Guide to Seaweed
[twocol_one]Seaweed is one of the hardest items of food to implement into an everyday meal. But it is so worth it! Not only can it supply taste pallets unachievable by your average seasonings and spices, but it is ridiculously good for you! It really earns the ‘Superfood’ title.
What makes it super? Seaweed is rich in a certain type of Omega-3. There are 3 different types of Omega-3 you need in your diet. ALA, DHA and EPA. ALA is found of a lot of foods so we don’t have to worry about that one too much. However, EPA + DHA are not very common in a vegan diet. Check out our “Omega-3” post if you want to get up to speed about what the different types of Omega-3 are and all of their benefits.
[/twocol_one][twocol_one_last]The reason vegans lack EPA+DHA and meat eaters normally do not, is because fish is the second best source to get these acronyms. But us vegans can just cut out the middle-man, fish, and go straight to the source – what the fish eat! If you went to a restaurant and saw someone eating a delicious dessert, would you try and find out what it was so you could order it? Or would you just eat that person?
So what can we use seaweed for? It can be used to add fishy tones to a dish, such as our favourite Tofish and Chips, or to tie together a Super Seafood Salad and of course be used for the much loved Sushi! Hey sushi virgin, check out How to roll Sushi post[/twocol_one_last]
What kinds of seaweed are there? There are various types of seaweed you should look out for. These are the most common ones you’ll come across whilst searching the vegan market:
- Spirulina
- Wakame
- Kelp
- Dulse
- Kombu
- Hijiki
So why should I eat it? Its a great way of getting Magnesium, Iron, B12 and Calcium into your body. Aids with the growth and strength of hair and nails. As seaweed is very alkaline it can neutralise acidity and help reduce the negative effects which come with it. Combats anemia and fatigue. Seaweed is said to also improve your mental health, ie: anxiety, mental focus and even depression.
So… we hope this has made you realise that seaweed is much more than simply ammunition to throw and your friends at the beach.
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