Health - Including Sea Weed in Your Diet

Sea weeds - fondly called sea vegetables - have been around since the beginning of time, but it is only in the last century or so that the goodness of these natural plants have finally been put to good use. These amazing plants have a very high mineral/nutrient content [rich in vitamins, iron, iodine, protein, potassium, calcium and magnesium] which promotes good health and helps increase a persons energy level.

I am going to focus this article on the most popular of the 'sea vegetables', giving you information on the what, where, nutrients, uses, benefits and preparation [cooked and raw] of each.

KELP

A giant seaweed that can grow amazingly fast [up to a foot a day] and can stand as tall as a twenty storey building [about 200 feet].

Found mostly on rocky shorelines in the mid latitudes of the world, this plant thrives in cool, clear and salty water that has nutrients in abundance and a gentle tidal motion.

Kelp contains the following nutrients:

vitamins A, B, E, D and K
a source of vitamin C
minerals

Used for the following:

as a salt substitute
as flavor for a assortment of drinks and meals

Health benefits of kelp:

controls body weight
supports the functioning of the heart
aids in digestion
assists in the elimination of waste
boosts the immune system
aids the liver functions
reduces the pain of arthritis
and increases a persons energy

Preparation of this vegetable:

this vegetable is tasty when roasted, boiled, pickled, sauteed or marinated
For the raw food eater - try it in a salad mixed with bean and lentil sprouts, dribble with a almond butter to add to the taste

WAKAME

This is a dark brown plant with fronds that are around 12 inches wide and 2 to 4 feet long. Soft in texture with a slightly crunchy stem.

Wakame is native to and enjoys the cold coastal areas of Japan, Korea and China [it has become one of the most invasive species around and has established itself in New Zealand, the United States, France, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Argentina and Australia].

Wakame contains the following nutrients:

High in protein
calcium rich

Used for the following:

to assist hair growth and improve its luster
to improve skin tone

Health benefits of wakame:

helps burn off fatty tissue
blood purification
intestinal strength
assisting with the menstrual cycle
and reproductive organs

Preparation of this vegetable:

usually dried or salted
used in soups
raw vegetable eaters generally use it in salads or as a side dish to a main meal.

NORI

Nori is the name the Japanese use when they talk about edible seaweed, it combines a variety of different seaweed species into one flat sheet.

Japan, Korea and China are the biggest makers of this edible sheet of seaweed.

Nori contains the following nutrients:

calcium
zinc
iodine
with a high protein content
and low in cholesterol

Used for the following:

Sold in dry sheets and used to wrap around some forms of sushi. Nori is considered best to eat raw.

Try to add these gems of the sea to your diet, as you can see by the information above the healthy nutrients in the plants will keep you healthy, give you a good sense of well-being and leave you bursting with extra energy.