What is Bladderwrack?
Bladderwrack is a type of seaweed. The entire plant has medicinal purposes. Bladderwrack can be located on the coasts of the North Sea, the western Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This seaweed is a perennial plant of the Fucaceae family ranging in color from light yellow to brownish-green and grows up to 2-3 feet in length.
Bladderwrack has other names
Alga Noruega o Nudosa, Algue Laminaire, Ascophylle Noueuse, Ascophyllum nodosum, Atlantic Kelp, Black Tang, Bladder Fucus, Bladder Wrack, Blasentang, Chêne Marin, Cutweed, Fucus, Fucus Vésiculeux, Fucus vesiculosis, Goémon, Kelp, Kelpware, Kelp-Ware, Knotted Wrack, Laitue de Mer, Laitue Marine, Laminaire, Marine Oak, Meereiche, Norwegian Seaweed, Quercus Marina, Rockweed, Rockwrack, Schweintang, Sea Kelp, Seawrack, Tang, Varech, Varech Vésiculeux.
Bladderwrack benefits
Bladderwrack boosts the immune system and increases energy. It can assist healing thyroid disorders. Including under active thyroid, over-sized thyroid gland (goiter), and iodine deficiency. Bladderwrack can help combat obesity, arthritis and gout joint pain. It can elevate digestive disorders, heartburn, constipation, bronchitis, emphysema, urinary tract disorders and anxiety. In some cases people apply Bladderwrack to the skin for skin disorders, burns, aging skin and insect bites. It also has blood cleansing properties.
How does it do that?
Bladderwrack contains varying amounts of iodine which is used to prevent some thyroid disorders. Depending on your age you may or may not remember when regular table salt had Iodine added to it. Bladderwrack products contain iodine, so its very important to keep a journal on how it effects you. Bladderwrack also contains Algin, which can act as a laxative to help the stool pass through the bowels. This may be good or bad depending on how regular you are currently. Bladderwrack contains many of the minerals the our bodies need to thrive.
Minerals in Bladderwrack
Bladderwrack contains iodine, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, trace metals, phenolics, phloroglucinol, fucophorethols, phlorotannins, mucopolysaccharides, algin, lipids, and sulphonyl and phosphonyl-glycosyl ester diglycerides
What is Iodine?
Iodine, a type of mineral that is naturally found in the earth’s soil. Many salt water plant-based foods contain iodine. Iodine, found in seaweeds like Bladderwrack, wakame and kelp. Iodine can also be found in sea food like scallops, shrimp and cod. The natural ocean environment allow these plants and animals to have the highest concentrations of iodine. Other sources of iodine are milk, turkey, cooked navy beans and tuna, canned in oil. It also can be found in Pink Himalayan Salt and iodized table salt. Please click the link for a complete list of Iodized salts.
Iodine is best known for the vital role it plays in thyroid hormone production in humans. Iodine deficiency can lead to serious health problems, including goiter (enlarged thyroid gland), intellectual disability and cretinism.
What is Calcium?
Calcium is a mineral that is a necessary building block for life. It is important to building strong bones and keeping them healthy. Calcium enables our blood to clot and our muscles to contract. Calcium also helps our heart to beat. Almost all of the calcium in our bodies, 99% of it is in our bones and our teeth.
Foods high in calcium include dairy products, milk, cheese and yogurt. You can also get calcium from some vegetables, such as kale, watercress, spinach and broccoli. In order for our bodies to absorb calcium properly, it should be taken with vitamin D. Magnesium is also necessary for proper assimilation and use of calcium in the body. In fact, if we take too much calcium and not enough magnesium, it can cause problems in the body. Bladderwrack has the calcium and magnesium all in one place.
The Sun is the best source of vitamin D on the planet so go get some.
Magnesium sound like a super hero.
Magnesium, a mineral found in the earth, the sea, plants, animals and humans. It is a mineral that is very important for normal bone structure in our bodies. Most of the Magnesium in our body is found in our bones. Magnesium is also in muscles, soft tissues and fluids, including our blood. Most people get magnesium from their diet, but sometimes that is not enough. With some people magnesium supplements are needed when magnesium levels are too low. Herbal supplements are a excellent and safe way to help restore those levels.
Potassium is like copper wire.
Potassium is a mineral and an electrolyte. Electrolytes conduct electrical impulses throughout the body. They assist in a range of essential body functions, including: blood pressure, muscle contractions including your heart rhythm. Potassium also helps to maintain normal water balance, nerve impulses and digestion. Potassium can even help with your bodies pH balance (acidity and alkalinity). Your body cannot produce potassium naturally. So to help it you need to consume the right balance of potassium-rich foods and beverages. If your potassium levels are too high your body can remove the excess in your urine.
Sodium (Sodium Alginate)
Sodium (sodium alginate), is salt that has been extracted from the walls of brown algae cells. It contains approximately 30 to 60% alginic acid. Sodium alginate oligosaccharides wins at lowering blood pressure.
Algin
Algin, a type of carbohydrate found in brown seaweeds, used to make medicine, also used to lower cholesterol levels in the body.