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How Effective is Kelp for Weight Loss?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

Many alternative health practitioners recommend the use of kelp for weight loss. There are several reasons why using kelp along with a balanced diet and regular exercise can aid in the process of losing excess weight at a healthy pace. Some of those reasons have to do with the nutritional content of the kelp, while others have to do with how those nutrients can aid in supporting several important bodily functions.

One of the major kelp benefits is the range of nutrients found within the substance. There are approximately thirty different nutrients found in fresh and dried kelp products, with significant amounts of iodine, calcium, potassium, silicon and iron present. Most of the B vitamins are also provided in each dose of kelp, as well as trace amounts of vitamins A, C, and E.

Kelp is considered to be a metabolism booster.
Kelp is considered to be a metabolism booster.

All this nutritional content is one of the main reasons to use kelp for weight loss. The combination of nutrients aids in maintaining emotional equilibrium as well as providing the body with the fuel needed to be active during the day. Simply put, using kelp will help minimize the irritation that many feel when attempting to diet, while also providing the energy needed to engage in regular exercise. Since the body feels full and nourished, it becomes much easier to stick with a healthy diet plan, and actually look forward to walking, running, aerobics, or whatever other activities are used during the daily exercise regimen.

Kelp is a good source of metabolism-boosting iodine.
Kelp is a good source of metabolism-boosting iodine.

There are also some claims that the nutrients found in kelp can help minimize the symptoms of fatigue and despondency that are sometimes present with an under-active thyroid. As a result, individuals feel better and actually enjoy being active to a greater degree than would be possible otherwise. While research indicating that consumption of kelp is helpful in treating hypothyroidism is not universally accepted by the medical community, many people who use the supplement for this reason do report that they are able to enjoy activities with greater ease. Often, they feel less sluggish, which in turn makes it easier to get the most from a diet and exercise program.

Eating kelp can help people achieve gradual weight loss.
Eating kelp can help people achieve gradual weight loss.

As with most forms of treatment, kelp for weight loss has worked very well for some people, and not as well for others. Those who do recommend the use of kelp for weight loss normally point out that taking the supplement is not some sort of magic pill that makes the excess weight disappear overnight. When the individual is getting a reasonable amount of sleep, engaging in a reasonable amount of exercise each day, and eating a balanced diet, the nutritional content can help enhance the return from all these strategies, and aid individuals in shedding unwanted weight while also enjoying the process a little more.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including TheHealthBoard, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

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Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including TheHealthBoard, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

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Discussion Comments

Drentel

@Laotionne - I have a friend who took kelp supplements for a month or so and he began having some serious stomach issues. He couldn't say 100 percent that the kelp was causing the problem, but once he stopped taking them he got back to normal.

I know different people have different types of reactions to foods and medicines, but this is something you should keep in mind. He says he knows of other people who have had similar reactions when they were taking the supplements.

Animandel

@Laotionne - I believe in going directly to the source, so I think supplements are less beneficial than the original plants they came from. Something is always lost in the processing. Just think how we take healthy fruit and process it into much less healthy juices. This can happen with kelp supplements and other supplements, so what happens is we end up paying for something that is doing us little good.

I can't say how much weight kelp will help you lose, but it is nutritious whether you lose weight or not, so you will get other benefits. There are many dishes that call for kelp and they taste great. One of my favorites is kelp noodles with vegetables and a spicy sauce. I'm sure you could find a kelp recipe you would like as much as I like this dish. There are tons of them.

Laotionne

If I had to eat kelp a couple times a week, I would definitely lose weight because I would skip those meals. The stuff tastes terrible. I guess taking the supplements would work as well though. I might be wiling to try them. Are there any bad side effects to taking kelp supplements?

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    • Kelp is considered to be a metabolism booster.
      By: HLPhoto
      Kelp is considered to be a metabolism booster.
    • Kelp is a good source of metabolism-boosting iodine.
      By: ksena32
      Kelp is a good source of metabolism-boosting iodine.
    • Eating kelp can help people achieve gradual weight loss.
      By: Minerva Studio
      Eating kelp can help people achieve gradual weight loss.
    • Kelp supplements contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals.
      By: milosducati
      Kelp supplements contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals.
    • Kelp should be supplemented with a balanced diet and regular exercise for weight loss.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      Kelp should be supplemented with a balanced diet and regular exercise for weight loss.
    • Kelp supplements come in tablets and several other forms.
      By: Nenov Brothers
      Kelp supplements come in tablets and several other forms.
    • Individuals who want to lose weight should adhere to a well-balanced diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and lean proteins.
      By: marrakeshh
      Individuals who want to lose weight should adhere to a well-balanced diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and lean proteins.
    • Nutrients in kelp may help minimize symptoms of fatigue that are present with an under-active thyroid.
      By: Irina Fischer
      Nutrients in kelp may help minimize symptoms of fatigue that are present with an under-active thyroid.