Kelp, commonly referred to as seaweed, grows along coastlines all around the world. Botanically it is classified as algae and is a rich source of natural vitamins and minerals, including essential trace minerals. Kelp is dependent upon the sea for its nourishment -- an excellent source since the sea is the repository of all the minerals that have been washed from the land through the millennia. The plant can grow as much as two feet per day, and the entire plant is used in herbology. 

Kelp is especially high in iodine, which must be present for proper glandular function and metabolism. It also contains iron, sodium, phosphorus and calcium, as well as magnesium and potassium. Kelp is a source of vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D and E, plus amino acids. Kelp also makes a popular salt substitute. Because the plant’s nutrients come in a natural form, they can all be absorbed by the body in these capsules.