You might have heard of the new fad in healthy eating,
The Seaweed.
So what is it?
Seaweed actually describes a group of plants and algae that grow in the oceans, rivers,
lakes and other bodies of water.
It’s highly nutritious and an important food source for marine life.
But, seaweed is equally beneficial for us humans, too!
You will be surprised to know that seaweed has been an item of human consumption for
thousands of years.
There is also evidence which supports the fact that seaweed was used by ancient Greeks
in medicine.
Some of the healthiest seaweeds are Nori, kelp, Wakame and Kombu.
In today’s video we will tell you the health benefits of each seaweed which can range from
protecting your heart to helping you lose weight and much more.
So stay tuned to find out what they are!
Helps in Blood Clot During Injury:
Seaweed is loaded with vitamin K, which is a fat-soluble nutrient.
Vitamin K communicates with the platelets in your body and can stop the flow of blood
from a wound in case of injury.
Some types of seaweed can help you reach your daily recommended vitamin K intake of 90 micrograms
for women or 120 for men.
A cup of kelp contains 26 micrograms of the nutrient which is 29 or 22 percent of the
daily vitamin K requirements for women or men, respectively.
You can make delicious Kelp Salad by Rolling about 250 grams of kelp and cutting it into
thin shreds.
Then wash the kelp in cold water for 1 or 2 minutes to remove extra saltness.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and place the shredded kelp, cook for 2 minutes.
Drain and add light soy sauce, vinegar, chopped scallion, chopped chili peppers and chopped
garlic.
Heat Chinese cooking oil until hot and
Helps with Thyroid Function:
Seaweed is rich in Iodine and Tyrosine, both of which help thyroid function.
Your thyroid controls everything from metabolism to your heart rate.
A healthy thyroid helps maintain energy and stabilizes your body weight.
If you don’t feed your thyroid with the proper nutrients, it can lead to fatigue,
body swelling, and sudden and uncontrollable weight change.
Healthy thyroid function is also known to be a powerful tool in preventing depression.
You can use nori seaweed to make a delicious seaweed dip.
Finely grind three toasted nori sheets in a spice mill or a blender.
Mix nori, one cup mayonnaise, and two teaspoons of lime juice in a small bowl, season with
for taste.
Aids in Digestion:
Seaweed has been shown to have a mild laxative effect on your stomach which is quite useful
in maintaining healthy digestion.
It aids in stimulating the release of digestive enzymes, supporting the absorption of nutrients,
and facilitating the metabolism of fats.
This helps with the normal functioning of beneficial stomach bacteria, shields your
stomach wall against harmful bacteria and smoothes digestion.
Good For your Heart Health:
Seaweed is also very good for your heart health.
It is full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and ant i inflammatory properties which help
reduce the risk of heart disease.
Wakame can reduce your cholesterol and lower your body weight, which has a positive impact
on your heart.
Wakame Seaweed is especially good in this regard.
We have an easy Wakame soup recipe for you.
In a pot over medium heat, take 1 teaspoon dry wakame, 2 tablespoons corn, 1 tablespoon
cooking sake, 450 ml low sodium chicken stock soy sauce, a pinch of salt and pepper and
bring to a boil.
Lower heat to a simmer, add cornstarch and water mix and stir until sauce thickens.
Turn the heat off, transfer to a bowl and top with scallions and chili oil.
Helps With Weight Loss:
Seaweeds like Kelp are loaded with Alginate, which is a type of natural fiber.
It has been shown to help in digestion and reduce fat absorption in your body.
Eating seaweed can reduce fat digestion in your body.
Fiber also helps you to feel full faster and for longer periods of time while preventing
overeating helping you lose weight.
It also helps control your blood sugar levels and keeps your bowels moving.
You can try this tasty and healthy kelp seaweed snack which is very easy to make.
Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan.
Cut kelp into 1.5 x 1.5 inch squares with scissors.
Once the oil is hot, throw in a handful of kelp pieces and start frying.
The kelp pieces should balloon or flower in just seconds.
When they have floated to the top, leave them to fry a couple more seconds and take them
out.
Gives You Energy:
Seaweed in high in Iron and Iron can help you produce the energy needed to fuel your
day-to-day activities. It also helps nourish your circulatory system improving blood flow
to your tissues.
