The Japanese have used seaweed for many years. For over 2000 years, seaweed has been used as a supportive food in the Japanese diet. Six types of seaweeds were used in 800 A.D. in everyday cooking in Japan. In 794, Japanese people used seaweed to make nori, which is a dried sheet of seaweed.

Hawaiians and other Polynesian societies grew kelp farms. They used 60-70 species of seaweed for food, medicinal purposes, and ceremonies.

Kelp was first used medicinally to treat enlarged thyroid glands. Physicians didn't know why kelp was effective, until it was discovered that it was exceptionally rich in iodine and that enlarged thyroids were due to an iodine deficiency. Because iodine worked by stimulating the thyroid gland that controls the metabolism, it was noted that those who took iodine lost weight more easily. From these observations, kelp was then used to assist in weight loss.

It has been suggested that kelp's positive effects in assisting metabolism may help in lowering cholesterol.

This versatile seaweed is also widely used to maintain healthy skin and hair.

Kelp's most dramatic application is its ability to neutralize heavy metal pollution and radiation in the body. Studies have shown that the active ingredient in kelp, sodium alginate, inhibits the uptake of heavy metals and Radiostrontium 90 (nuclear fallout) and also removes these toxins and heavy metals.