Seaweed is high in nutrients and packed tight with health benefits. However, for many of you, seaweed is just on the menu or perhaps just you eat sushi, or you find it in miso soup. For many centuries, sea vegetables in some cultures have been a major part of their diet. You can get your daily dose of essential vitamins and minerals from a serving of seaweed such as nori, kelp or kombu.
Why you should incorporate a seaweed snack into your diet and the best ways to do it:
Dietary Fibre
Seaweed is very high in fibre. Fibre promotes digestive health, supports a healthy cholesterol level and reduces fat absorption. Fibre also promotes satiety, making you feel fuller faster and prevents overeating.
Essential Nutrients
Like other vegetables, seaweed contains essential nutrients that promote health and are essential in a healthy, balanced diet. Seaweed is high in the mineral iodine which is essential for healthy thyroid and for the developing brain.
Seaweed is also a potent source of calcium and protein. Other nutrients present in seaweed also include vitamin B12 and vitamin A.
Kombu, a brown seaweed contain the pigment, fucoxanthin. This pigment may help to metabolize fats.1
Essential Fats
Your body requires a certain amount of healthy fats as a part of a balanced diet. Seaweed is high in omega 3 fatty acids. This type of healthy fat supports a healthy HDL cholesterol level whilst lowering damaging LDL cholesterol levels. Omega 3 fatty acids also helps to reduce inflammation in the body.
Adding Seaweed into Your Diet
Seaweed can become a regular part of your diet:
- Seaweed strips in salads;
- Flattened nori seaweed sheets to make sushi;
- You can add them to a wrap;
- Cut them into strips and add them to a salad;
- Green or brown kelp seaweed strips can be added to bread, pizza, potatoes, casseroles, stews and soups;
- Seaweed chips can be made by drizzling olive oil onto fresh seaweed strips and baking them on a low temperature in the oven until crisp.
References
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18296336
