Sea vegetables have a long culinary history, dating back over 10,000 years in Japanese culture. In China, seaweed has for centuries been served to honored guests and royalty. Seaweed is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, owing in part to the spread of sushi restaurants across the country. In addition to their distinctive taste, sea vegetables also provide a rich array of essential vitamins and minerals. Because they are low in calories, including seaweed in your diet can help in maintaining a healthy weight.
Seaweed Varieties
Seaweed grows both in saltwater oceans and in fresh-water lakes. Common to both coral reefs and rocky landscapes, it can grow at great depths, provided there is adequate sunlight. Neither plant nor animal, seaweed belongs to a group of organisms known as algae. Many varieties of sea vegetables exist, and they are classified as either red-brown or green. Some of the most popular varieties include kelp and kombu. Nori is famous for its role as the wrapper used to make sushi rolls. Wakame is commonly used in Japanese miso soup.
Healthy Metabolism
Seaweed, particularly kelp, is some of nature's richest sources of iodine. Iodine is an integral component of the thyroid hormones your body depends on for proper metabolic function. Iodine deficiencies contribute to hypothyroidism, a condition characterized by sluggishness, weight gain, hair loss as well as goiter, or an enlarged thyroid gland. Just 1/4 cup of kelp provides over 275 percent of the daily requirement of iodine, which helps to keep your metabolism revving.
Women's Health
In addition, seaweed contains a class of plant-based nutrients known as lignans. Lignans help to modulate the effects of estrogen in the body. They can act like estrogen when the body stores of this hormone are low, as in menopause, helping to relieve symptoms such as hot flashes. When estrogen levels are too high, lignans help to lessen the effects. This may have benefit in the treatment of PMS.
Healthy Blood
Sea vegetables are rich in other nutrients. In particular, they contain high amounts of vitamin K and the mineral iron. These nutrients are essential for the proper function of your blood. Vitamin K helps build clotting factors that stop bleeding and prevent excessive blood loss. Iron is an important component of hemoglobin. This protein transports oxygen to your tissues, where it combines with glucose to produce energy. A 1-cup serving of kelp contains under 40 calories and over 60 percent of the daily value for vitamin K as well as nearly 20 percent of the requirement of iron.
References
- "A Modern Herbal"; Maud Grieve; 1971
- "The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth"; Jonny Bowden, Ph.D.; 2008
- "The Nutrition Doctor's A-To-Z Food Counter"; Dr. Ed Blonz; 1999
- "Natural Health Secrets from around the World"; Glenn W. Geelhoed, M.D.; 1995
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