Mitch Calvert
Since the introduction of iodized salt to many of the foods we eat, kelp has become a forgotten entity.
But it still can be an effective weight-loss supplementary tool when used properly.
Kelp is an affordable supplement that’s been shown to alleviate arthritis pain, increase energy levels, improve liver function, and boost immunities.
Just as important, it also can control appetite and increase thyroid function, which can lead directly to weight loss.
“Kelp has a good supply of iodine in it, and that’s what promotes thyroid function and works as a nutrient to the thyroid,” said Harry Maxton, owner of Northern Nutrition on First Street East.
“You can overdose on milk, too, so you can overdose on anything really,” he noted. “You just have to be balanced about it.”
“Follow the directions and in time you’ll get the benefits.”
A report from Great Britain indicated intakes above 2,000 mcg of iodine per day should be regarded as excessive and potentially harmful. It would take excessive amounts daily to create arsenic poisoning problems, but more is not necessarily better with kelp.
Consuming one-two tablets a day is more than enough to reap the benefits, and taking as much as 1,200 mcg of iodine a day is fine. Just read the label to know how much mcg of iodine is contained in each capsule and consume accordingly.
Additional studies by a research team at the University of Delaware found without iodine, thyroid hormone deficiency can reduce your metabolic rate by as much as 50 percent.
When metabolic rate slows down considerably, you are far more vulnerable to obesity, which is a leading cause of a myriad of diseases in society today.
That same study also suggested iodine may play an important role in fending off human health threats presented by free radicals, which could help prevent thyroid disease and different forms of cancer from developing.
If you feel you have low thyroid function, the first step is to check with your doctor.
But kelp definitely can be a useful tool to help aid in your weight loss journey—in combination with a sound diet and exercise program.
