Seaweed is one of the world's most nutritionally complete foods, according to Bastyr University's School of Nutrition and Exercise Science. While vitamin and nutrient profiles differ somewhat depending on the seaweed species, seaweed in general is very low in fat and also contains minerals, carbohydrates and some protein, says Dolly Garza of Alaska's Marine Advisory Program. You can cook and season food with seaweed. It is also available as vitamin supplements.
B-Complex
Many seaweed species are rich in B-complex vitamins, and unlike most plants, some seaweeds, notably dulse and nori, are high in B-12. The sheets of dried seaweed used to wrap sushi are nori, which is also available dried for seasoning in soups and other dishes. Although many vegans regard nori as an excellent source of B-12, the National Health Association states it may not be sufficient. One theory is that the vitamin B-12 in nori actually comes from the crustaceans or microscopic marine life attached to the seaweed, which are then processed along with the plant. If this is the case, then nori and other seaweeds may not be a purely vegan choice.
Vitamin K
Seaweed is high in vitamin K, which regulates blood clotting and coagulation. Drugs.com cautions that excessive seaweed consumption while taking the anticoagulant drug warfarin may cause a change in the international normalized ratio, or INR---how long it takes blood to clot.
Calcium
Seaweed is high in several minerals, including calcium. Drugs.com notes that daily 900 mg doses of seaweed calcium have been studied for treatment of osteoporosis. An Irish pharmaceutical company is using calcium processed from seaweed as a sea-mineral calcium supplement, industry newsletter Nutra Ingredients reports. Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland, Ore., writes that seaweed is "one of the richest plant sources of calcium," although compared to dairy products it is still quite low.
Iodine
Seaweed, particularly kelp, is a rich source of iodine and is used in many supplements for improving thyroid functioning. Much of the world's soil is depleted, so plants and animals raised for food are iodine-deficient, according to Dharmananda. Although iodine is added to table salt to make up for the deficiency, people in many countries still do not get enough iodine. He states that a little seaweed every day would satisfy an adult requirement.
Other Vitamins
Depending on the type of seaweed, it contains other vitamins common to many land plants, such as vitamin A, particularly in red and brown seaweed. Seaweed also contains vitamin C. Seaweed is a good source of other trace minerals, such as iron, magnesium and selenium.
Member Comments