Diet Fitness Health

Sea vegetables, perhaps more commonly known as seaweed, have been eaten in the Far East for centuries, but are relatively uncommon in the Western world. However, sea vegetables are an excellent addition to a healthy diet: the seaweed nutrition facts show that, besides being one of those fruits and vegetables that we’re all supposed to eat more of, seaweed is rich in many vitamins and minerals as well as being a valuable source of protein and fiber.

Seaweed, called sea vegg by some, is high in organic iodine; so high, in fact, that it was once used to treat goiters, which are caused by iodine deficiency. Seaweed is also high in calcium and magnesium, as well as potassium and phosphorus. Vitamins B12, C and E are also found in significant amounts in sea vegetables, as are carotenoids, a powerful antioxidant.

Seaweed make many positive contributions to one’s health, due to their high concentration of vitamins, minerals, and other phytonutrients. These effects include strengthening hair and skin, lowering cholesterol, and strengthening the body’s immune system. Some studies suggest that alginic acid, a compound in sea vegetables, helps purge from the body metals such as lead and mercury.

In general, seaweed is considerably higher in protein than most vegetables, although it can vary by species. Generally, brown seaweeds are the lowest in protein, at between 5-15% of dry weight. Red and Green seaweeds average twice as much protein, at 10-30% of dry weight. Dulse, Nori, and other species of red seaweed are much higher in protein, with contents equal or greater than those found in soybeans.

If, however, you aren’t quite ready to sit down to a plate of nice, crunchy arame or wakame, you can get many of seaweed health benefits just like you may get many of your other vitamins and minerals: in pill form. Sea Vegg is a blend of twelve different sea vegetables and contains many of the seaweed nutrition benefits found in the raw plants.

Among other seaweed health benefits, Sea Vegg contains the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, flavenoids, and omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids of raw seaweed. It also contains compounds that studies suggest are antibiotic and antiviral. In addition, Sea Veg contains algal polyphenols, which are another antioxidant that may be helpful in reducing cellular oxidation damage.

There are many ways to get seaweed today. It is usually available in speciality grocery stores, ethnic markets, and health food stores. When you buy it, it is usually in dried form, sold in packets and can be used to make homemade sushi or eaten for a snack. It can be soaked to make a salad or as an ingredient in soups. If you perfer to not eat seaweed, but still want the health benefits there is a pill called Sea Vegg that you can take on a daily basis.

- Martha Johnson

Tags: Beauty, body, diet, egg, fat, Fitness, Food, Food, fruits and vegetables, Health, Health, immune system, Nutrition, sea, skin, vegetable, Vitamins, weight, Weight Loss

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