Disclaimer for Shirley's Wellness Cafe

Ocean Superfoods: Kombu, Seaweed, Kelp and Sea Vegetables

A number of research have shown the effectiveness of sea vegetables on human and animal health. Seaweeds) have curative powers for tuberculosis, arthritis, colds and influenza, worm infestations. Some sea plants produces an effective vermifugal agent (kainic acid). The electrolytic magnetic action of the sea plants releases excess body fluids from congested cells and dissolves fatty wastes through the skin, replacing them with depleted minerals, particularly potassium and iodine. Sea Vegetables (Kombu, Spirulina - kelp - Chlorella) have been acknowledged as a detoxifyer, a balanced nourishment and a miraculous healing plant. Ocean/Sea algae are the richest natural source of minerals, trace minerals, Iodine and rare earth elements. If there is enough iodine in our bodies, radioactive fallout is no longer able to concentrate in the thyroid and it will simply pass through.

Healing Food
Holistic Health
Immune System
Our Earth, Our Cure
Work from Home Opportunity
Women
Holistic Pediatrics
Holistic Animal Wellness
Consumer Alert!
Detox for Optimum Health
Herbal Remedies
Homeopathic Remedies
Testimonials
Dangers of Routine Vaccinations
The Truth about Aids


Sea Vegetables Are The Oldest and Most Powerful Nutritious Plants on Earth!

Steven Schecter, N.D - "There is no family of foods more protective against radiation and environmental pollutants than sea vegetables ... sea vegetables can prevent assimilation of different radionuclitides, heavy metals such as cadmium, and other environmental toxins." An experiment conducted by J.F. Stara at the Environmental Protection Agency showed that sodium alginate significantly reduced the amount of radio active strontium in the bones of cats. Stara observed that radio active strontium in the bones is resecreted into the intestines where it is bound by alginate, neutralized then excreted in the stools."

Our Land, Soils, and Most of Our Food Sources are Almost Completely Depleted of Vital Nutrients! If our land and soils are depleted of vital nutrients, then the plants grown on them will also be depleted. Seaweed, algae, and kelp can serve as excellent sources of minerals such as iron, iodine, potassium, and trace minerals. Sea vegetables also have a high digestible protein level. When compared to plants that grow on land, sea vegetables are 10 to 20 times higher in vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Ounce for ounce, along with herbs, sea vegetables are higher in vitamins and minerals than any other food on the planet!

Consumption of seaweed for vibrant health is not some current fad or new idea. For 1,000's of years, many Asian cultures have attributed their long life spans and overall good health to their daily intake of sea vegetables. Seaweed as a staple item of diet has been used in Japan and China since prehistoric times. In fact, seaweed has been part of the traditional diet of all coastal cultures, including the people of Japan, Korea, China, Iceland, Sweden, Wales, Scotland, Hawaii, and the South Pacific Islands.

Seawater contains every mineral and trace mineral known in organic form and in the proper ratios needed by human tissues. Dr. René Quinton, French biologist/physiologist, proved that pure seawater is virtually identical to mammalian blood plasma. With the assistance of many eminent physicians, he successfully used seawater as a healing agent on thousands of patients in France and Egypt in the early 1900s. Navy doctors successfully used seawater during the Second World War when blood serum supplies ran out.

Through the miracle of photosynthesis sea vegetables capture the vital energy of the sun and a full spectrum of nutrients from the sea. In fact, it is believed by some that a balanced combination of sea vegetables may possibly contain every nutrient known to mankind.

Seaweeds are important nutrients to prevent disease in humans and animalsOrganic Sea Vegetables are a gold mine of power-packed vital nutrition with macro and micro nutrients, vitamins, plant sterols, antioxidants, trace minerals, omega 3's, phytonutrients, enzymes, organic iodine, fucoidan and a host of many more power packed nutrients! Plus...it contains various naturally occurring compounds that have been studied for their incredible health benefits. These naturally occurring compounds can work as a great boost to your immune system and assist in enhancing your overall health and well being.

