Kombu, more commonly known as laminaria or kelp, is a type of Japanese seaweed that is used as both a food and medicinal supplement. Traditionally, kombu has been used to induce labor in pregnant women. However, the safety of the use of this...
Kombu seaweed is a type of edible plant that is a staple in the Japanese culinary tradition. Kombu seaweed is low in calories but provides several beneficial nutrients. Although Kombu seaweed is usually used as an ingredient in Japanese dishes,...
Kombu is the name for a mixture of brown seaweeds of the genus Laminaria. It is a rich source of both iodine and iron but has fewer vitamins than nori, the seaweed eaten with sushi. Traditional Asian medicine has long regarded kombu as having...
Walk into a Japanese food market and you will probably find seaweed. The Japanese have been eating seaweed for centuries. Many Japanese eat it daily as food seasoning, in soup stock and as an ingredient in many dishes. Seaweeds contain nutrients...
Protein is one of the essential macronutrients required for proper health and organ functioning. Each cell in your body contains thousands of proteins, with each protein composed sequences of of small chemicals called amino acids. After eating,...
Iodine is an essential trace element needed for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and its production of the hormone thyroxine. Thyroxine regulates our activity level, growth and development, the reproductive function and the health of...
Fresh and dried edible seaweeds, such as nori, hijiki and several varieties of kelp, including kombu, wakame and arame, are commonly used in Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines, where they are featured in soups, salads, stir-fries, rice dishes and...
Kelp are a variety of brown, large algae found growing around rocky shorelines across the world. Scientific evidence has found kelp to provide liver health benefits. Specifically, kelp has the ability to interact with chemicals within the liver to...
Sea vegetables, often referred to as seaweed or algae, are not as common in the Western culture as they are in other areas of the world. Sea vegetables come in a variety of colors including green, red and brown, each with a unique flavor, shape...
Miso soup is often taken for granted at a sushi bar. Yet this plain-looking soup is one of Japan's ancient culinary treasures. It's also garnered attention from the medical community for its use of ingredients which are not just nutritious and...
Seaweeds comprise a significant food source in the cuisines of coastal cultures around the world. They also are attributed with a variety of health-promoting properties, including antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory...
With the possible exception of sushi, seaweed is not usually a staple in the American diet. In Korea, Japan and China, seaweed has been used as a food since at least 600 B.C. At least 21 species are used in Japan and until recently seaweed...
Dashi forms the base of many Japanese foods and soups. In the same way cooks use chicken or fish stock to enhance dishes, the rich broth made from kelp and dried fish "brings more depth," according to Eric Ripert, a New York City chef interviewed...
Edible seaweed, sometimes known as "sea vegetable," is a low calorie food rich in nutrients. Many cultures have consumed seaweed as a part of their diet, but many Westerners were first introduced to it via sushi -- thin sheets of the seaweed known...
Shabu shabu is a classic Japanese hot pot dish in which diners cook and eat their meals like a fondue. The typical accompaniments to shabu shabu are thinly sliced beef, tofu, spinach and sesame dipping sauce. You can change the ingredients to...
Derived from the Japanese language, umami is a taste brought to the palette by way of glutatamate, a type of amino acid that is found in many different foods. Although people aren't usually aware of it when they encounter umami in their food, it...
Kelp and other seaweed may seem an exotic dish to a westerner, but eastern cultures have eaten these edible sea vegetables for a long time. They provide low-calorie, low-fat nutrients and are plentiful from the ocean. Kelp is particularly high in...
Nori is a red seaweed from the genus Porphyra that is commonly used in the making of sushi. This seaweed grows throughout the temperate regions of the world and has long been eaten by people in Japan, China and Korea, where it is grown...
Raw apple cider vinegar is different from other vinegars, because it is fermented, not distilled, and provides many health benefits that standard vinegars do not. Raw apple cider vinegar is unfiltered and contains floating strands and particles,...
Sold primarily in Asian markets and health food stores, seaweed still is an enigma to the palates of many Americans. However, adding kelp and other varieties of seaweed to your diet may provide a natural solution to optimize thyroid gland...
Vegetable chips are a good choice if you're craving a crunchy snack. They provide about a half serving of vegetables per ounce, according to USA Today. Remember, however, that fresh vegetables are a better source of vitamins.
Life Force Body Balance is a liquid product that claims to include nine sea vegetables and aloe vera with the purpose of supporting overall well-being. The product is prepared using "Good Manufacturing Practices" as set by the Food and Drug...
If you have an underactive thyroid gland, you should not self-medicate with sea kelp supplements unless recommended by your doctor. An underactive thyroid, called hypothyroidism, does not produce enough thyroid hormones for the body to function...
People from all over the world have eaten sea vegetables for centuries. In Boston, years ago, dulse, a purple-colored sea vegetable, was available to purchase in the street markets. Russians and Irish have favorite sea vegetable dishes....
The adrenal glands are where stress-related hormones and epinephrine are produced in the body. These glands are naturally rich in vitamin C, and are responsive to the general stress levels of the body. The best foods for the adrenal glands are...
Japan is a country composed of several large and small islands bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Sea of Japan to the west and the Philippine Sea to the south. As a result, their national cuisine is strongly influenced by the...
Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide that occurs naturally in several types of brown seaweed, one of the world’s most widespread forms of marine algae. Polysaccharides are carbohydrates made up of multiple monosaccharides, the basic...
Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is a food additive present in hundreds of processed and restaurant foods. It is an amino acid that enhances the flavor of food. While the additive is approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration, some people...
Seaweeds are the most mineral-rich of any vegetable and also contain a variety of vitamins, fiber and protein. A 2009 report in the Journal of Medicinal Food emphasizes the need for more studies on genetic factors affecting dietary responses to...
