FIVE REASONS WHY SEAWEED IS THE PERFECT FOOD FOR HAIR, SKIN AND NAILS

Seaweed has become increasingly popular over the past few years, and it’s no surprise to see someone eating seaweed with their lunch or even using it in their skincare routine. The relationship between what we eat and how we look is undeniable. When we’re healthy, it shows in our appearance. Glowing skin, healthy nails and shiny hair are all associated with good health. But how is looking good related to seaweed?

We asked Nutritionist (BSc) and Chartered Psychologist (PhD), Dr. Naomi Newman-Beinart, to tell us about why seaweed is quickly becoming the most talked about beauty secret of 2023. This is what she had to say:

1. It’s a one stop shop for healthy skin

Seaweed contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are well known to their ability to protect the skin and help fight signs of aging. But the real secret behind seaweed is its natural iodine content. Iodine is an essential mineral that your body can’t make by itself, so we must depend on food or supplements to get what we need. Iodine is needed for your body to produce thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones can help your skin cells to regenerate. When people have iodine deficiency, they often find that their skin is dry and flaky, and researchers believe that this may be due to low thyroid hormone levels.

2. It contains collagen promoting nutrients

Seaweed contains the well-known antioxidant, Vitamin C. Vitamin C plays a vital role in the maintenance of collagen in your body and is needed for collagen synthesis. Collagen is the main structural protein found in your body’s connective tissues, and is a major component of your skin, hair, and nails.

3. Iodine for healthier hair and stronger nails

Unlike certain nutrients like vitamin E – which are frequently discussed by both health and beauty experts – there are often critical nutrients that go without mention. One of the many undervalued and misunderstood nutrients that can have a positive impact on health and appearance is iodine. The EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) has found that iodine also helps to maintain healthy skin, and there’s also evidence that iodine and a normal functioning thyroid contributes to healthy hair and stronger nails too (1). 

4. It can make your hair grow faster

Yes, you read that right! One study found that seaweed can make your hair grow up to four times faster than normal. Researchers found that people who ate seaweed with recently cut hair had a regrowth rate of 95-100% and people that did not eat seaweed had a regrowth rate of 25-30%.

5. Are you getting enough iodine from your diet?

Iodine can be found in many foods other than seaweed, including white fish, seafood, and dairy products. But for those with plant-based diets, finding plant-based sources of iodine can be more difficult. One study by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) explored iodine levels in participants following either mixed or vegan diets. It found that a third of vegans had iodine levels below 20 micrograms per litre, which is the threshold for serious deficiency defined by the World Health Organisation (2). 

Take home message…

Looking good on the outside starts with feeling good on the inside, and seaweed can help you achieve that. Try adding seaweed to soups and salads to get a daily boost of naturally occurring iodine. But it’s worth noting that not all seaweed is created equal and you will get varying amounts of iodine in seaweed food products. To ensure you know how much iodine you’re consuming, I recommend trying Doctor Seaweed’s vegan and organic Pure Organic Seaweed (RRP £15.00) capsules. They contain only natural ingredients from food sources, and you know how much iodine you are consuming with each capsule.