Seaweeds are really not a weed but large marine algae that grow in the coastal waters of many countries. They include thousands of species from microscopic plants called phytoplankton to huge floating/anchored plants commonly seen washed up on shore. Many kinds of seaweed are eaten by people because they are full of vitamins and iodine. Asian cultures use seaweed like green beans and carrots are used in the United States. One of seaweed's most prominent health benefits is its ability to remove radioactive strontium and other heavy metals from our bodies. Brown seaweeds such as kelp contain alginic acid which binds with the toxins in the intestines rendering them indigestible and carries them out of the system.

Obesity is rare among the Polynesians and other races who incorporate seaweeds as a regular part of their daily diet. This plant influences the mucous membranes and lymphatics. It is a slow, persistent agent, but it will accomplish the desired weight loss results. It is stimulating to the absorbents and especially influences the fatty globules. Its best action is observed in individuals having a cold, torpid, clammy skin and loose flabby rolls of fat. It is an agent that gives better results in sick, overweight people than in cases of healthy, fat people (Luc:50). Instead of being simply a weight loss agent, it is more a normalizer, as thin people can put on weight while taking Kelp.

Sea vegetables are virtually fat-free, low calorie and one of the richest sources of minerals in the vegetable kingdom as they have ready access to the abundance of minerals found in the ocean. Nourishment is acquired across the sea vegetables entire surface through the gentle wave action of underwater currents. Sea water and human blood contain many of the same minerals in very similar concentrations. As the natural iodine boosts thyroid activity, food fuels are used before they can turn into fatty deposits. Vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin in seaweeds, aids adrenal regulation, so a seaweed bath also helps maintain hormone balance for a more youthful body.

I use raw nori sheet seaweed instead of bread. I love the taste of Nori. It is made in Asia from nourishing seaweed, rich in trace minerals, vitamins and other important nutrients. It is non-fattening, rich in fiber. I use it to make "taco" or "burito" stuffed with lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, smoked salmon or raw cheese. My dog loves Nori too. I give it to him as a treat or mix it with his food. Shirley

Sea vegetable in diet supplementation

Sea vegetables contain high amounts of calcium and phosphorous and are extremely high in magnesium, iron, iodine and sodium. For example, 1/4 cup of cooked hijiki contains over half the calcium found in a cup of milk and more iron than in an egg, important concerns for vegans, those who refrain from eating any animal-based products. They also contain vitamins A, B1, C and E, as well as protein and carbohydrates.

The beauty of using the seaweed is that it can only do good, and never harm. It does not deplete the energy of the body as some reducing programs do; indeed, it strengthens the vital energy by working in cooperating with the endocrine glands. It has been found that there is a definite connection between the amount of energy available and our iodine intake. In Kelp, as we mentioned before, we have a perfectly natural source of all the iodine we require.

Page Divider

Sea Vegetables Rich in Iodine

Emerald Sea is a rich and rare natural source of iodine from the most nutrient dense species of seaweed on the planet. If there is enough iodine in our bodies, radioactive fallout is no longer able to concentrate in the thyroid and it will simply pass through. This is just one of the many benefits of natural, food-based iodine. It not only helps to ensure proper operation of the thyroid and our entire endocrine system, it helps to protect this vital gland from the dangers of radioactive fallout.

Chlorella Algae to Remove Heavy Metals, Mercury and Pesticides

Chlorella have been found to be very effective in Germany for mercury elimination. Chlorella was first identified by a Dutch scientist in 1890. But it was not until the 1950's that Japanese studies threw light on its enormous potential. Researchers discovered that some of chlorella's beneficial health effects appeared to stem from a high concentration of chlorophyll and beta carotene, as well as from its unusual cell wall. Cell wall of this alga binds with heavy metals, pesticides, PCB, ... and carries these toxins safely out of the body.

