Seaweed refers to commonly consumed varieties like kelp, laver, and wakame. Many seaweeds contain a gelatinous substance called alginic acid, often found in brown algae and thus also known as alginate. When kelp is soaked in water, a sticky, gel-like layer forms on its surface—that is alginic acid.
A key factor contributing to elevated blood pressure is an imbalance between the trace elements sodium and potassium in the body. Due to salt consumption, people ingest sodium daily but may not adequately replenish potassium. Consequently, many individuals, especially those with hypertension, often experience low potassium and high sodium levels. Supplementing potassium while reducing sodium intake is clearly a beneficial approach for preventing and managing hypertension.
Alginic acid in seaweed is essentially a mixture of potassium, calcium, magnesium, and other metal ions bound together. Alginic acid possesses a unique property: in acidic environments, it dissociates from these metal ions, while in alkaline environments, it rebinds with them. Thus, when seaweed enters the human stomach, gastric acid causes the alginic acid to release its bound potassium and other metal ions.However, since alginate cannot be digested or absorbed by the stomach, it continues its journey through the body. Upon reaching the intestines, which are alkaline, alginate seeks to bind with metal ions again. Because humans consume salt daily, sodium ions are most abundant in the intestines. Consequently, alginate binds extensively with sodium ions, tightly encapsulating them until they are excreted from the body.Thus, consuming seaweed effectively replenishes potassium while eliminating excess sodium.
Additionally, alginate helps lower cholesterol levels in the body. First, upon entering the digestive system, its gelatinous properties envelop portions of cholesterol, preventing their absorption.Second, the human body relies on its own bile acids to digest and absorb fats; the more bile acids present, the greater the fat absorption. After breaking down fats, some bile acids are reabsorbed and reused by the intestinal wall. However, the gelatinous substance of alginate spreads across the intestinal wall, hindering the reabsorption of bile acids and reducing their quantity within the digestive tract.In response, the body automatically synthesizes new bile acids to compensate. The raw material for synthesizing bile acids is cholesterol stored in the liver. This means that to produce bile acids, the liver consumes large amounts of its stored cholesterol, thereby lowering blood cholesterol levels. Through these mechanisms of inhibiting cholesterol absorption and promoting its consumption in the liver, alginate effectively lowers blood lipids.