If you’ve been to the beach or swam in the ocean lately, seaweed might not sound like the most appetizing thing to eat. But this plant of the sea doesn’t just provide excellent nutrition for marine life. It is also very healthy for humans to eat because it contains fiber, iodine, protein, chlorophyll, and antioxidants.
If you like the sound of those health benefits but have been too nervous to try cooking with seaweed, here are some ideas to inspire you.
Why Eat Seaweed?
Seaweed is a very unique food that contains a combination of nutrients that you don’t find anywhere else. Because of this, it has become known as an excellent bodily cleanser for detoxing and aiding digestion. Seaweed has a surprisingly pleasant taste that works very well with many Asian food dishes. It’s versatile and complements the flavors everything from fish to salad, soup, smoothies, and more.
Using Seaweed in the Kitchen
There are numerous kinds of edible seaweed that come in different colors, flavors, and textures. You can often find dried seaweed in specialty grocery stores, which you can soak until it’s tender before eating. Most seaweed that you buy in stores does not need to be cooked before consumed, but if you forage for your own wild seaweed, you’ll definitely need to wash it thoroughly before preparing it to eat.
Nori is the most common type of seaweed and comes in thin sheets that are ready to eat right out of the package or used to hand-roll your own sushi. Hijiki seaweed resembles small black twigs and expands in size once it hydrates. Arame seaweed comes in long, brown strands and should be soaked before sautéing it with other vegetables. You may also recognize wakame seaweed as the floating leaves in Japanese miso soup. Wakame seaweed can be chopped up to use in salads and vegetable mixtures that include radishes and cucumbers.
But honestly, the great thing about seaweed is it really doesn’t require much “cooking” at all. It’s an easy addition to meals you already enjoy and will add an extra nutritional benefit along with a great texture and flavor.
Seagate Seaweed Powder and Capsules
If you’re pressed for time or not feeling overly adventurous in the kitchen, make sure to pick up some Seagate Seaweed Powder and Seagate Seaweed Capsules. It doesn’t get any easier than taking these convenient and economical capsules each day. It’s also very easy to simply shake the seaweed powder onto salads, soups, pasta, omelets, vegetables, smoothies, and juices.
Beyond just culinary applications, you can even mix the powder with water to create a paste and apply it to your face to help soften the skin with natural sea salts, protein, and minerals. These all-natural supplements are also great ways to get seafood in your diet whenever you don’t have access to it at your grocery store or while you’re traveling away from home.