorbic acid (strengthens the immune system and slows down the aging process), vitamin A (necessary for good vision), B vitamins (saves from depression, insomnia and the effects of stress), vitamin D (needed for strong bones) and vitamin E (reduces the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases).

But still, the main wealth of kelp is iodine. Without this trace element, proper metabolism is impossible. Products containing iodine must be present in the menu of residents of megacities, because this element is able to remove heavy metal salts and other substances from the body that pollute the air of large cities. Do not forget about kelp and those whose work is related to mental work - iodine is necessary for concentration and good memory.

Laminaria, used along with seasonings, tastes like the most complete substitute for salt. Grind dried seaweed in a coffee grinder. In the same place, grind the seeds of bell pepper and mix both powders. Season dishes with this mixture instead of salt - it will be unusually tasty. Instead of bell pepper seeds, you can use hot pepper seeds, you get a great spicy seasoning, which is also good to sprinkle food. Dry herbs crushed in a coffee grinder can also be added to the kelp powder - parsley, celery, ginger, cloves. Store these spices well in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.

The abundance of vitamins and trace elements is by no means the only advantage of kelp. You should love seaweed if:

You want to lose weight. There are only 5 kcal in 100 g of seaweed. But it's not even about the low calorie content. It turns out that seaweed is able to swell in the stomach, thereby creating a feeling of satiety. In addition, biologically active substances, which are rich in algae, speed up metabolism and prevent weight gain.

You have high levels of bad cholesterol in your blood. Laminaria contains a substance called betasitosterol, in the presence of which the plaques that have settled on the walls of blood vessels literally disintegrate.

You are prone to colds. Seaweed contains alginate substances that boost the body's immune response to invading viruses.

To improve metabolism and with chronic constipation, you need to drink half a glass of water at night as a mild laxative, with which two grams of dry seaweed powder were poured for an hour.

Laminaria improves the functioning of the central nervous system, increases physical and mental activity. It is recommended to regularly take kelp powder to overcome stressful conditions, which occurs due to the high content of bromine compounds in algae.

Cardiovascular activity, blood pressure levels are normalized, cholesterol levels in the blood are lowered, vascular tone is lowered, and the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin is increased.

Including seaweed in your diet is the best way to prevent atherosclerosis, and one of the best ways to boost immunity.

Contraindications and harm of seaweed

However, despite all the usefulness of sea kale, eating it in kilograms is still not worth it - an abundance of fiber can cause digestive problems. And if you have kidney disease or hypersensitivity to iodine, it is better to refuse salads with seaweed.

There are many contraindications to the use of seaweed. These are, first of all, painful conditions in which excessive use of iodine is harmful: iodine intolerance, pregnancy, allergic reactions, any kidney disease, nephrosis, nephritis, hemorrhoids, tuberculosis, acute forms of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Laminaria is also contraindicated for acne, urticaria, furunculosis, chronic rhinitis.

And one more thing you need to pay attention to: although kelp is mentioned among the sources of easily digestible calcium, which prevents osteoporosis, you can’t take it for a long time, without interruptions - this can lead to the same osteoporosis, bone fragility.

In addition to all contraindications, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer of seaweed. For example, the Barents Sea is known to be contaminated with radioactive burials.

All the beneficial properties of seaweed can only be attributed to fresh or dried cabbage.

Canned, pickled, sea kale, widely offered by trade and catering enterprises in the form of various salads, is simply food that has lost most of its original beneficial properties. Such seaweed is initially dried, transported, and re-soaked on the spot with the addition of spices, vinegar and monosodium glutamate (where without it). And this, already far from being such a useful product, is offered to the consumer.

When buying dried seaweed, you can cook a boiled semi-finished product yourself, which is later used to prepare various dishes. Vitamins and microelements in dry cabbage are completely preserved, it loses only moisture.

Dry kelp powder is very useful, which should be taken half a teaspoon with a glass of water. This will be an excellent prevention of all those diseases in which kelp helps.

If you cannot stand the taste of seaweed (believe me, this is temporary), then you can add one teaspoon of dry kelp to ready-made dishes - in this way, the taste will be practically not noticeable, and the food will be enriched with iodine and phosphorus.

Dry or wet?

Laminaria is sold dried or canned. Both dry and canned algae retain the entire set of vitamins, therefore, what to prefer is a matter of taste. If you opted for dried seaweed, you will have to tinker a little before eating seaweed. First, rinse dry raw materials in cold water and soak for 10–12 hours to swell (5–6 parts of water are taken for 1 part of kelp), then bring the contents of the saucepan to a boil and do not remove from the stove for another 15–20 minutes. Boil the cabbage twice more, changing the broth. This three-fold approach greatly improves the taste of kelp.
About the benefits of the "grass of life" for the body and appearance.

If there is no time to stand at the stove, feel free to take canned cabbage. Just make sure that the jar is not mint. Having reacted with damaged packaging, kelp loses its useful qualities.

How to choose?

Pay attention to the composition indicated on the label. Seaweed does not need artificial preservatives.

At home, open the jar and carefully examine its contents. If there is a continuous mess, sea kale is so soft that it falls apart from any touch, the product is spoiled. High-quality algae and in canned form should be elastic, but not hard. The brine is supposed to be transparent, with a pleasant smell of marinade.

With the help of seaweed, you can improve both appearance and well-being:

For the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, you need to gargle with infusion every two hours: one teaspoon of dried kelp, poured for 10 hours with a glass of boiling water.

Compresses from "algal mud" help those suffering from osteochondrosis. In a bucket of water heated to 50 degrees, you need to lower 5-6 packs of dry seaweed. Insist for half an hour and strain through cheesecloth. Having attached a gauze napkin to the sore spot, apply the resulting “dirt” on it with a layer of 2 cm. Cover it with oilcloth or polyethylene on top, put a layer of cotton wool and bandage it. The compress can be left for one and a half to two hours.
Seaweed masks soften the skin of the face, tone it up, reduce wrinkles, and cleanse the skin. Soak dry kelp, after it swells, grind into a pulp and apply on the face for 10-15 minutes