Health Benefits of Seaweed
Seaweeds have been used as food and medicine for millennia. They are extremely high in minerals. In fact, seaweed is 20-50% mineral by dry weight! Potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, sulfur, phosphorous, vanadium, cobalt, manganese, selenium, iodine, and iron are all found in seaweed.
Crave Salty Foods?
Do you crave salty foods? Your body may be trying to tell you that it wants more potassium. Potassium tastes up to 8 times saltier than sodium! Since seaweeds are a great source of all minerals, eating seaweeds regularly can add a natural combination of minerals that can decrease cravings, support mood, energy, mental health, and the nervous system.
Iodine
One of the most important nutrients found in seaweed is iodine. Iodine is an essential nutrient, critical to the health and development of the thyroid gland and endocrine system. Iodine shortages can lead to thyroid dysfunction which can cause a whole host of issues, including decreased calcium absorption and perhaps osteoporosis, chronic fatigue, depression, decreased immunity.
Algin
Another key nutrient in seaweed is a compound called align. It is what makes seaweed slimy! Algin has great therapeutic value as a heavy metal detoxifying agent. When added to the diet, the align in seaweed can bind heavy metals in the food or water and carry them out through the stool since align is not very digestible.
Carrageenan
Carageenan is a polymer found in red seaweeds. Red seaweeds have been used for millennia to treat respiratory ailments, sore mouths and throats, sinus infections, and lingering pneumonia. As it turns out, Carageenan is now a very common food additive as a thickener, gelling agent, and preservative. It is even added to personal care products and even paint! Unfortunately, much of the carrageenan has been synthetically made and there are health risks and increased rates of cancer from eating this synthetic product. It is best to use carrageenan extracted from boiling fresh red seaweed for about an hour.
Essential Fatty Acids
Most seaweeds are rich in vitamins (especially B vitmains) and omega-3 fatty acids. Nori, contains 3% omega-3 fatty acids and large amounts of vitamins A and C.
Thyroid Hormones
Thyroid hormones and their precursors are abundant in seaweeds. One particular type of seaweed, Fucus (or bladderwrack) contains DIT, a compound that when joined together with another DIT, makes T4, the active thyroid hormone. Therapeutic effects of using Fucus (3-5grams a day) include: shrinking of goiters, supporting thyroid hormone production, weight loss, improved energy, mental clarity, and resolution of eczema.
Don’t like the taste?
Powder your seaweed and add to strongly flavored foods and spices. Examples include cayenne, curry, garlic, chili powder, or vinegar. You can also add the powder to vegetable and bone broths to get some extra minerals and nutrients, while also salting your soup!
It takes time
Seaweeds can be hard to digest if we do not have the right gut bacteria to break it down. Eating small amounts everyday will encourage your gut flora to adapt to breaking down the seaweeds and giving you the nutrients. For this reason, it may take a few months to notice any improvements from seaweed intake.
5 Quick Ways to Get More Seaweed in Your Diet
1. Powder seaweed and use it instead of table salt to season your food.
2. Add powdered seaweed to spice mixtures like curry or spicy mixes to flavor your food.
3. Add seaweed to vegetable, fish, or bone broths to increase mineral content and season your soups.
4. Make sushi!
5. Toast Nori with a little bit of garlic, pepper, and olive oil for a simple side dish.
Resources:
Erhart, Shep, & Cerier, Leslie. Sea Vegetable Celebration. 2001. Book Publishing Co. ISBN 1-57067-123-0.
