shokuiku: super food "seaweed"

Seaweed is something that lots of people overlook when they talk about vegetables. It is packed with concentrated minerals and also very versatile. It is quite handy to have in your pantry as it keeps for a long time.

So what is so powerful about the seaweed?
In general this is what has been found

The seaweed has virtually contain all the minerals found in the ocean, that is one hundred or so minerals and trace elements! They are in the most assimilable form because they are integrated into living plant tissue.
-They are high in calcium (can contain up to 10 times more calcium than milk), iodine (important for thyroid function) and iron (up to 25 times more iron than beef), as well as folic acid, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin and pantothenic acid.
Fluorine is another minerals found in seaweed. As it is in a natural form (not like chemical fluoride found in water supply) it is not harmful and found to boost the body's defence system and strengthens body and teeth.

The seaweed may help prevent cancer by inhibiting the growth of vessels that feed the tumour and by their ligaments, which can block the hormonal signalling of estrogent dependent cancers.

They help alkalising to the blood, neutralise the negative effects of the modern diet and detoxify and transform certain toxic elements into harmless salts, which are excreted through the intestine.

They are found to boost weight loss and deterring cellulite build up. used to lower cholesterol and reduce fat build up in the blood.

The properties of seaweeds are cooling and moisten dryness. In macrobiotic seaweed is considered yin but more yang compared to land vegetables. This is so because of the fact that the seaweeds are tougher and commonly sold seaweeds are dried, which make them more yang.

Types of seaweed.
for those of you who are not so familiar with seaweed here are different types seaweed available.

Arame - mild in taste. great in salad
Hijiki - concentrated in minerals. not available in australia
kombu - used to treat various diseases such as goiter, arthritis, high blood pressure, prostate and ovarian troubles etc etc. )The list goes on! use in stock
kelp - available in powder or capsule form
wakame - great in soups
agar agar - readily used like gelatine
nori - best known used for sushi
dulse - often found in flake form. one of red seaweed varieties
irish moss - used as carrageenan

brown rice sushi