For some people, seaweed is one of the last things they’d ever consider eating or putting on their body. Although it’s incredibly popular in Asian cuisine, it’s been slow to catch on in America. Sure, it may look a little slimy and unappetizing when you see it at the beach. But there are other ways to consume this super-food without any of the slime.
At Seagate, we harvest our own seaweed to produce seaweed capsules and seaweed powder from an isolated bay along the central Pacific coast of Baja California. With no level of detectable contamination, seaweed is a highly sustainable marine resource, growing up to three feet per day during the summer months. It’s an excellent source of iodine, fiber, iron, calcium, protein, chlorophyll, and antioxidants, and it’s commonly used as a digestive and detox aid.
If you purchase a container of seaweed powder on a whim when you’re on a health kick, you might be wondering what the heck to do with it when you get home. Seaweed powder is actually incredibly versatile, and has many uses that we’d like to share with you.
1. Sprinkle on Favorite Foods
Without learning any new recipes or adding any more time to prepare your meals, you can easily incorporate seaweed powder into breakfast, lunch and dinner. This flavorful and nutritious ocean algae can enhance the flavor and health benefits of many foods. Lightly sprinkle it over salads, soups, omelets, chowders, cooked vegetables, or into juices and smoothies. Just sprinkle away!
2. Homemade Pasta Dough
If you feel like getting a little more creative in the kitchen, try making your own pasta dough with seaweed powder baked right in. Try Wild Green and Sardines’ recipe for Nori Tagliatelle with Uni when you have some time and want to whip up a creative dish for a special occasion.
3. Rejuvenating Facial Mask
Interestingly, seaweed powder can also be mixed with a small amount of water to make a paste and applied to the face for a rejuvenating mask. Seaweed has long been cherished in Asian cultures for its complex of sea salts, minerals, and protein to help soften the skin. Delighted Momma has a great recipe for a seaweed facial mask that is great for opening up clogged pores, removing toxins from the skin, and soothing inflamed skin.
4. Exfoliating Body Wrap
Another way to use seaweed on the skin is to mix seaweed powder with essential oils and carrier oils, like extra virgin olive oil, create a body wrap. The body wrap should have a muddy consistency and can be used to relieve aches and pains and remove toxins that have been absorbed by skin throughout the body. Check out the recipe and tips from The Healthy Home Economist to make your own seaweed wrap at home without a trip to the spa.
5. Plant Fertilizer
You aren’t the only one who can benefit from seaweed; your plants can too! Seaweed powder can be used as a fertilizer for plants because it contains trace minerals and potassium that you can apply to the plant roots for enhanced growth. Check out DomsGreenThumb’s video tutorial about how to make your own seaweed fertilizer at home. Or make things easy on yourself and just pick up a jar of our Fish Fertilizer Concentrate instead.