The Ocean’s Answer to Inflammation: How Seaweed Fights Chronic Disease

I believe it’s fair to say that inflammation in the body isn’t something any of us want. Increasing your risk for chronic inflammation can cause some debilitating conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (and other types of arthritis), cardiovascular disease, and more.

What can cause inflammation? Well... a lot of things.

Inflammation may come and go just as quickly as it appeared (or it can stay indefinitely). You can look at exercise in this case. Exercise does contribute to inflammation. However, the role of inflammation in that instance is different from that of inflammation in atherosclerosis. Looking at exercise as a form of acute inflammation may not paint the full picture though.

Diet and exercise are something all of us should focus on. Unfortunately, you could be consuming inflammatory foods that are causing high levels of inflammation. While eliminating these foods can reduce and prevent inflammation, persistent inflammation can turn into long-term inflammation and lead to health issues.

Persistent acute inflammation can turn into chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation causes pain and swelling in your body every day. Studies show that 3 in 5 Americans deal with some form of inflammatory disease.

But there is something natural and holistic that can help — seaweed.

Seaweed contains powerful compounds that fight inflammation and can protect you from chronic illness. When you think about it, did you ever consider that the ocean holds your natural solution to better health?

In this article, we are going to dive deeper into inflammation, the cause, the types, and how seaweed can potentially help protect your body from harmful inflammation.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting any exercise program, making changes to your nutrition plan, or adding any new supplements into your current regimen.

Understanding Inflammation

Your body fights threats through inflammation — it’s a natural defense that sends white blood cells throughout the body to protect you. This quick response helps heal cuts and scrapes, but lasting inflammation can harm your health and lead to serious problems.

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation acts as your body’s natural defense system against harm. The immune system sends white blood cells to fight injury or infection in body tissues. This protective response creates redness, swelling, and pain in affected areas.

The body handles two types of inflammation — acute and chronic.

Acute inflammation lasts a few hours to days, helping heal cuts or fight off germs.

Chronic inflammation stays active for months or years, leading to serious health issues like heart disease and arthritis.

The inflammatory response triggers blood flow changes and releases inflammatory mediators that can affect your whole body.

Acute Inflammation vs. Chronic Inflammation

Your body’s inflammatory response serves as a natural defense mechanism against harmful stimuli.

Below is a clear comparison between acute and chronic inflammation:

 

The Role of Diet in Combating Inflammation

Your food choices can shape your body’s response to inflammation. A diet rich in colorful plants and omega-3 fats helps your body fight swelling and pain.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods

A smart diet fights body swelling and pain. Foods with special nutrients stop the harm that can lead to long-term health issues.

Below are some of the best anti-inflammatory foods that you can consume daily:

• Fatty fish like salmon and tuna pack omega-3 fats that cool down inflammation in blood vessels
• Green leafy veggies such as kale and spinach contain natural compounds that block inflammatory cells
• Extra virgin olive oil has strong plant nutrients that protect heart health and reduce swelling
• Fresh berries fight tissue damage with their deep colors that come from healing compounds
• Raw or roasted nuts give the body good fats and minerals that calm the immune system
• Whole grains like brown rice and oats help gut health and stop harmful inflammation
• Fresh tomatoes have red plant compounds that cool down body swelling
• Dark chocolate with 70% or more cocoa has special elements that fight inflammation
• Turmeric spice contains curcumin that works, as well as some pain pills
• Green tea offers special plant compounds that protect cells from damage
• Garlic and onions have sulfur compounds that turn off inflammatory signals
• Citrus fruits give vitamin C, which helps white blood cells work better
• Plain Greek yogurt has good bacteria that keep gut inflammation low
• Beans and lentils feed good gut bacteria that stop harmful swelling

Seaweed as Part of a Natural Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Seaweed has natural and powerful compounds that fight body swelling (from fucoidan to omega-3s), making it nature’s best medicine against chronic illness.

Nutritional Profile of Seaweed

A single serving of sea vegetables contains around 45 calories and 5 grams of protein. These ocean plants offer a good amount of minerals, vitamins, and fiber that help fight tissue inflammation in your body.

The natural compounds in sea greens support your immune response and reduce inflammatory markers. Furthermore, your gut health improves from the prebiotic fiber found in these marine plants.

The nutritional makeup of sea plants includes 13% of your daily folate needs. These ocean vegetables contain high levels of iodine — a vital mineral for health. Your body needs the right amount of iodine to function properly.

