Words on Wellness: Seaweed
The ocean roils with big rollers as winter storms up-root seaweeds, tossing them upon the beach for us to examine - a perfect reminder of the importance of this plant community as food for a healthy marine environment as well as our bodies. Seaweed or sea vegetables, are algae that grow in oceans and come in red, green and brown with shades in-between. Always a precious food and trade item for humans, we now use seaweed in sushi rolls, desserts, soups/stews, salads, supplements, smoothies, body care and many industries. They are so highly nutritious, that eating small amounts with consistency results in multiple benefits.
Seaweeds concentrate iodine and tyrosine, both necessary building blocks for the thyroid gland and helpful in preventing cancer and cardiovascular disease. Iodine content varies among species, where they grow and how they are processed, for example, when boiled for 15 minutes, seaweeds can lose 40-90% of its iodine content though their mineral content will remain. Sprinkling dried seaweed on your food not only adds taste and texture to your meal, but will boost your intake of iodine, vitamins and minerals, especially in the winter when our bodies crave bone-building nutrients. All algae contains proteins (essential amino acids), riboflavin, thiamine, iron, manganese , copper and small amounts of vitamins A, C, E and K, along with folate, zinc, sodium, calcium and magnesium, plus essential fatty acids. It also appears that dried green and purple seaweeds contain substantial amounts of vitamin B12. Unlike kale and spinach, seaweed has pre-formed omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, can be a reliable source of omega-3 for vegetarians and vegans. These omega-3 fats might also be why seaweed consumption is linked to low cholesterol.
All seaweeds boast beneficial flavonoids and carotenoids that protect cells from free radical damage. Fucoxanthin is the main carotenoid found in brown algae and it has nearly fourteen times the antioxidant capacity as vitamin E. This same carotenoid along with fiber the plant provides, aids in insulin release, reducing blood sugar spikes. Plus, sea veggies contain complex polysaccharides that support gut health by increasing the growth of “good” gut bacteria and nourishing the cells lining the gut. You can soak seaweed in drinking water overnight to ‘soften’ water, making it more absorbable for your body. You can also luxuriate in a hot seaweed bath to soften and rehydrate winter skin.
