Kombu

Kombu is edible kelp belonging to the Laminariaceae family. Kombu is rich in vitamins A, group B and C, mineral salt, such as magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and calcium but first of all iodine. Thanks to this characteristic kombu is able to stimulate the thyroid, boost the metabolism and for this reason is helpful to lose weight in case of overweight. With a balancing and purifying action for what concerns the intestinal functionalities thanks to alginic acid, kombu helps also counteract water retention and supports the immune system, thereby resulting useful in case of convalescence in order to speed up the healing process. Kombu is also a very interesting ingredient for cooking, it is used indeed to season soups and legumes, in this last case you just have to add some centimeters of the seaweed during cooking in order to make the legumes more digestible, light and tasty and this can also help against bowel swelling that is caused by legumes. In order to maintain the body weight and lose weight, according to doctor Bruno Brigo, author of the book Natural Medicine from A to Z, you can also combine kombu with the effects of green tea. Bring to boil a liter of water with 5 cm of kombu, once it reaches the boiling point remove from heat, wait a few minutes and when the water temperature is about 70° add two tablespoons of green tea, leave to brew for ten minutes then filter and drink during the day, you can use this treatment for some months. You can take kombu also in the form of a supplement, from 1 to 3 tablets per day, before meal. Avoid kombu during pregnancy, breastfeeding or if you suffer from metabolic problems. Ask your doctor for advice if you are taking medicines for the thyroid. Do not exceed in taking kombu because an excessive use can cause side effects such as tachycardia, hyperthyroidism and irritability.