Too much iodine can affect your thyroid, so stick to the recommended dosages. The fiber-rich content acts as food for good gut bacteria, helping your digestive system work better.

Key Compounds in Seaweed That Reduce Inflammation

Seaweed can help fight body swelling and inflammation that can cause health issues. Two main fighters stand out — phlorotannins and fucoidan. These natural substances block the body’s swelling signals. They work just like your body’s own defense system to keep inflammation in check.

Seaweed types like nori, kelp, and wakame contain special fats that help calm inflammation. These sea plants stop harmful swelling before it starts. The compounds in seaweed target specific parts of your immune system.

Health Benefits of Seaweed in Fighting Inflammation and Disease

Seaweed packs powerful compounds that fight heart disease, boost your immune system, and support gut health.

1. Cardiovascular health

Research shows clear links between seaweed intake and heart health. A major study of adults proved that eating seaweed cuts stroke risk considerably.

Your heart benefits from brown algae’s special compound called fucoidan. This natural substance fights inflammation in your blood vessels and helps lower bad cholesterol.

Your body’s white blood cells react better to inflammation with regular seaweed in your diet. The anti-inflammatory effects protect your arteries from damage that leads to heart disease.

Eating seaweed as part of an anti-inflammatory diet supports your cardiovascular system naturally. The study showed a considerable reduction in the risk of brain vessel blockages in people who ate more seaweed.

2. Immune system support

Seaweed can boost your immune system. The bioactive elements in seaweed work to control your body’s inflammatory responses. These natural substances act as shields against harmful invaders while keeping inflammation in check.

Your immune cells respond better with the help of seaweed’s special lipids, which lower inflammatory markers in your body.

Your body fights illness better with n-3 fatty acids (omega-3 fatty acids) found in seaweed. These healthy fats target and reduce signs of inflammation that can lead to autoimmune diseases. The natural compounds in seaweed support your immune function by creating a balanced response to threats.

Your defense system stays strong without going into overdrive, which helps prevent inflammatory bowel disease and other chronic conditions.

3. Reduced risk of inflammatory response and disorders

Marine plants have the ability to help fight inflammation. The special fats in these plants help block iNOS and COX-2, two proteins that cause pain and redness in your joints. Interestingly enough, your body responds better to n-3 fatty acids from ocean plants than land sources.

The natural oils in sea vegetables target the root cause of many joint problems.

People with joint pain see real changes by adding ocean greens to their meals. The anti-swelling effects work fast to ease stiff joints and reduce morning aches and pains. Your immune system stays balanced, cutting down on harmful inflammation signals.

These sea-based nutrients help your body heal itself naturally, without the need for things like prescription drugs.

4. Enhance gut health

Gut health is incredibly important for your overall health and well-being. In order to help improve gut health, many people consume seaweed. The high fiber content in seaweed (up to 60% of dry weight) feeds the good gut bacteria and helps create short-chain fatty acids. These fatty acids keep your gut lining strong and lower inflammation in your bowel.

Your digestive system works better with seaweed’s special fibers. The alginate in seaweed slows down how fast food moves through your stomach, so you feel full longer. This slow-down also stops quick jumps in blood sugar levels after meals.

Your gut stays happy, and inflammation stays low.

Holistic Bin Can Help You Fight Inflammation with Ease!

Holistic Bin offers natural seaweed supplements as part of our Surf Club that help target inflammation at its source. These pure, ocean-sourced products, like Triple Icelandic Seaweed Flakes, Dried Hijiki Seaweed, Wildcraft Icelandic Dulse Flakes, and Wakame Seaweed Flakes, are loaded with essential nutrients like omega-3s, iodine, and fucoidan to fight chronic diseases.

These supplements work fast to help reduce inflammation, boost heart health, and support your immune system.

Your path to better health starts with these easy-to-take supplements. Give them a try for yourself and experience all the benefits they have to offer!

Inflammation Resources

1.     https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21660-inflammation

2.     https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-acute-and-chronic-inflammation

3.     https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5805548/

4.     https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9819613/

5.     https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation

6.     https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/seaweed-healthy-nutritious

7.     https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/22/12/550

8.     https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eaa/Article/100935

9.     https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8629711/

10.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7345263/

11.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7996752/

12.  https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-seaweed

13.  https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-seaweed

14.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11799325/

15.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590262824000467

 

Author:

Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN, is the owner of Weik Fitness. He is a globally recognized and prolific writer. With a passion for creating health and fitness content, Matt’s work has been featured on thousands of websites, over 100 magazines, and he has authored over a dozen published books.