I have read countless times how good Kelp is and to get a testted or clean supplement free of metals etc., but ont he phone yesterday I talk to a guy who sells Thorvin Kelp which is from Iceland and needless to say he says all of the Kelps and things like that from the sea will have metals in it and thats just a given! He says most will avoid the question nor test their products or post things about it as far as metals go! Thorvin he said is the cleanest and check out the Aluminum content on the link below. I called him to ask him about that and he did not dodge it and answered me right away, he called me several times back to answer me too so he is very thorough. It seems you can't avoid the metals in these things, yikes!!!!http://www.thorvin.com/kelp_for_plant_analysis.htm

Thorvin
Certified Organic
Ascophyllum nodosum
Typical Analysis

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Ingredients: Certified Organic dried marine algae sea vegetation, species Ascophyllum nodosum, a product of Iceland.

General (Average %)

Moisture 09.0
Crude Protein 08.5
Crude Fiber 04.0

Total Ash (minerals) 29.0

Fat 02.0

Carbohydrates (nitrogen free extracts) 47.5

Total 100.0

Major Elements

Ca Calcium 2.1%
Cl Chlorine 6.5%

K Potassium 2.7%
Mg Magnesium 0.85%
N Nitrogen 1.4%

Na Sodium 4.0%
P Phosphorus 0.3%
S Sulphur 2.8%
Minor Elements

(parts per million – ppm)

Al Aluminum 289

As Arsenic (FCC) <3

B Boron 98
Cd Cadmium 1
Co Cobalt 4
Cr Chromium 0.8

Cu Copper 4
Fe Iron 622

Hg Mercury 0.4
I Iodine 780

Mn Manganese 60

Mo Molybdenum 2
Pb Lead <5
Se Selenium 0.3

Sn Tin 6.5

Zn Zinc 12

Vitamins

A Retinol 390 ppb

B2 Riboflavine 4.9 ppm
B3 Niacin 182.6 ppm
C Ascorbic Acid 375 ppm

D Cholcalciferol 150 ppb
E Alphatocopherol 110 ppm

Amino Acids
(% of total Amino Acids)

Alanine 5.52 Lysine 4.24

Arginine 5.47 Methionine 1.07
Aspartic Acid 9.88 Phenylalanine 3.54
Cystine 1.49 Proline 3.71
Glycine 5.70 Serine 4.92

Glutamic Acid 12.03 Threonine 4.60

Histidine 1.29 Tryptophan 1.68
Iisoleucine 3.26 Tyrosine 3.52

Leucine 5.63 Valine 3.51

Thorvin Kelp is a 100% natural organic marine algae product. Therefore, a specific laboratory analysis may vary from the typical analysis due to naturally occurring fluctuations in the sea plant. The information presented above is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, Thorvin Kelp, USA makes no warranty, either express or implied, and assumes no liability for this information and the product described herein. These are averages and are not guaranteed as conditions of sale.

A small amount of kelp taken for short periods of time won't hurt you. If you want to take plenty though, and use it for a long period of time, you might run into problems. There are articles about one woman who got arsenic poisoning from taking 2 to 4 kelp tablets a day for 2 years. Since there are better forms of iodine to take, and other fibers can be used for detoxification, I don't really see a reason to take it.

Yeah I read that man, but what kind did she take and was it tested? If it were just tablets probably not, not a reputable company nor something to take alot long term. I know the guy I talked to said www.seaveg.com had the best and go there, perhaps they are the cleanest and safe to consume regularly? Not too much though I agree, but their Dulse was good to me and Kelp too in moderation. I know the stuff can be very good for you, but talking to him and him saying they all contained metals scared me. He did say theirs was very low in Mercury and Arsenic though, so I was happy he said that much! THE Aluminum was the only thing that scared me with the tests, it was higher than most on there. Some say take a good one daily and then you get this too? What to believe? I guess all foods can be bad for you and contain things, I guess finding the best and cleanest is what to look for correct? What would you do JK? I want to take some for the benefits at a low dose, but don't want to get worse.

Also in the clean Kelp would the minerals defuse or offset the little amount of metals and render then harmless? Thats another thing to think of. Iodine and Selenium can do just that, and they are in Kelp and Dulse! Would they help render it harmless if a good brand is used and be of benefit? Minerals are key to health, and they are high in them naturally. Yes there is other forms of iodine to take but at what cost? Isolated inorganic without other minerals in there with it to balance? Minerals are a balance, take one too long and too much it causes other problems and deficiencies, a whole food won't do that and is balanced by nature and what you need a whole. I try to stay away from supplements that are isolated, they never did me any good aside from magnesium which eventually did not work over time either. Food has always done me better.

I forgot the brand name of the tablets she took. If you do a Google search of kelp arsenic, you will find several articles, and at least one mentions the brand name. The article said that they tested several brands of kelp tablets they bought off store shelves, and all except one had arsenic levels that were too high.

she took kelp tablets, each provising 225 mcg of iodine.

"What would you do JK? "

I think it is probably best to avoid kelp if you have another source of iodine supplements you can take. Those who don't, would probably be okay taking one kelp tablet a day for a month or two.

She probably got a cheap untested brand though, the one I am looking at or have used is from www.seaveg.com they are tested and some of the best you can find, so I have read and tried. Dulse from them was great IMO, why can't I use something everyday from something like that when we eat bad things everyday or breathe or drink it? This is alot healthier than somes diets IMO or water, but only for a few months? I agree and disagree tehre, if you get the right kind which is low in metals anhd high in minerals then the minerals should offset that and actually negate the harm from little metals. I want to get a good brand, perhaps that seaveg is the best to use and is very safe and healthy? Who knows, but isolated iodine is not what I wnat to do, anything inorganic and Isolated is not for me as it causes further imbalances over time too. So many questions, every one has an opinion and too little answers. I guess we have to see and do for ourselves. I still think a low level of metals and high minerals would be very good! I am still trying to find one that works JK.

Whats funny is that they keep using this one lady and I heard it and you heard it over and over for proof, but didn't they do that with tryptophan too and even the BLUE guy as well from a dude who took too much for too long and turned blue (Colloidal home made). They rarely mention the brand and how much they took and so on, but these appear to be isolated incidences and they use them over and over to scare you away from things that are actually good for you if taken right and the right supplement?

I found the article that mentions the brand she took.

http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2007/10393/letter.html

Even if a brand says it is tested, how well is it tested? at what concentrations of toxic metals is the batch discarded?

Icerlandic supposed to be clean too and one of the best! WOW. Maybe I should take Alfalfa instead and the spices you mention to get some of those things? Thanks for that man, I will take that into consideration and think of it more, and even at the bottom of the thing I posted before says it varies per patch, so some may contain more than smoe more. Good post and thanks alot, I will try to avoid it now, maybe thats why I feel weird after a week or so taking it.

Good Alfalfa, do you see or hear about a problem with that?

NSP products are tested to comply with California's strict contamination laws. I take kelp in the form of a product called Thyroid Support and it helps me tremendously with achy muscles from heavy metal contamination from current spraying campaigns.

Thyroid Support

Thanks RUSS!!!