Seaweed not your staple? Maybe you need to add it to your diet.
Do you ever wonder why there are a myriad of beauty products containing ingredients like seaweed and sea algae and sea moss in the market, touting their youth giving abilities, with names such as “marine collagen”?
The bounty of the ocean has long had an association with beauty and health. Seaweed is one of them.
Whether this association is true or not is another question, however, there is no doubt that seaweed is an exceptional source of minerals and vitamins which is essential for good health and vigor.
Despite its recently trendy, superfood status, seaweed has been used all over the world for thousands of years, but has most notably been a prominent part of Asian diets for the longest period of time, particularly in Japan, Korea and China.
There are thought to be over 10,000 species of seaweed, reflecting its immense diversity, both in flavour and nutritional properties.
Seaweeds are high in calcium, iodine, and iron. In fact they contain the greatest amount and broadest range of minerals of any organism, and hence make super rich mineral foods.
Chinese medicine uses seaweeds to treat swellings, nodules, lumps, goitres and chronic coughs with signs of heat and phlegm. Just remember that seaweeds are used to soften hardness.
The most commonly known seaweed available in the west is probably nori.
This wonderful seaweed comes easily available in sheets and is available at most supermarkets. Commonly seen as the outer wrapping or a sushi roll, here is another way to enjoy it.
Easy Seaweed Recipe
What you’ll need:
- Seaweed crisps (Laver)
- Nori sheets
- Seasame oil
- Salt
Here’s what to do:
Grab a nori sheet and lightly brush one side with sesame oil.
Sprinkle ground sea salt over oiled side
Place in preheated oven at 200d Degrees celsius.
Do not place on top of each other.
Allow sheets to become crispy (approximately 5 min)
Take out. Let cool, and cut into eigths.
Pack as a snack.
Great for kids lunchboxes.
