The Superpowers of Seaweed
Although it may not have the most appetizing appearance, seaweed is one of nature’s superfoods that you don’t want to pass up. Why?
Seaweed is one of the most nutrient dense foods in the world due to its abundance of vitamins and minerals such as iodine, thiamin, iron, manganese, copper, and trace amounts of vitamins A, B12, C, E, and K, as well as folic, zinc, sodium, calcium, potassium, and omega-3 fats. Therefore, including seaweed in your diet has many benefits.
What are some of the benefits of seaweed in your diet?
Because of its iodine content, seaweed is great for improving thyroid health as many suffer from thyroid dysfunction due to a lack of iodine in their diet. Iodine is vital for thyroid health as the thyroid depends on iodine for hormone production and therefore, when the thyroid does not have enough iodine, many bodily functions will be affected.
Seaweed contains many antioxidants such as Vitamin A, C, and E that help the body rid of free radicals in addition to preventing further cell damage.
Fiber content in seaweed is beneficial to the digestive tract because it can help improve balance in gut bacteria by helping increase good bacteria in the gut. It is essential to promote good gut bacteria growth as this is our first line of defense against disease. A healthy gut equals a healthy immune system.
The omega-3 content in seaweed has been known to help reduce bad cholesterol levels and helps prevent blood clotting, reducing stress on the cardiovascular system.
Did you know…?
There are three different types of edible seaweed to choose from.
Red:
-includes over 7,000 species
-most popular is nori, which is commonly used for wrapping sushi
-dulse, also part of this category, looks like red-leaf lettuce when fresh
-Irish moss is used to make the popular food binder, carrageenan
Brown:
-includes over 2,000 species
-most popular is kelp
-other well-known species are kombu, arame, and wakame, which are typically used in Asian soups, rice dishes, and in snacks
Green:
-most popular is chlorella, which is often sold in supplement form, great support for detox (liver) as it binds to heavy metals and removes from the body
Please consult with your health practitioner before adding to your diet especially if you are on medications.