(And Why You Should Eat It Every Day)
When we talk about the healthy aspects of the Asian diet, sea vegetables often get overlooked. Yet something as humble as seaweed makes up about 10% of the Japanese diet? It’s packed with vitamins, minerals, protein, and powerful antioxidants.
Research suggests these sea veggies might be a key factor in the lower breast cancer rates among Japanese women. Beyond antioxidants, they also have anti-bacterial properties and are a fantastic source of non-digestible fibre, benefiting bowel flora and offering protection against radiation.
Benefit #1: Iodine – What is it and why do you need it? Iodine is crucial for your health. Without enough iodine, your thyroid gland can enlarge (leading to goiter), causing hypothyroidism with symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, constipation, and even depression. Left untreated, this could escalate to heart disease or cancer. Seaweed, especially kelp, is a phenomenal source of iodine, containing 20 times more than any land-based plant.
Benefit #2: Antioxidants & Anti-Inflammatory Agents – How does seaweed protect against diseases? Seaweed is rich in antioxidants that prevent oxidative stress from damaging your cells. One standout is fucoidan, an anti-inflammatory compound found in brown algae. Regular consumption of seaweed can reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like osteoporosis, obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type II diabetes, and certain cancers. Plus, seaweed helps detoxify your body by soaking up excess radiation and heavy metals.
Benefit #3: Protein – How much protein is in seaweed? You might be surprised at how much protein seaweed offers. For instance, just one sheet of nori (about 7 grams) provides nearly half a gram of protein. Eating several sheets a day, along with other sea vegetables, can significantly boost your protein intake without relying on meat. Seaweed proteins come with a bonus of essential vitamins and minerals too!
Benefit #4: Vitamins – What vitamins are in different types of seaweed? Different types of seaweed offer unique sets of vitamins and minerals:
- Nori: Niacin, riboflavin, folate, thiamin, B6, B12, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, chromium, selenium.
- Dulse: Iron, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur, vanadium, nickel, cobalt.
- Kombu: Vitamin C, B6, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, B12, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, sulfates, silica.
- Wakame: Magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, iodine, sodium, choline, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, bromophenols.
Here in Cornwall, I’ve been making a delicious seaweed butter. Here’s a recipe for you to try.
Bali never runs out of surprises. In 2022, Phylipa and I took a ferry from Bali to Nusa Ceningan, a small island in the Nusa group. Many islanders there have turned to seaweed farming as their primary income source.
I’ve tried a few different sources before settling on Magic Tree in the UK
Graeme Dinnen
ResourcesForLIfe.net
Collecting seaweed….
Seaweed farms are in shallow waters (Nusa Ceningan, Bali
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