Seaweed - The Benefits And Harms Of Seaweed, Dried Seaweed. Calorie Content, Iodine In Seaweed, How To Cook?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Seaweed

The benefits and harms of seaweed

The benefits of seaweed

The healing properties of seaweed are appreciated in many parts of the world. Its beneficial effect on the human body was known even in ancient China and Japan. Today, this exotic product is on the menu of everyone who wants to be healthy. This seaweed is called sea ginseng; its chemical composition contains a unique and vital trace element - iodine. In addition, seaweed contains a rich set of potassium, magnesium, bromine, iron and other micro and macro elements.

Folic and pantothenic acids are also present in seaweed. The sea dweller is 20% fructose, rich in polysaccharides. It is excellent and indispensable in the treatment and prevention of thyroid diseases, shows useful properties in coronary heart disease, is recommended by doctors and traditional healers for high blood pressure and vascular atherosclerosis. It is known that Japanese women practically do not get breast cancer.

If we talk about the side effects of taking seaweed, then they are not, if properly cooked and consumed in moderation. In addition to other advantages of seaweed, the human body is cleansed of toxins, and cholesterol levels are reduced. A cholesterol antagonist substance has been identified in the cells of the alga, and if the level of the substance in the blood is higher than normal, then the seaweed will affect the harmful deposits and, decaying, they will be excreted from the body.

Seaweed is famous for its bactericidal properties, its composition is similar to the composition of medicinal mud, and therefore it is suitable for the treatment of inflammatory processes of female organs. In cosmetology, masks and wraps are popular, which have a rejuvenating effect on the skin.

Seaweed can be bought dried, pickled and frozen in briquettes, in this case it retains all its natural qualities, it is less useful as canned food. To strengthen the immune system and replenish with iodine, it is enough to consume 2 tablespoons of seaweed per day or 250 g per week. The codes E400, E401, E402, E403, E404, E406, E421, shown on product labels, mean useful elements of kelp, not preservatives. They are used to make jellies, creams, ice cream and bread.

The green or brown algae grows in the northern seas and the Sea of Japan in large ribbons reaching 13 meters in length. Not everyone likes the taste of seaweed, it smells of sea water, in this case, instead of salt, sprinkle food with powder from it. The smell becomes less noticeable, and the benefits are invaluable. Kelp contains almost all essential amino acids (alanine, aspartic and glutamic amino acids) not bound by compounds, they are well absorbed by the human body.

Harm of seaweed

Can seaweed be harmful? Algae is able to absorb all the substances that are overflowing with sea water, some of which are useful and harmful to health. If kelp grows in waters of ecologically polluted areas, then it is likely that it may contain traces of oil, heavy metals and radioactive elements. But it remains to be hoped that pure goods arrive on store shelves.

Today, seaweed is grown as a cultivated plant; in its wild form, it ripens for two years. The algae grown in artificial conditions is ready for consumption after a year, but due to the high iodine content, it cannot be used by people suffering from hyperthyroidism.

Dried seaweed

Dried seaweed actively participates in the normalization of metabolism, helps to reduce weight, increase immunity. It treats diseases of the heart and blood vessels, normalizes the functioning of the central nervous system, and is good for bones. In the list of diseases for which the use of algae is desirable, there is a prostate adenoma. And thanks to enzymes and pectins, the effect of treating the gastrointestinal tract exceeds all expectations.

During the consumption of such a wonderful product, radionuclides, heavy metals and residues of decayed antibiotics are removed. Natural medicine can affect the intestinal microflora and have an anthelmintic effect. Dry cabbage is stored in a cool, dry place in a dark room. Its shelf life can be up to three years.

Iodine in seaweed

In seaweed, the iodine content is 0.25%. In the process of extraction, processing and storage, a decrease in this microelement to 0.09% is observed, during heat treatment, the percentage of iodine content decreases by another 22%. Therefore, sea kale is healthier to eat raw. The iodine content in the dried specimen is 1.7–8.5 mg per 100 g. The active ingredient has an anti-inflammatory effect in rheumatism, arthritis, and skin diseases. You can make baths with infusion made from kelp powder.

