Alaria Supplements
Updated Oct. 25th, 2023 | Read Time: 2 Minutes | What You Will Learn:
- Nutritional Information of Alaria
- Iodine & Alaria Supplements
- Hypothyroidism
- Where Can I Buy Alaria Supplements?
Alaria is a subgroup of brown algae (Phaeophyceae). Although it's most popular in the British Isles, this seaweed is eaten all around the world as a rich dietary nutritional supplement.
Nutritional Information of Alaria
Alaria is closely related to wakame and it's a rich source of a number of different vitamins and nutrients. It is approximately 45% fibre by weight, which provides it with a number of health benefits such as lowering cholesterol and helping to normalize blood sugar.
Alaria is also a rich source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iodine, and it is also an extremely rich source of bioavailable iron. This can help to enrich the diets of those who are anemic or simply low in iron stores.
Iodine & Alaria Supplements
Because of depletion of iodine in the soil, it has become extremely difficult to get sufficient amounts from diet alone. In order to counter this problem, staple foods like table salt are enriched with iodine to help cover the gap. In the case of iodized salt, it is the inorganic form of iodine that is added. Natural, organic sources, such as those derived from alaria are much more absorbable and easier for the thyroid gland to use than the inorganic (mined) sources found in enriched foods.
Hypothyroidism
Some cases of hypothyroidism can be attributed to lack of iodine, and this causes a swollen thyroid (goiter). When there is insufficient iodine available to the thyroid gland, it is not able to produce sufficient thyroid hormone. Thus, it cannot properly regulate the body's metabolism, a condition known as hypothyroidism. Hypothyroid individuals experience many symptoms due to a lack of thyroid hormone including: fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, constipation, and frequent colds and flus.
Where Can I Buy Alaria Supplements?
Alaria can be found dried or fresh in a number of supermarkets. It can also be found in powder or tablet form. Iodine in supplement form is usually derived from natural seaweed sources and is available in liquid, capsule, or tablet forms. The standardized types of these supplements contain a higher level of iodine and a consistent amount in each tablet – usually about 150mcg (0.15mg). This is the preferred form for clinical use in low thyroid conditions, while the un-standardized alaria is suitable for people in need of a daily supplement for health maintenance. Often this is most easily achieved by simply incorporating either raw or dried alaria into your diet in soup or salad.
A lot of people forget how nutritious seaweeds like Alaria can be. Plus, it's so easy to add it into your cooking. Just think about all of the ways that seaweed is used in Japanese cuisines. Soups, rolls, garnishes, seasonings, snacks and so many others. So rich in minerals, especially trace minerals like iodine.