Our Ocean Provides Nutrients - Mandarin Sunrise Press

How Roasted Seaweed Supports Our Health & Wellness

For hundreds of years seaweeds have been used as food; usage in Ireland has been recorded to date back to the 12th century. Seaweeds are high in minerals, as a result of their marine growing environment. A delicacy of Japan, the Nori seaweed is roasted, making it a pure seaweed and a great addition to many foods. Whilst in production only a small amount of sea salt and oil are added to the Nori, giving it that crunchy and sweet flavour. Japan has benefited for many years with this vegetable from the sea, its people having a strong appreciation for the nutritional benefits and longevity that it provides.

Similar to that of making paper, the roasted seaweed goes through a process of shredding, drying and roasting. This process results in a thin layer of seaweed that can be either green or black in colour. Nori, or Roasted seaweed, is rich in fibre, playing an important role in the cellular structure of our human bodies and energetic system. Let us walk through the many known health benefits of seaweed in terms of its various nutritional components:

Vitamin B12

Boosts our immune system, contributing to the normal function of red blood cells and hemoglobin, thus allowing our oxygen to flow naturally through our body.
Maintaining a normal metabolism of Iron.
Supporting a balanced and regulated nervous system.
Promotes a clear mental state.

Iodine

A key component of having normal thyroid and hormonal functions.
Assists neurological development and metabolism.
Each sheet of Nori contains over half the total recommended daily intake of Iodine.
Most of the Earth’s Iodine is found in the sea, so seaweed plays an essential part in our well-being.

Other Benefits

Contains 50mg of potassium per 1 sheet of seaweed.
Lowers your blood pressure, reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Releases the principal positive charge in the cellular fluid.
Low amounts of saturated fat and calories (5 calories).
Protein found in Nori helps build the muscle and maintain cell strength.

With a unique taste, many use roasted seaweed as a wonderful snack in between meals to provide them with high energy and a healthy alternative to high-calorie foods. As an excellent source of calcium, your bones will benefit from roasted seaweed. In fact, many people suffering from various ailments like depletion or reduction in bone density have seen significant improvements simply by upping their intake of Nori. Other vitamins found in roasted seaweed are Magnesium (an essential mineral that supports energy production) and Phosphorus (which plays a crucial part in our biological processes, including bone mineralization and energy production).

Roasted seaweed has now become available for purchase in any major supermarket or local nutritional store. Whilst sourcing roasted seaweed online or at a speciality store, the most important thing to remember is to read the label carefully and make sure that the ingredients are as they should be. Roasted seaweed should only contain vegetable oil (or other natural oils) and sea salt and no artificial additives. Be aware that there are variations in terms of the colour of seaweed; generally speaking, the darker-coloured and more opaque Nori will have a stronger taste.

There are many ways you can cook with roasted seaweed; try adding small crumbled pieces into your salads for a fuller flavour. If you are a seafood lover, sushi is the most popular way to eat roasted seaweed. If you love to snack, roasted seaweed sheets provide you with a great alternative to processed foods and sugars.