Iodine accumulates in seaweed from the nutrient rich seawater and it is essential for our body to produce thyroid hormones, which regulate the human metabolic rate and consequently, affect almost every cell.
Important to note for pregnant woman is that iodine is essential for the early development of most organs, in particular that of the brain. So if you are expecting a baby, make sure you get a daily intake of about 250mcg in your body.
Because most people's diet are rather poor when it comes to iodine, most countries enrich salt with iodine as a strategy for combating deficiency disorders. However, we all know that salt is not great for our health, right? In fact, consuming too much salt may elevate your blood pressure, which can lead to strokes and coronary heart diseases.
Seaweeds are certainly a valuable ingredient for a vegan diet
And so using seaweed flakes can be a very creative substitute for iodized salt! Since iodine is rarely found in plant foods, seaweeds are certainly a valuable ingredient for a vegan diet.
However, it’s important not to overstretch your iodine intake and when you have thyroid issues, you should check with your physician before adding more iodine to your diet.