Strange “Water Vegetable” Fights COVID-19?

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted March 16, 2022

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

Ideally, your diet should be made up of as many different types of foods as possible.

Many people eat the same foods over and over: the same breakfast, the same snacks, the same dinner.

The problem is, this can lead to you missing out on certain nutrients.

And with COVID-19 still running rampant, the last thing you want is a nutrient deficiency.

That’s where other cultures come in.

You see, we can learn a lot from different cuisines around the world. And one of the things that healthy folks from Japan, New Zealand, and Hawaii eat are foods from the sea.

And now, a strange “water vegetable” from these cultures could FIGHT COVID-19.

A recent study has found that adding algae to your diet could help combat COVID-19 and other infections.

Now don’t worry—I’m not talking about drinking a glass full of pond scum!

Many island people eat what is known as “sea lettuce.” Sea lettuce is not one type of algae, but a mixture of a few types called Ulva rigida and Ulva lactuca. It’s usually dried and then crumbled over soups, stews, salads, fish, or sushi.

Scientists, looking for ways to stop viral infections like COVID-19, have investigated many forms of edible seaweed because it has natural antiviral compounds.

And when the researchers extracted a compound from the sea lettuce called ulvan specifically, they found something powerful. When cells grown in a test tube were exposed to ulvan and then coronavirus, they survived without infection.

While this is only a test-tube experiment, other studies have shown similar results from testing other seaweeds.

Seaweeds (including sea lettuce) are a good thing to add to any diet. They contain a healthy amount of iodine, which is a mineral that many of us land-lovers don’t get enough of in our diet—especially if you only season with sea salt.

In fact, all seaweeds contain nutrients that are hard to find from foods grown on the earth!

You can buy snacks containing seaweeds at most grocery stores. You can also pulverize seaweed so it can easily disappear into foods you are cooking, or if you like the salty, nutty taste, you can sprinkle it on top of a variety of foods, including salads, soups, and more.

P.S. Did you know that seaweed could possibly fight cancer as well? Find out more right here.

SOURCE:

Rapaport, Lisa. “Seaweed Extract Stops COVID in Early Testing.“ 12/6/21. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/964223?uac=327300EJ&faf=1&sso=true&impID=3854417&src=mkm_covid_update_211206_MSCPEDIT

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND