Bladderwrack is a seaweed found on the coasts of the North Sea, the western Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.. It was the original source of iodine, discovered in 1811, and was used extensively to treat goitre, a swelling of the thyroid gland related to iodine deficiency.
Bladderwrack contains three main constituents: iodine, alginic acid, and fucoidan.
The iodine in Bladderwrack helps those people deficient in this trace mineral to regulate and improve thyroid function, thus it is beneficial for hypothyroidism and goitre.
The alginic acid constituent, a type of dietary fibre, is useful in relieving constipation, diarrhoea, and heartburn. The fucoidan constituent, another type of fibre, may be helpful in managing cholesterol and glucose levels.
