Kelp vs Salt

While many kelp supplements are available in pill form, our kelp is powdered which allows it to be easily consumed without changing eating habits, and, most importantly, means it can be a like-for-like replacement for salt (if you don't know, it has a pleasantly salty taste). It also looks neat on chips.

Even if salt-intake isn't the biggest concern, the range of micro-nutrients provided by the fine kelp is as good as those provided by the best quality sea salts - and of course a huge improvement over the refined table salt. It's worth noting that refined table salt can be up to 99% industrial grade sodium chloride, accompanying natural minerals removed, anti-caking agents (Aluminum-based, and of concerning reputation  themselves) and token Iodine added.

Salt intake is of permanent concern- a major factor in heart-disease, gastric ulcers, hypertension, osteoporosis and heartburn. Intake is incrementally raised by increasing levels in processed foods and condiments before the food even hits the table. Even the very finest rock or sea salt - despite all of its mineral benefits - can't escape the significant quantity of sodium chloride contained.

Iodine Content

Leaving the salty battlefield behind, something you definitely do want in your diet is Iodine - a lack of which can cause impairment to brain function and everyone's favourite neck-swelling disease, goitre.

Without getting too technical, iodine is important for thyroid hormone, which absorbs iodide ions from your blood to make and release hormones. This is important in lots of and without these iodide ions, thyroid hormone deficiency can slow down your metabolic rate as much as 50%, contributing to obesity.

The lab analysis on our Kelp was most encouraging in this area, finding our Fine Kelp has 40 times the Iodine content that generally available kelp (Undaria, more commonly known as Wakame), making it a potent source of Iodine. This means that only a small pinch per day is required to get the recommended 0.15 mg per day. One would have to

consume 1.5g of table salt to achieve the same level - which is a huge amount to consume in addition to that already present in food.

* (We must responsibly add the disclaimer that you don't need to take
much of a good source of Iodine to have a healthy amount of Iodine.
There are issues with exceeding the recommended daily intake in a
sustained manner. Particularly, many creams and
prescription medications are surprise sources of Iodine, and as such a
consultation with a doctor is advised before making kelp a staple in
the diet)

Heavy Metal Content

A problem for all marine produce, the heavy metal content in some kelp supplements has been highlighted among claims that it's doing more harm to the body than the kelp is doing good. Because of the purity of the waters around the NZ coast, where our kelp is harvested, there is an almost insignificant amount of these metals present in the resulting powder. This is due to the combination of the natural seclusion of the islands, the lack of heavy industry with consequent lack of by-products and the government's strict stance on coastal water quality.

Micronutrients

As with all natural products, a balanced set of micronutrients accompany the unprocessed form of kelp, including trace minerals and phytonutrients. As these are naturally present in the plant, they have a much greater bio-availability than 'healthy' additives, meaning that they are presented in a form which is much more readily accepted and processed by the body.

All in all, it seems our kelp is ticking a lot of boxes, and appears to answer many of the increasingly topical questions being discussed. From a more commercial point of view, it's relatively inexpensive - £4.50 for 100g, which will last a couple for half a year. As if that wasn't recommendation enough, it's also James H's favourite Green Bay product and he's sort of a connoisseur.

pH Balance

Our bodies must maintain a proper pH balance in order to function properly. What usually happens when we become ill is that our bodies become acidic. That's when we start to suffer from things like acid indigestion because our bodies have too much acid and not enough alkaline. By taking a regular dose of kelp daily, you're basically keeping your body's pH in balance.