Introduction: People often boil kelp with mung beans into a soup or sweet water for the purpose of reducing internal heat and clearing heat, but in fact, kelp has many other health benefits. However, improper consumption can also have adverse effects on health. Below, we will introduce the benefits of kelp and the dietary dos and dons one by one.
1. Prevention and treatment of goiter.
Kelp contains iodine and iodides, which can prevent and treat iodine-deficient goiter;
2. Lowering blood pressure.
Laminine, potassium salts, and calcium elements in kelp can reduce the human body's absorption of cholesterol and lower blood pressure;
3. Lowering blood lipids.
Kelp contains a large amount of unsaturated fatty acids and dietary fiber, which can remove cholesterol attached to the blood vessel walls, regulate the intestines, and promote the excretion of cholesterol;
4. Inhibiting tumors.
Its hot water extract has a significant cytotoxic effect on human KB cancer cells in vitro and a significant inhibitory effect on S180 tumors. Moreover, kelp is also rich in selenium, an anti-cancer star, and has anti-cancer effects;
5. Improving immunity.
Kelp can enhance the body's humoral immunity and promote cellular immunity. There are many other foods that can regulate immunity, and shiitake mushrooms are one of them;
6. Lowering blood sugar.
Kelp contains 60% fucoidan, which is an excellent dietary fiber. After diabetic patients consume it, it can delay gastric emptying and the time for food to pass through the small intestine. This way, even if insulin secretion is reduced, blood sugar levels will not rise, achieving the goal of treating diabetes;
7. Diuretic and anti-swelling.
A white powder-like substance, often found on kelp, is mannitol, a valuable medicinal substance. Modern scientific research has proven that mannitol has the effects of lowering blood pressure, promoting urination, and reducing swelling;
8. Preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Kelp contains a large amount of polyunsaturated fatty acid EPA, which can reduce blood viscosity and hardening of blood vessels. Therefore, eating kelp regularly can prevent cardiovascular diseases;
9. Eliminating hyperplasia of mammary glands.
The large amount of iodine in kelp can stimulate the pituitary gland, reducing the level of estrogen in women, restoring the normal function of the ovaries, correcting endocrine disorders, and eliminating the hidden danger of mammary gland hyperplasia;
10. Protecting hair.
The iodine in kelp is extremely abundant, and it is the main raw material for the synthesis of thyroxin in the body. The luster of hair is formed due to the effect of thyroxin;
11. Supplementing calcium.
Kelp is rich in calcium and can prevent and treat calcium deficiency in the human body;
12. Beauty care.
Kelp juice can beautify and nourish the skin. Soaking in a bath with soup boiled from kelp can moisturize the skin, making it fresh, smooth, delicate, and beautiful;
13. Weight loss.
Kelp contains a large amount of dietary fiber, which can increase the satiety of obese people. Moreover, kelp has a very low fat content and few calories, making it a food for weight loss for obese individuals;
14. Delaying aging.
Kelp is rich in calcium and iodine, which helps in the synthesis of thyroxin. The combination of these two foods can not only beautify the skin but also delay aging.
Common Kelp Dietary Remedies
1. Kelp and Raw Wheat: Suitable for various cancer patients
40 grams of dried kelp, 1000 grams of raw wheat, boiled together in water. Take the soup liquid, divided into 4-5 servings per day. This recipe is an ideal health food for various cancer patients and can be taken regularly for adjuvant therapy.
2. Kelp Vinegar: Suitable for patients with thyroid diseases
30 grams of dried kelp, washed, dried, and ground into powder. Soak 3 grams daily in a cloth bag in rice vinegar to make kelp vinegar. Drink this vinegar slowly, suitable for goiter, thyroid tumors, lymphoma, etc.
3. Kelp and Black Fungus Soup: Suitable for patients with tumors and cardiovascular diseases
15 grams of dried kelp, 15 grams of black fungus, 60 grams of lean pork (cut into shreds). First, wash and soak the kelp and black fungus until soft, then cut them into shreds. Boil them with the pork shreds, add salt and monosodium glutamate, and thicken with starch to serve.
This recipe is suitable for patients with digestive tract tumors and hyperlipidemia, and can also prevent and treat hypertension, coronary heart disease, and goiter. In this recipe, kelp resolves hardness and eliminates stagnation, black fungus invigorates blood and resolves stasis, and lean pork nourishes yin and supplements deficiency, making it an ideal medicinal diet for cancer patients.
4. Three Shreds of Kelp: Suitable for diabetic and obese patients
30 grams of dried kelp, 15 grams of daylily, 20 grams of shredded bamboo shoots. Soak the kelp and cut it into shreds, then cook with daylily and shredded bamboo shoots. This recipe is suitable for diabetic and obese patients and can be eaten regularly.
5. Kelp with Rock Sugar: Has a significant effect on chronic bronchitis in the elderly
After soaking and washing the kelp, cut it into shreds and place it in a cup. Soak it with boiling water three times in succession, about 30 seconds each time, discard the water, and mix with rock sugar to eat. Eat one cup in the morning and one in the evening for a week, which has a significant effect on chronic bronchitis in the elderly.
6. Kelp and Tofu Soup: "The elixir of longevity"
60 grams of dried kelp, 250 grams of water tofu. Soak the kelp in water until soft, then cut it into long strips and cook with tofu. Add oil, salt, and other seasonings to taste.
In Japan, it is popular to eat kelp with tofu, believing it to be "the elixir of longevity". Scientific research has confirmed that some elderly people in Japan have clear vision, straight backs, and sharp minds, one of the reasons being that they often eat tofu with kelp and other seaweed.
Dietary Taboos for Kelp
1. Do not drink tea immediately after eating kelp (tea contains tannic acid), nor eat astringent fruits (astringent fruits contain plant acids) right away. Because kelp is rich in iron, both of these foods will hinder the absorption of iron in the body.
2. Patients with hyperthyroidism should not eat kelp, as kelp is rich in iodine, which can aggravate the condition.
3. Pregnant and lactating women should not eat too much kelp. This is because the iodine in kelp can enter the fetus and infant's body through the blood circulation, causing thyroid dysfunction.