The Seaweed Diet

Seaweed has always been famously known for its starring role in Japanese cuisine. Now, it is gradually getting incorporated into more and more dishes.

Why?

Among the many benefits consuming of seaweed brings to our health, you will find the following:

Excellent source of iodine: Your thyroid depends on iodine to produce hormones that repair damaged cells in your body. Without iodine, you might experience weight changes, fatigue and swelling of the neck. Seaweed is rich in iodine because of its unique ability to absorb it from the ocean. In fact, while the recommended daily intake of iodine rests at 150mcg, a single teaspoon of dry kelp contains 59 times this amount. 

Full of vitamins and minerals: While the exact set of nutrients will depend on the type of seaweed you consume, you will generally find Vitamin A, C, E, K and B12, as well as folate, zinc, sodium, calcium, magnesium and omega-3 fats. 

Rich in fiber: Fiber can actually make up 25-75% of seaweed’s dry weight, which is higher than the amount of fiber you will find in most fruits and vegetables. Fiber is amazing for digestion and it also slows down stomach emptying. This means, eating seaweed tends to make you feel fuller for longer. 

Helps reduce heart disease risk: It contains properties that reduce blood cholesterol levels, improves blood sugar control and helps prevent blood from clotting.

Awesome! So how can I incorporate it into my diet?

Well, another great property of seaweed is that you can cook it in many different ways.

You can stir-fry it, cook it like spaghetti and pair it with your favorite sources. Or throw in a handful of seaweed to warm water to hydrate it and add it to soups, salads and smoothies. Alternatively, if you have dry kelp, add a little bit to the pot when cooking beans, rice or a broth, to enhance flavor. 

The take away point is: it is good for the body, super easy to use in the kitchen, and very, very tasty.