Chlorella is an important part of the systemic mercury elimination program, as approximately 90% of the mercury is eliminated through the stool. Using large doses of chlorella facilitates fecal mercury excretion. After the intestinal mercury burden is lowered, mercury will more readily migrate into the intestine from other body tissues from where chlorella will effectively remove it. Chlorella found to be very effective for mercury elimination

Chlorella supernutrient Chlorella has been demonstrated to remove heavy metals and other synthetics from the body by actually binding with them so they may be pulled from the bloodstream. However, this result can only be measured if the level of heavy metals in the bloodstream are known before and after a person starts taking chlorella. It takes approximately 3-6 months once starting chlorella for heavy metals to begin to be removed from the blood depending on the amount of chlorella taken. If it has been determined that a person does have heavy metals in their body, they should begin by taking 15-20 grams per day depending on the level of heavy metals that are present. Detoxification - How Chlorella Works

It contains Chlorella Growth Factor ( CGF ). CGF strengthens immunity by improving the activity of T- and B- cells, which defense against viruses. CGF strengthens immunity by improving the activity of macrophages , which destroys cancer. The Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF) was isolated in the 1950s and indicates the level of chlorella's nucleic acids, says Paul Pitchford. Nucleic acids -- RNA and DNA -- in the body direct our cellular growth and repair, yet they decline as we age, and they're depleted by stress, pollution and poor diet.

Sometimes called the green blood tonic and cleanser, it's reported to be beneficial in cases of anemia, and studies have shown its ability to stimulate regeneration of tissue, accelerate the healing of wounds and inhibit the growth of some tumors. Some scientists think chlorella may help to prevent degenerative disease and even slow down the aging process, while American researcher Dr. David Steenblock believes it has great potential in the treatment of cancer, AIDS, Epsteir Barr disease and other equally chronic viral illnesses.

Chlorella is not tolerated by about one-third of people due to gastrointestinal distress. Chitosan can be effectively used as an alternative in these individuals. Chitosan makes up most of the hull of insects shellfish and also bind metals like mercury from the lumen of the intestines.

Detoxification with Chlorella

It no longer takes 40+ years to accumulate enough acid waste in your tissues, to cause degenerative diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. These degenerative diseases are striking Americans at increasingly younger ages because of our polluted environment and our ferocious appetite for acid forming foods.

There have been numerous studies on Chlorella's detoxifying effect on cadmium, heavy metals, PCBs, and chlordecone (a harmful insecticide). In addition there have been recent findings of chlorella's potential radioprotective effect against Gamma-rays.

In 1984, Drug and Chemical Toxicology published a study by Dr. Pore of the West Virginia University, School of Medicine, in which chlorella administered to rats increased the rate of detoxification of chlordecone (a harmful insecticide). It was shown that chlorella caused the toxin to be removed from the body more than twice as fast as the control group. Dr. Pore found two active absorbing mechanisms in chlorella; sporopollenin (a carotene-like polymer) and the cell wall itself.

In 1975, Japanese researchers, Hagino et al., found that chlorella increased excretion of cadmium in individuals suffering from cadmium poisoning. Dr.Steenblock sites other examples of Chlorella's ability to detoxify in his book Chlorella Natural Medicinal Algae: In one study "brewer's yeast culture was poisoned and killed by the addition of P.C.B., mercury, copper and cadmium. When Chlorella extract was added to these toxic substances, the brewer's yeast remained alive!" "Other studies have shown that chlorella cell walls absorb and hang onto uranium and lead." "Chlorella has been used to detoxify people suffering from P.C.B. exposure. Doctor Ueda of the Kitakyushu City Institute for Environmental Pollution Research in Japan gave 30 patients who suffered from P.C.B. exposure, daily doses of 4-6 grams of Chlorella for a one year period. As a result almost all improved (less tired, better digestion, normal bowel movements)"

Chlorella to Remove Mercury and Pesticides

Dr. Mercola - "Chlorella is an incredibly powerful nutrient from the sea and is a form of algae. I use it quite a bit for mercury detoxification as it binds very strongly to mercury to eliminate it from the body. Chlorella also is a useful source of chlorophyll, and it adds magnesium and protein to the juice. Binds to other heavy metals and pesticides in the juice. The normal dose is one teaspoon in the juice. However, about 30% of people cannot tolerate the chlorella, so if it makes you nauseous you should definitely avoid it. Spirulina is another algae that has many similar benefits and is a good balance to chlorella. However it does not bind to heavy metals like chlorella."

Spirulina, Chlorella, and wild blue-green ( Aphanizomenon flos-aquae) contain more chlorophyll than any other foods. Dried micro algae, are the richest source of proteins, beta-carotene, and nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), and very rich source of GLA. Micro algae have been successfully used to improve immunity of people with AIDS, Cancer, Colitus, Diabetes ...

