HEALTH: THE GREEN SEAFOOD WE ARE NOT EATING
If you want to be poetic, you can say that dried seaweed tastes ‘like the ocean.’ But the truth is, it tastes kind of … fishy. Not 100 percent. More like plant and fishy. However, this vegetable of the seas is not only one of the most nutritious foods you can have but scientists are discovering that consuming more seaweed can help combat climate change. Basically, by eating seaweed you could be saving the planet.
And if you like having sushi, you’ve already had the most popular type of seaweed — nori. Almost black, it’s a dark green, dried seaweed pressed into sheets and used to wrap sushi rolls. It’s also used in soups and other dishes. But be warned: since nori is dried, hydrating it in any form will enable it to expand. Nori is also used to add a bit of ‘salt’ to traditional Japanese cuisine. One sheet, which equals to one sushi roll, contains only 13 calories.
Having seaweed might’ve become trendy only recently, but it’s actually been consumed for thousands of years — mostly in Korea, Japan and China. There are over 10,000 species of seaweed.
Do you want to have a superfood that’s not only great for your health but can also save the planet? Look no further than to the splendid seaweed
Why is it a superfood: Move over kale, there’s a new super green in town. Seaweeds are rich in protein, fibre and folic acid. All types of seaweed contain a large amount of minerals including copper, iodine, iron and calcium. It is also very low in calories.
They also contain a healthy amount of Vitamin K — also present in kale, spinach and other leafy greens which helped boost their superfood status. A fat-soluble vitamin, Vitamin K is crucial to bone health and contributes in the body’s ability to heal wounds. It aids in the production of four out of 13 proteins needed for blood clotting.
Most importantly, seaweed contains a substance called fucoidans, which is often attributed as the secret to the longevity of the Japanese. It’s believed to help contribute significantly to the body’s immunity, contributes to cardiovascular function and overall life expectancy.