5 Seaweeds That Enrich Your Diet

 

Sea vegetables have a broad range of medicinal uses and have been used in spas and therapeutic baths for ages.

Popular misconception: Seaweeds are fishy tasting.

Properly harvested, dried, and stored seaweeds do not acquire a fishy taste.

Seaweeds are high in nutrients and in general contain more minerals than vegetables, meat, milk or eggs.

MINERALS: Sea vegetables are excellent sources of most minerals, especially potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, nitrogen, iron, zinc, boron, copper, manganese, chromium, selenium, bromine, vanadium and nickel.

VITAMINS: Most sea vegetables are excellent sources of the known vitamins (A, Bs, especially B12, C, D, E, and K) as well as essential fatty acids.


1) Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana)

Nereo: Greek meaning mermaid Cystis: Greek meaning bladder

Common names: Bullwhip Kelp, Ribbon Kelp, Sea Kelp

Taste: when dry it has fresh salty ocean taste.

How to use in food:

Bull Kelp (once dried) is one of the tastiest seaweeds. It’s fine and tender, easy to eat, and no cooking or soaking is required. It is usually used as a seasoning, sprinkled into foods such as salads, soups, quinoa, rice, pasta etc. Also, try enjoying kelp as a salty snack.

Nutrition:

Rich in calcium, magnesium, sodium, iodine, potassium, bromine, phosphorus, iron, bulk fiber, vitamin B complex, and vitamins A, C, D, E, and K.

Medicinal uses:

Treats Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), hyperactivity, insomnia, depression, hostility, schizophrenia, mineral depletion, heartburn, and improves electrical nerve flow and fibromyalgia.

Baths and Spa uses:

Place a handful of kelp in a piece of cotton. Tie closed. Toss in hot bath. Squeeze gently and seaweed gel (algin) will be released in bath water. Add gel to face for a Seaweed facial.


2) Kombu (laminaria spp.*) includes L. digitata

Laminaria means thin leaf, digitata means finger

Common names: broadleaf kelp, devil’s apron, horsetail kelp, finger kelp

Taste: When dry kombu has a salty, natural monosodium glutamate taste. It is tough and once you chew it, it becomes slimy. Kombu tastes best when cooked.

How to use in food:

Chop into bite size pieces and cook with your rice, quinoa, stews, and beans (improves digestibility), shred and pickle, or roast and crumble on food.

Add a peace of Kombu (or Wakame) to beans at they cook. This will make the beans easier to digest and stop gas.

Nutrition:

High in iodine, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, sodium, chromium, protein, mannitol, phosphorus, alginate, fucoidan, laminarin, carotene, phytohormones, vitamin A, C, D, E, K and B complex vitamins.

Medicinal Uses of Kombu:

Anti-viral, relieves sore joints and muscles, lowers high blood pressure, improves sleep, heals tissue, treats certain thyroid problems, aids weight loss, and inhibits tumors.

Baths and Spas uses:

Place a handful of Kombu in a piece of cotton. Tie closed. Toss in hot bath. Squeeze gently and seaweed gel (Algin) will be released in bath water. Add gel to face for a Seaweed facial.


3) Bladderwrack (Fucus spp.*) includes F. gardneri F. Vesiculosus

Fucus: greek for seaweed. Bladder, because the seaweed’s air filled bulbs resemble “bladders.” And, wrack comes from the Old English meaning: seaweed

Common names: pop weed, rock weed.

Taste: when dry it has a fresh oyster taste with a hint of iodine. Very flavorful.

How to use in food:

Make a mineral and iodine-rich broth, cook into rice, quinoa, seafood chowders, soups, and stews. Or, soak, chop, and cook into stir fry.

Nutrition:

Rich in iodine, calcium, potassium, protein, mannitol, phosphorus, alginate, fucoidan, phytohormones, laminarin, vitamins A, C, D, E, K and B complex vitamins.

Medicinal Uses of Bladderwrack:

Stimulates the thyroid, detoxifies, aids in weight loss, helps fibromyalgia, reduces fatigue, strengthens bones, and reduces inflammation. Bladderwrack also improves mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, and improves memory.

Baths and Spas uses:

Place a handful of Bladderwrack in a piece of cotton. Tie closed. Toss in hot bath. Squeeze gently and seaweed gel (Algin) will be released in bath water. Add gel to face for a Seaweed facial.


4) Giant Kelp (Macrocystis integrifolia), Greek meaning Macro large cystis bladder

Common names: Pacific kelp, brown kelp

Taste: when dry, mild salty taste

How to use in food:

Cook into soups, rice, quinoa, stews, beans, fish chowder. Or, cut into thin strips and add to stir frys. For a snack, toast kelp in a hot frying pan with no oil. It takes only seconds and you can eat it like a chip!

Nutrition:

High in algin, mannitol, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, nitrogen, iron, zinc, boron, copper, manganese, chromium, selenium, bromine, vanadium, nickel, vitamin A, B vitamins (especially B12), C, D, E, and K, as well as essential fatty acids.

Medicinal Uses of Macrocystis:

Supports a healthy thyroid, regulates hormones and metabolism, supports the immune system, provides antioxidants, and keeps your heart healthy.

Baths and Spas uses:

Place a handful of macro in a piece of cotton. Tie closed. Toss in hot bath. Squeeze gently and seaweed gel (algin) will be released in bath water. Add gel to face for a seaweed facial.


5) Wakame (Alaria spp.*) includes (Alaria marginata)

Alaria is Greek for wing and wakame is Japanese for young girl.

Common names: winged kelp

Taste: when dry, salty, savoury taste

How to use in food:

Eat as a snack right out of the bag. Chop and cook into rice and quinoa, soups, casseroles, stews, beans, and toast. Or, grind with a coffee mill and sprinkle flakes on salads, sandwiches, rice, etc.

Nutrition: high in calcium, protein, iron, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, chromium, zinc, iodine. Rich in B complex vitamins, vitamin A, C, and K.

Medicinal Uses of Wakame: Discourages tumors, Detoxifying, Aids congestion, Lowers blood pressure, Nourishing to the liver, Purifies the blood, Prevents arteriosclerosis, Healthy for the skin and hair etc.

Baths and Spas uses:
Place a handful of Wakame in a piece of cotton. Tie closed. Toss in hot bath. Squeeze gently and seaweed gel (algin) will be released in bath water. Add gel to face for a Seaweed facial.

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