Seaweed is a "sea vegetable" that contains immense concentrations of essential minerals and trace minerals.
Because the food we eat is often deficient in minerals that are not present in the soil, sea plants are a great addition to ahealthy diet plan.
They can be dried and stored for prolonged periods of time to be used in many
recipes
commonly used with
miso,tempeh
and other
fermented foods.
Seaweeds were known by the Incas in the high Andes "to guard the heart" and the Sherpas in the Himalayas said kelp gave them the "strength of gods".
Seaweeds Unique Structure
They are a multicellular marine plant that maintains rigid cell walls. They do not have roots that take up nutrients from the water, instead their entire structure acts like a feeding vessel, pulling in high concentrations of food through their leafy blades.
Because of this structure, the entire plant is able to take in large amounts of nutrients from the ocean environment. Clean ocean water is a storehouse of
minerals
the body needs and is often lacking.
Types of Seaweed:
There are 3 classifications of "sea vegetables". 1) Brown 2) Red and 3) Green sea weeds that are identified by their pigment, reproductive, and vegetative structures.
Top Seaweeds:
Kelp
Kelp is one of the most prolific sea plants in the ocean and a powerhouse of minerals, including calcium and magnesium. It is a brown sea weed with a high protein content. The powder from kelp is easy to add to food and is highly recommended for anyone deficient in minerals.
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Nori
Nori belongs to the group of red algae's (though it is more green than red), that are very popular along the California coast.
Nori is probably one of the most common sea weeds known worldwide for it's use in sushi making. Because it grows in abundance close to where I live and roam, I usually have a big fresh gallon jar full in my pantry.
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Dulse
Dulse is also a red variety (which is actually brown-red in color) and delicious dried in large pieces or small flakes.
It happens to be one of my personal favorites as far as taste goes. I love dulse on salad's made from
wild edible greens
or sprinkled on some lightly steamed
green leafy vegetables.
You don't even need salt!
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Irish Moss
Irish moss is another red sea vegetable that is actually a whitish to light brown color.
Irish moss has specifically been used for it's abundant source of carrageenan. It is great for the lungs and rebuilds the immune system after serious exhaustion. We use it in our superfood
shake recipe
and healthy desserts to thicken and provide excellent health benefits.
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Seaweeds are and have been used as food by many cultures around the world, if not all of them. They do not need to be cultivated, but naturally and prolifically reproduce year after year, providing great sources of superior nutrition.
Growing up on the ocean, I always found it fascinating how much sea weed would wash up on the beach. Tons and tons of sea weed! Little did I know that it was actually food that I could eat and grow strong from! Now,
harvesting seaweed
is a favorite yearly ritual.
Iodine:
Sea plants not only extract minerals, but also an array of phytonutrients from thesunlightenergy and salt water they live in. One of these is Iodine. In fact, it is the highest known source of any food.
Iodine's Health Benefits:
Required for synthesis of thyroid hormones
Protects against radiation in atmosphere
Regulates blood pressure
Key role in metabolizing food to energy
Remove toxins from the body
Assists in utilizing calcium and silicon
Treats depression
Prevents and treats fibrocystic cysts in women
Polysaccharides:
Another known benefit of seaweed is a high source of the long chain sugars called polysaccharides Found also in medicinal mushrooms, they are one of the healthiest food elements we can ingest.
Sea vegetables contain polysaccharide glyconutrients in the form of carrageenan and algin. These nutrients help to:
Most sea weeds inhabit rocky shorelines where they can hold onto the rocks with their strong, root-like hold fasts that anchor them down. The western and eastern coast of the U.S. and Japan are popular sea weed harvesting regions.
I have been studying the life of sea plants for years and enjoy
harvesting
every year with a ritual trip to the California coastline during the early summer months.
Sea plants not only extract minerals, but also an array of phytonutrients from the
Most sea weeds inhabit rocky shorelines where they can hold onto the rocks with their strong, root-like hold fasts that anchor them down. The western and eastern coast of the U.S. and Japan are popular sea weed harvesting regions. 
