Countries like Japan have spent centuries learning to live off the sea, and this meant developing a taste for the vegetation as much as for the animals. Thusly you find seaweed used in many traditional dishes from the east. It’s a flavor that many of us in America rarely encounter, possibly only in the form of the scraps that hold together some of the sushi rolls found at our Federal Way Japanese restaurant. However, those who shy away from this strange and unfortunately-named vegetable are missing out on yet another of the ocean’s great boons.
Seaweed is very, very good for you. A proper serving of seaweed contains every mineral that the human body needs: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iodine, iron, and zinc. The vitamins found in sea plants include beta-carotene, niacin, vitamin C, pantothenic acid, folic acid and several B vitamins. Some varieties have been found to contain vitamin B12, which is rare among land-based vegetables. It enriches your blood, purges toxins from your system, regulates your hormones, facilitates your metabolism, and even promotes healthy, youthful looking skin and hair.
So if you’ve ever wondered how the people of Japan manage to remain so healthy, consider giving seaweed a try. You can find it at your local Asian market, or on the menu at the Akasaka Japanese restaurant in Federal Way.