The Health Benefits of Seaweed

While most of us think of seaweed as the annoying stuff that we get tangled in while swimming at the beach or the stuff that sushi rolls come wrapped in, it is actually a marine vegetable that comes packed with a lot of nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins that can help our overall health.

What is Seaweed?

Seaweed, in fact, really isn’t a weed at all but instead is a type of algae, typically of the red, brown and green variety, that can be found both rooted to the ocean floor and washed up on beaches all over the world.

Why Should I Eat It?

Seaweed is full of minerals, vitamins and fiber among other nutrients. It contains vitamin A, calcium and iron, though not enough of these nutrients to provide a realistic source of them.

Where seaweed truly provides nutritional value is its high iodine content. Iodine, when consumed at recommended levels, can help maintain a healthy thyroid gland, assisting in production and regulation of hormones.

Where Can I Find It?

When it comes to adding seaweed to your diet, there are several ways to do it. As most of us know, nori seaweed sheets are what are commonly used in sushi rolls. You can also add them to a sandwich, salad, soup, breads, pizzas, potatoes, pastas, casseroles, stews and soups.

You can also make seaweed chips out of the seaweed sheets by drizzling them with olive oil and baking. You can also buy pre-made seaweed chips at the store but be sure to pay attention to the sodium content in them.