I'm a nutritionist - this unusual ingredient can increase your libido, clear your skin and improve your memory

An expert in nutrition and psychology has revealed an unlikely ingredient that can improve your mental and physical health once added to your diet.

Seaweed - marine plants and algae that grow in the ocean - is highly nutritious, delivering fibre, omega-3 fats and key amino acids, as well as vitamins A, B, C, and E, which aren't commonly found in land vegetables.

Another key advantage of seaweed is its natural iodine content. This mineral plays a vital role in the production of thyroid hormones, which are integral for bodily processes such as metabolism. 

Meanwhile, low thyroid hormone levels can result in issues like low energy, constipation and weight gain.

While several countries, including the US and Canada, address iodine deficiency by adding the mineral to table salt, the UK does not follow this practice.

Consequently, the World Health Organisation now categorises the UK as the seventh among the ten most iodine-deficient nations in the world.

Speaking to FEMAIL, UK-based nutritionist and chartered psychologist, Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart, has discussed the top benefits of incorporating seaweed into your diet...

According to Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart, seaweed can help your skin cells regenerate, resulting in a revitalised appearance

1. Increase your libido 

Dr Newman-Beinart said: 'When people think of libido boosting, a plate of seaweed is probably far from anyone’s mind!

'However, studies have shown that seaweed can improve sexual function, increase energy and boost your sex drive.

'Seaweed is packed with iodine and having adequate iodine levels could make all the difference when it comes to getting in the mood.

'This is because iodine is crucial for the production of thyroid hormones. Iodine deficiency is a leading cause of low thyroid hormone levels, which often leads to problems such as low energy and low libido.'

2. Prevent dry, flaky skin 

'Thyroid hormones, which contain iodine, help your skin cells regenerate. When thyroid hormone levels are low, this regeneration doesn’t occur as often, possibly leading to dry, flaky skin.

'When people have iodine deficiency, they often find that their skin is dry and flaky, and it is believed that this may be due to low thyroid hormone levels,' said Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart.

Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart told FEMAIL a key advantage of seaweed is its natural iodine content

3. Promote healthy hair growth 

According to the nutritionist and psychologist: 'Thyroid hormones help control the growth of hair follicles, so when your thyroid hormone levels are low, your hair follicles may stop regenerating.

'That's why people with an iodine deficiency may also suffer from hair loss.'

4. Boost brain power 

Dr Newman-Beinart explained that an iodine deficiency may end up affecting your IQ, according to certain studies.

She said: 'Scientists collated over 20 studies looking at the relationship between iodine status and IQ, and all of the studies found that iodine deficiency was associated with lower IQ.'

'Research has also found that people with lower thyroid hormone levels demonstrated poorer performance on memory tasks than those with higher levels.'

5. Support your child's intelligence 

'Not many people know that iodine deficiency is the most common cause of preventable mental impairment in the world,' Dr Newman-Beinart said.

'Scientists found that low iodine levels in pregnancy were related to a 60 per cent greater risk of their child having low verbal intelligence and poor reading skills during their early years.

'For this very reason, the World Health Organisation recommends higher levels of iodine during pregnancy to support the child’s developing brain.'