Can I eat too much seaweed? (2024)

FAQs

Can I eat too much seaweed? ›

It is possible to eat too much seaweed, especially if it contains large amounts of iodine, which can affect thyroid health. A small 2020 study suggests that consuming seaweed may cause high iodine exposure, which can lead to a thyroid condition.

In case you use too much dried seaweed, it can lead to the risk of hyperthyroidism or can lead to medical related conditions such as: metabolic disorders, digestive disorders. In addition, you should also choose reputable seaweed products, in order to take advantage of all the useful nutrients of this vegetable.

Iodine Excess

Thyroid disorders arising from excess iodine intake including seaweed consumption can take the form of goitre, thyroid autoimmunity, hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism [8, 9, 40, 41, 42].

It also contains other vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin K, B vitamins, zinc, and iron, along with antioxidants that help protect your cells from damage. However, too much iodine from seaweed could harm your thyroid function. For optimum health benefits, enjoy this ancient ingredient in regular but small amounts.

Most seaweed contains high levels of iodine, and a person may consume too much if they eat a lot of seaweed over an extended period. While many people can handle high levels of iodine, some are more vulnerable to its effects, which can include hyperthyroidism.

Potential adverse effects. Heavy metals. Both fresh and dried seaweed may contain heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, cadmium, or lead, depending on the habitat from which they were sourced. [16] Seaweed absorbs these metals when growing in contaminated areas, such as from industry or poor sewage systems.

They typically presented with complaints of numbness and tingling sensation of the face and extremities, shortness of breath and general weakness. Most had abdominal symptoms including nausea, cramps, vomiting or diarrhea. Some had excessive tears and perspiration with skin cold to the touch.

Dried seaweed is good for you when eaten in moderation as it contains many vitamins and minerals, but is quite high in sodium and iodine. Since it is a food, it means you can eat as much as your body wants, but like all things, moderation is the key.

Nori is so nutritious that it is said that "two sheets of nori a day will keep the doctor away" (*Two sheets means two full-size sheets. Each sheet of nori is about 0.1 oz./3 g and 7.8" x 7.8"/20 cm x 20 cm). Nori is indispensable for onigiri and sushi, but it is actually a superfood.

Why you shouldn't eat too much seaweed? ›

Iodine content: Seaweed is a rich source of iodine, and consuming too much iodine can lead to a condition called iodine toxicity, which can cause symptoms such as facial swelling, skin rashes, and thyroid problems. Heavy metal content: Seaweed can absorb heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury from the ocean.

Acute iodine toxicity is rare and is often difficult to recognize. Clinical manifestations may range from nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea to delirium, stupor, and shock.

Iodine toxicity may lead to thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid papillary cancer. Clinical features of iodine toxicity from oral ingestion can range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms consist of GI upset, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which may progress to delirium, stupor, and shock.

Fucoxanthin found in brown algae such as Wakame, contributes to weight loss by increasing the bodies metabolism. Fucoxanthin is 100% natural and plant based . It targets the most stubborn fats such as belly fat. Speeding up your metabolism will make the body burn off that stored fat faster.

“They have so much iodine that consumers are advised to eat it no more than three times per week.” Since the concentration of specific nutrients in seaweed can interact with various medications, check with your doctor if you have a thyroid condition or take blood thinners before going all in.

Seaweed fiber can help feed the gut's bacteria. Intestinal bacteria break fiber into compounds that improve gut health and the health of the immune system, providing the body with plenty of gut-healthy prebiotic fiber, which in turn can help with issues such as constipation or diarrhea.

Dried seaweed is good for you when eaten in moderation as it contains many vitamins and minerals, but is quite high in sodium and iodine. Since it is a food, it means you can eat as much as your body wants, but like all things, moderation is the key.

Keep in mind that, on average, the Japanese diet contains around 5g of seaweed daily and iodine in the range of 1,000-3,000µg.

Research has found these metals in various seaweeds, grown in different locations around the world, but most studies have concluded that eating 4 to 5 grams a day of dehydrated seaweed shouldn't pose a risk to healthy adults.