DO I SMELL SEA VEGGIES???

Okay, so they might smell like fish and look like they could do some serious damage to small children but if you take a second look you might find yourself obsessed with these mineral-rich little gifts from the Sea.

WHAT IN THE CRAP ARE SEA VEGETABLES?
I only found out a few weeks ago and now these babies are a regular part of my diet. AND my suggestion is that you make them a part of your diet too.

Sea vegetables are different types of seaweed that grow in the ocean. Why would anyone want to eat sea vegetables? Because they offer the broadest range of minerals of any food, containing virtually all the minerals found in the ocean-the same minerals that are found in human blood. Sea vegetables are an excellent source of iodine and vitamin K, a very good source of the B-vitamin folate, and magnesium, and a good source of iron and calcium, and the B-vitamins riboflavin and pantothenic acid. In addition, sea vegetables contain good amounts of lignans, plant compounds with cancer-protective properties.

FOR HEALTH REASONS:
They are EXTREMELY good for you. Sea VEGGIES are main staple of the macrobiotic diet and body ecology diets (both diets focus on anti-cancer pro-immune system). Sea vegetables are a very good source of the B-vitamin folic acid. Studies have shown that diets high in folate-rich foods are associated with a significantly reduced risk for colon cancer. (AND BABIES!) They promote thyroid function, Help prevent birth defects and cardiovascular disease.

FOR VANITY REASONS:
What is the culture that ages the best? Umm, that would be the Asians. Having lived in California, I have seen first hand how 55 year old Asian women with 3 kids literally look like they are 30. Now some of that is genetics, but many of them give the credit to sea veggies. Apparently it was a greatly kept secret of the wealthy in Japanese society for thousands of years. From Oceanvegetables.com They contain high concentrations of beta carotene, chlorophyll, enzymes, and fiber to help restore your cells’ optimal health – getting rid of harmful toxins, improving the appearance of your skin and hair, and increasing energy. These incredible ocean plants are your best line of defense against aging.

Now you have your sea veggies and coconut oil and your ready for the fountain of youth.

WHAT ARE SEA VEGGIES:
There are several different types:
Here are the Body Ecology book definitions with a little bit of my 2 cents packed in:

DULSE: Can be eaten right from the package as a snack (although, I personally would not recommend it) Dulse makes spinach look like a sissy in the iron department. Its great in soups, salads, or sauteed.


NORI: What you find in Sushi...Nori is used in Japanese restaurants for making sushi. You can also toast it by passing it quickly over a burner until it changes color from black to green then crumble it onto salads



KOMBU: Can be soaked overnight in spring water to create a mineral-rich broth. Use this medicinal stock for making soups of for cooking your grains.

AGAR: Is used to make aspics, puddings, and gelatin desserts. Its in a ton of recipes you find in the supermarket. As a rule of thumb, for every cup of liquid, use a heaping tablespoon of agar flakes.

ARAME: The fine shredded strands have a crisp texture and sweet nutty flavor. It should be soaked about 20 minutes, chopped and tossed into a salad without cooking. If you want to cook it, I am including a great recipe we got from our class. You can mix Arame with onions and carrots with left over grain and form it into patties, then saute it in coconut oil or ghee.

HIJIKI: This stuff quadruples in volume when you soak it. It requires thorough rinsing when you soak it and longer cooking time.

WAKAME: Oh heaven. This one is my favorites. It starts off looking like little black ashy flakes and then you soak it and it turns into this lush green spinach like vegetable. Not a very strong taste and great in soups or salads.

Now that you are familiar with these amazing little creatures, I will not leave you hanging...next post: WONDERFUL and TASTY SEA VEGGIE RECIPES (complete with pics and all).