HAWMC: Miracle Cure

(Source)

One food they are crazy about at my college is seaweed.

Our first day, our Teacher told us it was entirely likely that two foods were going to save the world; those two foods being mushrooms and seaweed.

(Maybe, when I write it down, my college is a bit more ‘Berkeley’ than it seems at the time….)

Seaweed is most usually eaten in sushi and if you can’t stand nori rolls there may be no hope for you.

But if you are part of the 99.9999% of the world who thinks iced coffee and sushi were the best things to come out of the late 90′s, then you should definitely start eating more seaweed.

Now, I’m not normally a fan of getting over excited about the nutrient profiles of specific foods stuffs, but seaweed is a bit special.

Seaweed is filled with trace minerals that many of us are lacking in today. (Previously, we would get trace minerals like selenium from vegetables grown in nutrient rich soil; however with modern agricultural methods soil quality has deteriorated). Seaweed also has iron and B vitamins, and is being investigated as tool for everything from weight loss to the prevention of malaria. Sort of like how sardines just are especially good for you- and being near the sea just is exceptionally calming – seaweed just does seem to have that x factor. As far as I’m concerned, all those super skinny, uber talented, breast cancer-less Japanese women must be doing something right. I really think seaweed might be part of the answer.

Here are some other brilliant ways to get into seaweed!

Seaweed snacks from Trader Joes; SO addicting! They are kind of refined and so probably aren’t the best way to get your seaweed intake, but they are very easy and a billion times healthier than pretzels.

Homemade Sushi; I make mine with brown rice cooked in vegetable stock, pickled vegetables and tempeh.. all wrapped up in toasted nori. Sometimes I use tinned salmon and mayonnaise. It’s super easy and way healthier than any pre-made version. You could also leave out the rice or use a tuna salad combination.

Seaweed Salad with Carrots and Ginger; I’ve never made this recipe specifically, but I’ve eaten ones very like it and love them. Sweet and salty? Yes. please!

Oprah on seaweed and this awesome book called ‘Seaweed’; I’m totally prepared that some of you may dubious about the obsession. (My husband emphatically refers to seaweed as fish food). I’m also super cynical about faddy nutritional claims in general – Is coconut sugar really that special? Really? – so if you have your doubts here is some cool data, from a pretty mainstream source.

How about you guys? Do you eat seaweed? Do you have a favourite way to incorporate it?

For the month of April, I’m participating in the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge from Wego Health. I will be writing a health-related post per day, based on the HAWMC prompts. Thanks so much for reading!