Nori Seaweed and Hair Growth

Sea vegetables like nori seaweed have been a part of many Asian and Mediterranean diets for centuries. Nori seaweed is rich in several vitamins and minerals necessary to increased hair growth and hair strength. Nori seaweed has the potential to improve not only hair quality and quantity, but also the appearance of the skin. Incorporating nori seaweed into your diet can bring health benefits for organ function as well as beauty benefits for hair, skin and nails. Add this to my Recipe Box.

History

Nori seaweed has been a staple or supplement in diets for centuries. The first recorded use of seaweed as an integral part of a healthy diet was in China in 300 B.C., says OceanVegetables.com. Nori and other sea vegetables were parts of diets for people in Nordic countries, Iceland, Alaska and the Mediterranean as well as Asian countries such as Japan and China. Seaweed was considered to have medicinal properties for treating liver and kidney disorders as well as for diminishing the effects of aging. Today, it is estimated that the average Japanese person ingests one gram of nori seaweed per day.

Features

Nori seaweed is a type of sea vegetable can be purchased in grocery stores. Packaged nori is sold in dried, thin sheets for use in sushi or rice balls. Nori can range in color from red or maroon to purple or black, but the most common nori color is dark green. Nori tastes very salty and has an earthy, grass-like taste, but soaking nori can reduce some of the overwhelming salt flavor. Nori is most commonly used to wrap sushi rolls or rice balls.

Benefits

Like other vegetables, nori is rich in several essential vitamins and nutrients. Nori is rich in vitamins A, B, and C; specifically, nori contains high levels of biotin, a B-vitamin. Nori and other types of seaweed include high percentages of iodine, calcium, iron, niacin, and beta carotine. Nori also includes protein and dietary fiber. The vitamin-cocktail in nori seaweed can benefit cholesterol and blood pressure as well as sensory function like eyesight.

Function

Nori seaweed is believed to stimulate hair growth for a variety of reasons. Biotin supplements are sold in health food stores to strengthen hair, but biotin can be found in naturally high quantities in nori. The liver and kidneys are closely associated with healthy hair growth and strength, and seaweed helps stimulate cell regeneration to maintain healthy liver function. Hair growth is stimulated by an abundance of amino acids and proteins, which are both components of nori seaweed.

Considerations

The effects of nori seaweed on hair growth are only evident when the seaweed is ingested as food; seaweed applied directly to the hair or scalp will not demonstrate the same benefits. Nori is also high in sodium; people on a low or reduced-sodium diet should not incorporate large amounts of nori into their diet because of the potential negative side effects of the increased sodium.