Seaweed Benefits
Seaweed, or kelp, is useful in a number of ways. Ingesting it offers great health benefits, and beauty products made from seaweed are less damaging to skin than traditional chemicals. Seaweed is an excellent source of minerals, making it a healthy addition to a balanced diet.
Types
There are several kinds of seaweed used in various ways to promote health. Kelp is used to promote healthy skin and can also be eaten, providing a source of minerals and salt. Crushed algae is often used in facial masks and creams.
Carrageenan is an Irish seaweed that is frequently used as a thickening agent in cosmetic creams. Bladder wrack, or Fucus vesiculosus, is found in many cellulite-reducing creams.
Effects
Ingesting seaweed provides numerous vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, C, niacin, iodine, iron, zinc calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and trace amounts of B12.
Seaweed helps with the health of skin and hair in particular as a result of its high amounts of vitamins and minerals, but it also acts as a cleanser for the body as well as assisting in the regulation of hormones.
Benefits
In addition to providing vitamins and minerals, seaweed also improves the circulation of blood and lymph, contributes to the moisturizing of skin and helps detoxify skin.
Many of the benefits of seaweed are cosmetic, but the same vitamins and minerals that contribute to the beauty benefits of seaweed will also assist in maintaining overall health, including by reducing allergies.
Sources of Seaweed
Seaweed products are often ingested, but they are as frequently found in cosmetic products. Sushi, certain types of salad and many Asian recipes use seaweed as central ingredients. Using seaweed in recipes is an inexpensive way to incorporate it into a diet.
Seaweed products can be bought specifically from sources that specialize in its production. Irish Seaweed Cosmetics and other similar companies make an effort to produce high quality cosmetics using seaweed.
Considerations
When making any diet or cosmetic changes, consult a doctor first. Although seaweed allergies are rare, they do occur. Certain recipes that include seaweed as a seasoning or a main ingredient have been known to cause reactions in people with severe food allergies.
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