Seaweed… The Super Food of Tomorrow
Seaweed has been around since the beginning of time and in Asia seaweed is a common staple… and it has many health benefits. Cultures that eat seaweed also tend to eat less meat and because of that have a much lower incidence of cancer and obesity too!
Seaweed, Sea Lettuce, Arame, Wakame, Dulce, Nori, Kombu or Kelp, Sea Spaghetti (can be cooked like spaghetti), etc, all have health benefits including the fact that cultures that eat seaweed have a much lower incidence of breast cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and other debilitating diseases. Seaweed contains B, C, E and K Vitamins, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vanadium, enzymes, anti-oxidants, Omega 3 fatty acids, taurine, protein, fiber, and compounds known to prevent cancer (lignans), and perhaps 100 or more other compounds that have health benefits that we don’t even know about yet.
Seaweed is very healthy for your thyroid and if you have hypothyroidism you might want to increase your intake of seaweed because it’s packed full of iodine that’s needed for the production of thyroid hormones. Remember the thyroid gland regulates metabolism and having enough iodine in your system is important for weight loss and hormone balance.
Seaweed contains vanadium and the enzyme haloperoxidase that work together to help you lose weight and control carbohydrate metabolism. Seaweed also contains fucoxanthin which is important for weight loss… and seaweed has almost no fat and very few calories! In fact the University of Hokkaido in Japan did a study on seaweed and weight loss, and found that it prevented the accumulation of fat. And did you know that seaweed contains up to 50% protein… that’s right… not many plant based foods have that much usable protein. — Wow!
Seaweed is important for stress too! Did you know that all those vitamins and minerals in seaweed play important roles in reducing and helping you overcome stress? It’s true! And if you want to keep your adrenal glands healthy then eat seaweed daily, it will help you relax and fell better in general.
Seaweed is very important for getting rid of inflammation and especially chronic inflammation and the production of homocysteine which creates inflammation, cardiovascular disease, strokes, arthritis, and other debilitating diseases, and seaweed lowers blood pressure by being chocked full of magnesium. And seaweed can help with hot flashes, depression, and even help with sleep better.
Seaweed is also a very good diuretic and helps with insulin resistance thus helping those suffering from diabetes. Seaweed prevents muscles cramps and also prevents platelet aggregation or clots thus helping to prevent heart attacks. Plus seaweed is also a good antiviral agent too… thus helping to prevent colds, flues… and there is also hope for herpes with compounds found in seaweed.
Agar is a gel like agent made from seaweed used in all kinds of foods and it also works to sooth the GI tract. Agar can also be a good laxative if taken in large amounts adding bulk to your diet and improving your bowel movements.
If you want to cut back on salt use dried seaweed instead… crumble it up or grind it up and add it to your food, and seaweed helps lower your blood pressure too! And did you know that seaweed has soluble fiber in it just like oatmeal, and because of that it can also lower your cholesterol especially your LDL or bad cholesterol… and blood sugar too.
Seaweed is used jellies, chocolate, toothpaste, ice cream, dressings, and even in cookies and cakes. Seaweed is also used as spas for seaweed wraps and wonderful creams and lotions that are excellent for nourishing your skin and hair. And seaweed grows fast, it could end world hunger, and in Asian countries they are cultivating seaweed and even using it for fertilizer and hundreds of other products.
Take some dried seaweed and add a small amount of cooked sliced carrots, brown rice, avocado, perhaps some seafood, roll it up in a cone shape, then add some wasabi and soy sauce and you are ready for a great meal. Or make seaweed pizza, seaweed salad, add it to your regular salad, add it too soups or anything else.
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Dr. Paul Haider – Master Herbalist, Counselor, and Spiritual Advisor for over 20 years, helping people to recover and feel healthy. You can also find Dr. Haider on FB under Dr. Paul Haider, Healing Herbs, Center for Creative Living Church, Meditation for the Soul, and Relax Into Success, Punjab teas. www.paulhaider.com