Ocean Superfoods: Protection against tumors and environmental pollutants

Kelp, Ocean's superfood? There is no family of foods more protective against radiation and environmental pollutants than sea vegetables.Scientific studies show that sea vegetables, such as kelp, contain sodium alginate, which has the ability to bind to radioactive strontium. Eating sea vegetables such as kelp will detox and protect from radiation. Kombu, a member of the kelp family, is one of the most radioprotective sea vegetables because it is high in fucoidan, a potent radioactive detoxifier. Bladderwrack, another type of sea vegetable, is also rich in fucoidan and can protect and detox from radiation. Sea vegetables are also rich in iodine, which has a protective effect on the thyroid in the event of a nuclear disaster (see information on potassium iodide tablets above). They also bind to and detox heavy metals. The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission recommends that we consume two to three ounces (wet weight) of sea vegetables per week, or two tablespoons daily to protect from radiation toxicity. This should be increased fourfold during or after direct exposure to radiation.

In 1974 a report was published by I. Yamamoto et. al. in the Japanese Journal of Experimental Medicine, (44: 543-46). These scientists reported that several varieties of Kombu Mojaban (common sea vegetables eaten in Asia and traditionally used as a decoction for cancer in Chinese herbal medicine) were effective in the treatment of tumors in laboratory experiments. "In three of four samples tested, inhibition rates in mice with implanted sarcomas ranged from 89-95%." "The tumor underwent complete regression in half of the mice in each treated group." Similar experiments on mice with leukemia have also shown promising results."

Need help? Algae are ubiquitous; a multitude of species ranging from microscopic unicells to gigantic kelps inhabit the world's oceans, freshwater bodies, soils, rocks, and trees, and are responsible for most of the global production of organic matter by photosynthesis. They thus play a fundamental role in the world's ecosystems and a reliable and modern introduction to their kaleidoscopic diversity, systematics, and phylogeny is indispensable. In this textbook, the main groups of algae (divisions or phyla) are considered in turn. Each chapter begins with a summary of the principal characteristics of the group and interesting aspects of ecology and evolution. The final chapter is a synthesis, in which the phylogeny of the algae is discussed in relation to the evolution of other living organisms, primarily on the basis of evidence from recent molecular studies.

The high density of nutrients found in algae is extremely important for many reasons. Perhaps the most important (as noted above) is that these nutrients maintain human cell membranes in structure and function. This is vital for cell detoxification, and for the overall metabolism of human cells. In fact, the causes of diseases have been simplified to very specific mechanisms, all of which center on cell membrane function and structure. Inflammation, Oxidation, Toxicity, and Mitochondrial dysfunction keep cell membranes from doing their job effectively. Algae contain high levels of antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory micronutrients to fuel metabolism and detoxification.

Linda Page, N.D. Ph.D. - "Sea plants can transform your health. A seaweed bath is a great way to get the benefits of sea plants all over your body. Seaweed baths are Nature's perfect body-psyche balancer, and they're a good way get natural iodine. There are many reasons why I recommend sea vegetables as part of my healing programs -- weight loss, cellulite control, detoxification, beautiful hair and skin, and more. Sea vegetables can transform your health! I believe that when we eat sea vegetables, and when we take seaweed baths, we are tapping into the ancestral and restorative source of all life- the ocean. Include sea vegetables into your diet every day and you 'll see a difference. I do! Sea plants -- gifts from the sea!"

Thalassotherapy or Hot Seaweed Bath - Ancient Bathing Remedies for Modern Living

Seaweed hot bath therapyOcean therapy encompasses the understanding that the element of water provides a restorative balancing of emotions through tuning-in to the cyclical rhythms of the ocean. From swimming with dolphins to incorporating ocean healing into traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Ocean Therapy is becoming more popular as a tool for healing deep emotional scars. Ocean Therapy also includes the bathing hydrotherapies that have applications to skin nutrition. Traditionally these therapies are referred to as Thalasso Therapy.

Thalassotherapy is an ageless, health-restorative technique. Thalassa is the ancient Greek word for sea. The Greeks indeed used the sea for their well-being. I myself have seen 2500 year-old healing sites on the Greek islands of Rhodes and Corfu, and the ancient Greek healing center at Pergamum in what is now Turkey.