Infusion of seaweed: 2–4 tablespoons of the powder must be brewed in a thermos with a liter of boiling water, leave for 12 hours, strain, pour into a bath with water, which is recommended to be taken daily from 0.5 to 1 hour. The water temperature should be 38 ° C. After the bath, you need to wipe the skin with a towel, rub the whole body with the water remaining after soaking the kelp, wrap yourself in a sheet and go to bed.

In addition to liquid products, kelp can be used as compresses. To do this, it is required to fill it with hot water (half a liter), wrap it up, insist, wring it out and attach it to a sore spot, cover it with polyethylene or a warm blanket on top. The compress is removed after 2-3 hours.

Vitamins of seaweed

The content of more than 40 vitamins in cabbage obtained from the sea contributes to the rejuvenation of the body, prolongation of life. Regular consumption of seaweed slows down the development of sclerosis. It is especially useful for children, as it nourishes the brain, the body becomes more resilient, memory and vision improve.

A balanced natural complex of vitamins resists disorders in the functioning of the nervous system, increases physical capabilities. With goiter, anemia and eye diseases, this is the first remedy, improvement can be seen from the first weeks of use. Bronchitis, pneumonia, frequent runny nose and sinusitis are treated with inhalations, carried out 2 times a day. To do this, you need to warm up the water remaining from soaking the seaweed, cover your head with a towel and breathe over the steam for 15 minutes. This inhalation should be done 2 times a day. Water can also be used for rinsing with angina, gingivitis and stomatitis.

Seaweed leaves

The scheme for processing algae after extraction from the water is as follows: small portions of kelp tapes are passed through a container with hot water, then washed in cold water, squeezed using a conveyor and transferred to a special drum for mixing with salt. After all these procedures, the seaweed is left in pits for a day for salting, after which it is divided into rough (for salads) and more tender parts, dried and packed in boxes.

Is seaweed allowed for nursing mothers?

In seaweed, iodine is present in combination with amino acids, which contributes to its good absorption. Iodine deficiency in pregnant and lactating mothers is especially noticeable, and therefore sea kale should be widely used not only in pure form, but also as various preparations. For the body of a young mother and a developing fetus, kelp is needed throughout the entire period before childbirth. It has many advantages. Iodine normalizes hormones, eliminates depression, removes toxins, heals the lungs, strengthens the baby's skeleton and the mother's skeletal system. Eating kelp is beneficial because of its ability to reduce blood viscosity.

How to cook seaweed?

Boil dried or frozen cabbage. To prepare dried kelp, it is necessary to carefully sort through the leaves and pour cold water for 12-15 hours, then rinse well under the tap and cook for 2-3 hours. To cook frozen food, it must first be defrosted, rinsed and cooked for 20-30 minutes. After the cooking process, it is necessary to drain the water, dry the algae and cook it two more times to eliminate the smell.

Calorie content of seaweed

The benefits of seaweed are undeniable, the substances of which are not found in the usual food. The calorie content of fresh and dried seaweed per 100 grams is about 5 Kcal. Due to the fact that the calorie content is low, kelp is used as a component of the diet for those who want to be slim.

Pickled kelp can have 47 calories per 100 grams, the ratio depends on what seasoning and oil is added to the recipe. For example, a seaweed salad can contain 122 calories. Not only is it a low-calorie product, but it is also the enemy of cellulite and metabolic reduction.

Diet on seaweed

Kelp is good for various health and weight-loss diets. It is incredibly effective for mono diets. The high content of vitamins and minerals allows you to eat only this product for several days without harm to health. On the contrary, the satiety and nutritional value of the cells will be provided. You will not feel hunger, your body will be cleansed, your mood and general condition will improve, your skin will acquire a beautiful color.

Contraindications to the use of seaweed

Laminaria is contraindicated in hemorrhagic manifestations, nephritis, chronic furunculosis and with hyperfunction of the thyroid gland. If the body is sensitive to the components of kelp, then its consumption can cause allergies, and in this case it is not recommended for children and adults diagnosed with diathesis. Seaweed can also cause hives and skin irritation.

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).