Kelp is an underwater plant that grows in shallow ocean waters and belongs to the seaweed family. This edible seaweed absorbs nutrients directly from the ocean water and is rich in vitamins and minerals, providing significant health benefits. Unlike land plants, kelp does not have roots to absorb nutrients, so the minerals go directly into the plant tissue. It is considered to be a ‘superfood,’ and is often used to supplement an animal’s diet to achieve optimal health.

Health Benefits of Kelp

Kelp picks up nutrients from its surrounding marine environment, which makes it rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and trace elements. The long list of nutrients found in kelp include iodine, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, manganese, copper, niacin, thiamin, chlorophyll, and vitamins A, B-6, B-12, and C - all of which are essential to the health and wellbeing of your dog.

Strong Bones and Increased Energy

Calcium is an essential nutrient for building strong bones and muscles. Kelp is known to have higher amounts of calcium than other vegetables, so feeding it to your dog is an excellent way to have them hit their daily quota. B vitamins are great for providing the body with energy. When combined, B vitamins and calcium will promote strong bones and muscles as well as increase energy. This will help your pet get regular exercise, which will keep them healthy, agile, and limber.

Controlling Stress Levels and a Healthy Coat

Antioxidants like vitamin C and manganese are well-known for their anti-inflammatory purposes as well as their ability to control stress levels and improving cardiovascular health, which is important for any person or animal. Pets with skin allergies can also benefit from eating kelp, as the anti-inflammatory properties found in vitamins A and E can reduce itching, dryness, hair loss, and other skin irritations. Animals that have been eating diets supplemented with kelp for several months will often have shiny, thick coats. Kelp supplementation is also known to reduce flea infestations, resulting in an overall improvement to an animal’s skin and hair.

Stronger Immune System

Like other seaweeds, kelp is rich in sodium and iodine, which are trace elements that can help protect against radiation and strengthen the immune system. This is especially important in older animals because it can help protect them against a wide range of diseases, including the prevention and reduction of cancerous tumors.

Helps Maintain a Healthy Weight

But wait, the health benefits of iodine don’t stop there! When used in safe amounts, it is an essential nutrient that promotes optimal thyroid function. Thyroid problems are often associated with iodine deficiencies. The dense iodine content in kelp makes it an ideal supplement for keeping an animal’s thyroid and other adrenal glands in working order. This will ultimately ensure that their metabolism is functioning efficiently and help them stay at a healthy weight. Iodine also provides energy, relieves nervous tension, and helps to burn off food so that it is not stored as unwanted fat.

Improved Oxygen Levels

Kelp contains high amounts of chlorophyll, which is used by plants to convert sunlight into energy. It consists of many nutrients, including antioxidants and amino acids. Eating chlorophyll-packed plants can increase the production of red blood cells, which can improve oxygen levels in the body.

Healthy Digestive System

Kelp is also a good source of dietary fiber, which is is not necessarily hard to come by in animal foods, but is essential for healthy digestive function and colon health. This is important for managing your pet’s weight and distributing other nutrients throughout the body. The large volume of nutrients found in kelp make it a unique food that produces countless health benefits for dogs and dog parents alike. Not only does it provide a natural source of energy, boost thyroid function, burn fat, and protect against diseases, it can also help to cleanse the digestive system, protect the liver, reduce cholesterol, and prevent obesity. At first glance, the brown seaweed may not look like much, but adding kelp to an animal’s diet is a smart move that will greatly benefit their overall health. Seaweed and kelp contain the broadest spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients of any plant group in the world and can contribute to better quality of life.