A person's sensitivity to cold is related to the body's insufficient intake of certain minerals. For instance, the level of calcium in the body can directly affect the elasticity and excitability of the heart muscle, blood vessels, and muscles. Iron deficiency in the blood is a major cause of iron-deficiency anemia, often manifesting as low heat production and low body temperature.
Therefore, supplementing with foods rich in calcium and iron can enhance the body's ability to withstand cold. Scientists have found that kelp is a treasure trove for the human body to obtain calcium and iron. Every 100 grams of kelp contains as much as 1177 milligrams of calcium and 150 milligrams of iron, making kelp very important for the health of children, women, and the elderly in the winter.
Kelp is rich in iodine, which can promote the secretion of thyroid hormones and generate heat. The human body's thyroid secretions contain a substance called thyroxine, which can accelerate the oxidation of many tissue cells in the body, increase the body's heat production capacity, enhance the basal metabolic rate, speed up skin blood circulation, and help resist cold. The daily requirement for iodine, an essential trace element for adults, is about 150 micrograms, while 100 grams of kelp contains an astonishing 240 milligrams of iodine.