KELP ?'s

[Katie P]

So I bought Kelp so I could add more greens to my smoothies in the morning. I don't have a thyroid issue....I used to in the past....my question is will it hurt me if I don't have a thyroid issue & I take it everyday? Also, what are the benefits of kelp?

[jurence]

As a supplement or eating it raw? I'm a little confused.

There should definitely be no negative side effects.

[Tsurugi_Oni]

What kind of kelp did you get? The whole dried kind that the Japanese use to make dashi, kelp powder, nori, laver?

Depending on where it's farmed, Kelp can have a lot of good minerals in it besides iodine. I wouldn't worry about eating kelp everyday, since the majority of tablesalt is infused with iodine to prevent thyroid problems. You're just gettin it nature's way ^^

[lalakis]

I think that since you are ingesting it nature's way (eating it) and not taking supplements, it shouldn't do any harm and should have no impact on your thyroid. I can't see it becoming unbalanced because you decide to eat more kelp :)

I actually had an iodine deficiency last year from being vegan/not using table salt/not making an effort to eat more sea veggies so I now take a Kelp supplement.

If you're vegan, and I'm assuming you are, I think it's a good idea that you want to eat more kelp! Just my $.02.

[Katie P]

I'm taking it in powder form

[Clare]

Most people are WAY short of iodine. I don't believe you can overdo it with food. If you start getting bad acne, ease off a little and try again after it clears. The japanese eat tons of sea vegetables (or at least used to) and view them as food, not medicine. Some scientists are looking into whether the large doses of iodine are protecting them from breast cancer, etc. eat up!

[rkk]

Most people are WAY short of iodine. I don't believe you can overdo it with food. If you start getting bad acne, ease off a little and try again after it clears. The japanese eat tons of sea vegetables (or at least used to) and view them as food, not medicine. Some scientists are looking into whether the large doses of iodine are protecting them from breast cancer, etc. eat up!

I visited a holistic physician who told me the same thing as you have written. Iodine and seaweeds like kelp are very good for you. Previously people were afraid of iodine toxicity, but it unfairly got a bad rap. Our population as a whole is deficient in iodine... not necessarily to the extent of goiter, since most people in the general population eat iodized salt, but still much more deficient than what would be optimal.

[Katie P]

So how much is okay....like a teaspoon or tablespoon a day?

[Ilse W.]

I bought kelp noodles today and love them! My kelp capsules say to take 4 a day, which works out to be about 2 grams. I would say that's about equivalent to 1-2 teaspoons?

[Blazin'Jane]

I put about a tablespoon of kelp in my smoothies once or twice a week. I don't know that it makes me feel any different. I just do it because I thought it was an easy way to get soem sea veggies in me.