Seaweed-the 5 healthiest foods on the planet
Sea vegetables—the superfood of superfoods!
Ocean vegetables are some of the healthiest foods you can find, rich in vitamins, minerals, and high levels of antioxidants. New findings indicate that ocean algae can reduce our rate of fat absorption by 75%, thanks to a digestive enzyme called “lipase.” That’s what I call BIG news!
seaweed
Sea veggies are high in iodine, a much needed mineral that most Americans lack, and necessary for thyroid and hormone production, and they’re extremely low in calories. A recent study from Denmark shows that eating seaweeds can help overweight individuals shed extra pounds by increasing their feeling of satiation after each meal.
All of the following are available in the Japanese section at your local grocery stores:
Nori
Nori is commonly known as the wrapper for sushi, but it’s also one of the ocean vegetables highest in protein. It offers lots of fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C (twice as much as oranges), and essential B12.
Ways to eat Nori: Toasted as a snack (see recipe), rolled as sushi, or use nori wrappers to roll a slice of avocado and assorted veggies and lettuce. I love nori sheets cut into skinny strips to garnish a caesar salad—a treat for vegans who love the taste but not the anchovy!
Nori Chip Recipe
Ingredients:
Flat nori sheets, not pre toasted
Toasted sesame oil
Celtic sea salt
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Brush nori sheets on both sides with sesame oil
Lay flat on baking sheets
Sprinkle sea salt on the nori sheets
Bake for 10 minutes or until crispy
Separate into skinny strips with a pizza cutter, or gently break apart
Note: You can also do this in a pan on the stove—just add a dash of oil and lay the sheet over it, toasting for about 30–60 seconds on each side.
Wakame
Wakame contains high levels of iodine, Vitamin A, B12, and B6. It’s also a significant source of magnesium (allowing the calcium to be easily absorbed by our bodies), and one of the highest sources of calcium.
Wakame-Cucumber Salad Recipe
Ingredients:
1 large or 2 small cucumbers, sliced
3 strips wakame, soaked overnight (or quick boil for 5 min.)
2 Tbsp organic brown rice vinegar
2 Tbsp mirin
Gomasio (a sesame seed and sea veggie condiment)
Instructions:
Rinse wakame and chop into 1 inch pieces
Toss with remaining ingredients except Gomasio.
Sprinkle with gomasio and serve.
Kombu
You’ll find kombu in every Japanese household. Cook your beans and brown rice with one piece of kombu (about a 4 inch strip)—it enables us to digest the beans and it tenderizes too! A GREAT source of iodine (one of the veggies highest in it). It’s also packed with nutrients such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, protein, and Vitamins A, D, E, C, & K.
Add it to any soup, stir-fry, or stew (you won’t taste any seaweed).
Arame
A type of dark brown colored kelp, arame is normally sold dry and tastes somewhat sweet and nutty. Laden with macro minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, and iodine, it’s great for helping with muscle cramps and hydrating when exercising or in the hot sun.
Arame is sweet tasting, and you can add to pasta sauce, or to any stir-fry
Gosamio
Gosamio is a great way to start getting your seaweeds in. This is a shaker filled with toasted sesame seeds with sea salt and sea veggies. Sprinkle it on a salad or onto your whole grain.