Ascophyllum nodosum is a type of brown seaweed. It is found along the shorelines in cold areas of the world, such as Northern Canada and Iceland.
Ascophyllum nodosum is now protected in many countries because of over-harvesting for a chemical called alginate. It also contains nutrients such as carbohydrates, iodine, and fatty acids such as oleic acid.
People use Ascophyllum nodosum for tooth plaque, gum disease, iodine deficiency, weight loss, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse Ascophyllum nodosum with other types of seaweed, such as blue-green algae, dulse, Ecklonia cava, Fucus vesiculosus, laminaria, or sea moss. These are not the same.
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