Thalassotherapy comes from the Greek word thalassos, or sea, and is a treatment system using fresh heated seawater which induces an exchange of minerals and toxins between the blood and the water. It is extremely popular in Europe, especially France. As with thermal spas, thalassotherapy centers benefit those with certain medical conditions such as arthritis, and also those without.

Basic body detox Even judging by the therapeutic centers still known to us, much of the population of the ancient Greek and Roman world soaked in sea water hot tubs and heated seaweed baths, drank and inhaled sea water for health, got sea water massages, had sea green facials and body wraps, and used sea water pools for hydrotherapy and detoxification. Today we are learning, once again, about the ability of the sea to reduce tension and de-stress our bodies, detoxify the skin and improve circulation, speed weight loss and cellulite control, and even ease menopausal discomforts.

Typically, a stay at a thalasso therapy center would include daily bathing in a heated seawater pool with jets, and other facilities such as massages, aromatherapy or algae wraps. A therapeutic clay bath is an excellent medium for whole body rejuvenation. The skin, being the largest organ and riddled with capillaries, ducts, and nerve endings, constitutes a major eliminative and absorptive system. Engaging this system plus the olfactory and dermal neural senses with the healing modalities of Aromatherapy, Herbology, and Mineral Thallasotherapy (sea water therapy) in one medium, can bring about profound changes in both mind and body. A hot seaweed bath is one of the most effective treatments in natural healing. When we take seaweed baths, we are tapping into the ancestral and restorative source of all life- the ocean.

For additional information on sea plants (kelp) or to purchase bulk kelp in powder or granules (hand harvested off the NW Coast of Iceland); Natural Sea Kelp Conditioner or Shampoo and Sea Kelp Herbal Facial Scrub,

Page Divider

Kelp, a Rich Marine Plant

Commonly known as Rockweed, kelp, the Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed is widely recognised to be the richest marine plant for animal feed and for agricultural use. This unique seaweed grows exclusively on the North Atlantic coast of North America and Europe. It is found in particular abundance on the North Atlantic coast of Canada, where its cold and clean growing environment is continuously replenished by the world's highest tides.

Although this may be news to us, ancient maritime cultures such as the Japanese, the Chinese, the South-Sea Islanders and the Greenland Eskimos have known of the ocean's secrets for hundreds of years. Kelp, or common seaweed, has long been a favorite vegetable source amongst these nations.

This seaweed works like a sponge, absorbing from the water almost all the nutrients, minerals and trace elements that are essential to life. Kelp was first used medicinally to treat enlarged thyroid glands. Physicians didn't know why kelp was effective, until it was discovered that it was exceptionally rich in iodine and that enlarged thyroids were due to an iodine deficiency. Because iodine worked by stimulating the thyroid gland that controls the metabolism, it was noted that those who took iodine lost weight more easily.

From these observations, kelp was then used to assist in weight loss. It has been suggested that kelp's positive effects in assisting metabolism may help in lowering cholesterol. This versatile seaweed is also widely used to maintain healthy skin and hair. Kelp's most dramatic application is its ability to neutralize heavy metal pollution and radiation in the body. Studies have shown that the active ingredient in kelp, sodium alginate, can prevent the absorption of newly ingested heavy metals, but it has little effect on past exposures. Health authorities in America have discouraged people from collecting kelp along the shoreline because it could be contaminated by industrial pollution. It was suggested that deep ocean kelp be obtained commercially, either as a food or in supplement form.

Health Benefits of Kelp

Kelp contains over 60 minerals and elements, 21 amino acids, simple and complex carbohydrates and several essential plant growth hormones. Being rich in amino acids, vitamins, minerals and trace elements is one of the key reasons why kelp is known as a great promoter of glandular health, especially for the pituitary, adrenal and thyroid glands. Kelp also supplies a natural source of iodine, which acts as an antibiotic to kill germs. Since the thyroid and pituitary glands regulate certain functions of digestion, kelp is beneficial in balancing out humans and animal's total system. Nature has offered us this marvelous "herb of the sea" in a complete and balanced form.