Seaweed: A Superfood
Seaweeds have been used for thousands of years for their ability to prolong life, prevent disease and impart beauty and health and actually they benefit so many of the different issues we have already spoken about.
Seaweed is classified as a superfood because it contains the broadest range of minerals of any organism (10-20 x the minerals of land plants) & an abundance of other vitamins, amino acids & omega-3’s. Seaweed is especially high iodine, calcium, magnesium + iron - for context: Hijiki, arame an wakame each contain 10x the calcium of milk. Sea lettuce 25x, hijiki 8x + wakame/kelp 4 x the iron of beef.
Properties of seaweed include:
Beneficial for weight loss/management + blood sugar regulation- seaweed gives a massive boost of minerals/vitamins but has a low calorie content and a high fibre content - also contains something called fucoxanthin which helps decrease fat accumulation. Seaweeds also help manage insulin sensitivity and promote better glycemic control.
Lower bad cholesterol / fat in blood - improving the ratio of low to high density lipoproteins
Are cooling, moisten dryness & transform phlegm (relive phlegmy coughs) - (if you have diarrhoea or are a cold constitutional person maybe better to avoid in high doses, but great for people that always feel hot or suffer from any dryness)
Soften hardened areas, masses, swellings, nodules, lumps, swollen glands, & fibroids - in ancient Chinese texts “there is no swelling that can’t be relieved by seaweed”
Good for the skin (esp redness/lumps), eg acne, psoriasis + decrease collagen breakdown
Detoxify & act as lymphatic cleansers, seaweeds ‘activate’ the liver and are great for excretion of sex hormones (for women, eat lots pre period!)
Diuretic & improve water metabolism - hence helps relieve oedema (water retention)
Are alkalising (remember an acidic internal environment in the body increases the growth of cancer cells - alkaline kills cancer cells)
Beneficial to the thyroid (iodine content)
Used in cancer treatments & removes residues of radiation in the body
FIBER - Contains mucilage (type of gel like fibre) that specifically rejuvenates the lungs and gastrointestinal tract - this also enhances good bacteria and nourishes an inflamed gut - eg with ulcers or in Ulcerative Colitis.
Antioxidant + Anti inflammatory properties- especially fucoxanthin (a carotenoid found in brown eg wakame)
Relieves candida overgrowth - the iodine ‘deactivates’ yeast + they contain selenium and many other minerals necessary for re-building immunity.
They are classified by colour - determining which spectrum of light is available to the plant for photosynthesis: eg red (dulse, nori, laver), brown (kelp, bladderwrack, wakame), green (sea lettuce, spongeweed).
Dulse - softer, chewy texture. It is usually eaten in its dried form as a snack.
Kelps - usually dried into sheets and added during cooking. Maybe, soaked in water to soften them before eating.
Kombu - is a brown kelp popular for its strong, mineral-rich flavour which is often used in soups.
Arame - is another kelp which has a mildly sweet flavour and firm texture which makes it an appealing addition to many dishes. It is sometimes sold as granules or flakes and is a salt substitute.
Kelp - noodles are a good gluten-free alternative.
Sea vegetables can be kept dried (in dark glass jars) for years, fresh need to be washed and stored in the fridge. They should all be ‘freshened in water’ i.e. soaked before use as this makes them far easier to digest - you can keep them in the fridge soaking or drained and can use the liquid for cooking grains in/soups to keep the nutrients there too.
In fact adding soaked seaweed to the water you are cooking grains in e.g. rice/beans/lentils is a super easy way to dramatically increase the mineral/vitamin content of the food you’re cooking, and softens the grain making it easier to digest, plus it doesn’t affect the taste at all.
It is important where seaweed you eat originates from - obviously certain parts of the oceans are heavily polluted and so seaweed that is unclean/inorganic can contain heavy metals - although it is useful to know that seaweed does detoxify heavy metals too.