Roasted nori seaweed comes from a sea plant used in Japanese cuisine, Rhodophyceae. Perhaps most popular for its use in rolling sushi, one sheet of nori paper contains only 10 calories, while it provides a number of nutrients, such as vitamins A and C. Roasted seaweed has a number of health benefits, including the potential to prevent diseases, such as some cancers and heart disease.
Roasted Seaweed Nori
There are three types of seaweed used to make commercial products, including red seaweed, or Rhodophyceae, brown seaweed, or Phaeophyceae, and green seaweed, or Chlorophyceae. Nori, or Porphyra, comes from red seaweed and is the largest species of seaweed used for food. Nori is cultivated primarily in Japan, China and Korea. Common uses for roasted nori include as a seasoning for sprinkling on dishes, in miso soup and as a wrap for sushi.
Nutrients
A single sheet of roasted nori paper is a source of 1 g each of carbohydrates, fiber and protein. There is no sodium or sugar in nori. Sea vegetables are high in bioavailable iron, according to an article published in the December 2007 edition of the "Journal of Nutrition." The article reports that the vitamin C in nori increases the impact of the iron. Seaweed also contains vitamin A, magnesium, selenium, choline, eicosapentanoic acid, inositol and other B vitamins.
Cancer
Roasted nori paper might help prevent cancer, reports the "Journal of Applied Phycology." According to an article published in this journal in 1993, nori shows anti-tumor activity. A more recent study, published in the May 2010 edition of the "British Journal of Nutrition," reports women who frequently consumed nori displayed lower rates of breast cancer. This held true for both pre-menopausal and menopausal women.
Cardiovascular Health
Roasted nori provides a number of nutrients important in promoting heart health. Containing water-soluble dietary fiber, nori serves as an anti-coagulant and works against hypercholesterolemia, reports the "Journal of Applied Phycology." The high amount of dietary fiber in roasted nori seaweed serves to protect your cardiovascular system, lowering your risk of heart disease. Red seaweed contains all of the essential amino acids, which also reduces your risk of heart disease.
References
- "Journal of Applied Phycology"; Health Benefits and Nutritional Properties of Nori; Hiroyuki Noda; April 1993
- MayoClinic.com; Dietary fiber: Essential for a Healthy Diet; 2009
- "Food Chemistry"; Nutritional Evaluation of Some Subtropical Red and Green Seaweeds: Part I — Proximate Composition, Amino Acid Profiles and Some Physico-chemical Properties; K.H. Wonga and Peter C.K. Cheung; December 2000
- FitBit: Seaweed, Sushi Nori, Roasted Dried
- FAO Corporate Government Repository: Introduction to Commercial Seaweeds
- Green Footsteps: Seaweed Health Benefits
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