Low iron levels can cause iron-deficiency anemia, a condition characterized by decreased
energy levels, a pale complexion and shortness of breath.
A cup of kelp or wakame seaweed offers about 1.1 or 0.8 milligram of iron.
You can buy wakame seaweed crisps and eat them straight out of the bag as a snack.
They are low-calorie, yet super savory and satisfying.
Helps your Brain Function Better:
Seaweed, especially Kombu seaweed is a great source of Glutamate which is one of the most
essential transmitters for brain function.
It is vital in the process of brain cell communication.
Consuming glutamate on a regular basis can lead to higher cognitive function and often,
better memories.
It is especially beneficial for the elderly and those who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
or dementia.
You can try this easy Kombu broth recipe.
Combine the water and kombu in a 1-quart or larger saucepan and soak the kombu for at
least 8 hours or overnight.
Now, place the same saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer.
Continue to simmer and then remove the kombu from the water just before it comes to a full
boil.
Pour the broth through a fine-mesh strainer set.
You can enjoy the broth immediately or keep it refrigerated or frozen.
Helps Strengthen Your Bones:
Seaweed is one of the best non dairy sources of calcium.
Calcium is essential to increase your bone growth and bone repair.
As you age, your bone density decreases.
Bone loss can lead to an increased risk of fractures.
Smaller amounts of calcium can also help your muscles contract, aid in cell communication
and contribute to nervous system function.
Both kelp and wakame contain around 60 milligrams of calcium, or 6 percent of your daily calcium
requirements.
Helps Dental Care:
Seaweed extracts have long been appreciated for their preventative effect in the growth
of cavities.
Their anti inflammatory properties are responsible for improving your salivary glands and making
the oral tissues more resistant to damage.
Certain types of enzymes present on the surface of seaweed can attack and remove plaque as
well.
As mentioned earlier, the presence of Alginate, which a salt of alginic acid extracted from
seaweed, is quite useful in the fabrication of dental molds.
Promotes Anti Aging:
Seaweed, whether applied topically or ingested, is great for combating acne and signs of aging.
It has minerals like calcium, zinc, iron, sodium, potassium and magnesium which reduce
inflammation and help protect your skin from dehydration, free radicals and sun damage.
The presence of vitamin C in seaweed provides you the added beauty benefit of supporting
collagen production.
It also contains natural niacin which is great for hyperpigmentation and blemishes.
Chlorella is another type of cleansing seaweed that is helpful for removing toxins, heavy
metals and radiation.
Improves Eyesight:
Seaweed is a great source of Vitamin A which is majorly responsible for preventing ocular
degeneration and night blindness.
Vitamin A is also used by your lung tissue to guard against the same kind of tissue degeneration
It also contains small amounts of essential omega-3 fatty acids which is good for your
eye health.
Additionally, seaweed contains astaxanthin, a powerful nutrient that protects your eyesight.
Spirulina seaweed is especially beneficial in this regard and you can make an easy smoothie
with it.
Just mix 1 ripe banana, ½ cup sliced cucumber, 1 cup coconut milk, 1 cup of spinach and 1
tablespoon spirulina in a blender.
Blend all the ingredients until creamy and smooth.
Keeps Blood Sugar in Check:
Seaweed is rich in Fiber and that makes it good for those with diabetes and keeping blood
sugar levels regular.
High amounts of fiber help regulate your blood glucose levels and insulin levels.
Adding seaweed to your diet may help increase your fiber intake without a large increase
in calories.
Seaweed has also been found to directly reduce markers of type 2 diabetes, such as high blood
sugar.
Boosts Your Mood:
This may be one of the more interesting benefits of Seaweed.
Chlorella, a type of seaweed has been found to have an effect on symptoms of depression
and anxiety in patients who were suffering from major depressive disorder.
You can find Chlorella Supplements readily available at drug stores and online.
Make sure you get high quality chlorella as low-quality supplements may contain mercury
or they may not have a cracked cell wall, making them useless to your body.
You can also add chlorella to a vinaigrette dressing to get the healthy benefits while
masking its strong fishy taste.
Try adding a half-teaspoon to a serving of bottled dressing.
Whisk, and add more powder if desired.
Have you ever eaten seaweed?
Do you like the taste?
Let us know if you try any of these recipes in the comments section below.