Yummy Green Goodness
Let me start off by apologizing for not getting any posts up this weekend.It was very busy. We went indoor climbing again (yep, just as fun as the first time!) and my mother and brother were in town. I have also been very busy with school (I have 2 major papers due over the next two weeks) so i apologize for taking longer to get to everyone’s comments. I will do my best to get caught up on them over the next couple days.
When I made the challenge to everyone on Friday to “try something new” this weekend, that went for me too! My brother brought a bag of roasted seaweed over when he came and let me tell you… this is my new favorite snack. I almost immediately had to go out and buy a couple bags of my own.
First off, this stuff just tastes good.It is like eating sheets of paper… that are meaty. Meaty sheets of paper lol. Anyways, it is hard to explain the texture and flavor but it is awesome! A very filling healthy little snack treat that you can take with you almost anywhere.
Benefits of seaweed:
-Seaweed is loaded with vitamins and minerals! It has calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, iodine, iron, zinc,Vitamins C, niacin, B1, B2, B6 and B12.
-Seaweed is said to regulate hormones, speed up the metabolism promote a young looking skin color and also promote mental well-being.
-Seaweed contains significant amounts of lignans, which are plant compounds with cancer-protective properties.
-Sea vegetables pack a double punch against heart disease. In addition to their folic acid, sea vegetables are also a very good source of magnesium, which has been shown to reduce high blood pressure and prevent heart attack.
-Seaweed also has been proven to provide support through stressful situations by supplying not only magnesium, but pantothenic acid and riboflavin. Pantothenic acid is especially important for the health of the adrenal glands.
-Seaweed is exceptionally high in protein for a plant!
-Seaweed is generally grown and harvested in the Ise Bay region of Japan which is noted for having exceptionally clean and pure water.
I could probably keep listing things but you get the idea.
Now, I am a person that hates when things are labeled as “superfoods”.I like seaweed though… and I mean that I REALLY like seaweed. So if I enjoy snacking on it anyways AND it just so happens that it IS a superfood then double bonus!
Have you tried seaweed? What was your new thing that YOU tried this weekend?
March 2nd, 2009 - 10:04 am
This seaweed is good! Kinda reminds me of a fishy jerky. Fishy not that it tastes like fish but fishy in that it has that “sea taste” if that makes sense.
I still have a day off tomorrow to try something new. Yesterday I went to the flea market here for the first time, but I don’t think that counts.
March 2nd, 2009 - 10:55 am
do you know where this might be purchased other than online? i called our two local health food stores and one never heard of it and the other doesn’t carry it. thanks
March 2nd, 2009 - 11:06 am
i just fell in love with seaweed salad, so this is interesting. do you eat it like jerky or prepare it any certain way?
i’m with you, i don’t mind a food being awesome nutritionally, but it’s all about the taste!!
March 2nd, 2009 - 11:38 am
Isn’t nori actually algae and not seaweed?
March 2nd, 2009 - 11:47 am
SOG:
Do you eat lentils and legumes? If not, why not?
March 2nd, 2009 - 11:54 am
Did you know that the Japanese call that “meaty” taste “Umami” and that MSG was created to replicate that fifth taste?
No?
March 2nd, 2009 - 11:57 am
“Meaty sheets of paper ” For that quote alone I’m going to try it.
March 2nd, 2009 - 11:59 am
Mike,
Look for an asian market or world foods market. Almost any asian market will have some kind of seaweed..
ttfn300,
I eat it like jerky. I think I am going to start using it as a wrap for egg salad and beef rolls though.
Roger,
I don’t think so… it is a seaweed. Maybe there is an algae also called nori? “Nori” used to be used to describe a wide array of “sea vegetables” but now it refers to a specific kind of seaweed.
lildiva,
I personally do not eat them though I used to. Legumes (including lentils) do offer some protein and nutritional benefits but they are benefits that can be more effectively incurred from consumption of other foods. Legumes also tend to still be rich in carbohydrates and tend to require some form of processing in order to make edible. I tend to like to limit both carb intensive and processed foods. I do not think that they are the worst thing you can eat by any means (I still have the occasional) and they are probably a mecessary evil for vegitarians but i don’t generally eat them.
March 2nd, 2009 - 12:01 pm
Natalie,
I had no idea! I will take “Umami” seaweed over MSG any day! THank you for the info!
Emergefit,
I couldn’t think of a better way to descirbe it ( now I know “Umami” though). You gotta try it bruther. Good stuff.
March 2nd, 2009 - 12:02 pm
Seaweed rules and it’s ridiculously good for you. I do mine in a stir-fry with zucchini, squash, garlic, soy sauce (and I read the ingredients prior to buying
, and coconut oil.
March 2nd, 2009 - 12:06 pm
Troy,
I like the stir fry idea. I will have to give that a try with my newfound love of seaweed.
March 2nd, 2009 - 12:43 pm
As someone who has experienced it I would warn against excess consumption of seaweed products as it can lead to hyperthyroidism (from the iodine in the seaweed).
March 2nd, 2009 - 12:47 pm
Chris W,
Interesting. I have read that eating seaweed can stimulate T3 and T4 and therefore the thyroid. I have usually heard this referenced as a positive benefit though (which hyperthyroidism certainly isn’t positive). Out of curiosity… how much were you consuming?
March 2nd, 2009 - 2:06 pm
SOG,
In Japan you can get many many varieties ranging from the commonly priced ones to very high end expensive varities.
It’s good for you stuff. Unless you are eating a package a day, I wouldn’t worry too much about taking in too much.
Interesting side note, you know what REALLY good sushi restaurants have? The best possible nori. There is a whole other world of Nori out there
Go really native and roll some natto in nori. YUM!
Marc
March 2nd, 2009 - 2:29 pm
Marc,
I noticed that even at the asian market i went to. They had korean seaweed, japanese seaweed and chinese seaweed. They had several kind of each. it ranged from $13 all the way of you #30 for a bag. We have a really phenominal asian market though. Each aisle is labeled as a city and is full of the delcasies of that area. It is awesome. I got some really crazy produce too.
March 2nd, 2009 - 2:33 pm
As someone with hypothyroid, this intrigues me. I shall have to get some nori and see if it helps.
March 2nd, 2009 - 2:50 pm
I am hyperthyroid and find I have absolutely no desire to eat seaweed so I think that primally your body does try and take care of itself in its own way.
March 2nd, 2009 - 2:52 pm
I was eating about a quarter of a bag a day for a week and the symptoms started right after that (and have stuck with me for over a year).
I ate so much because they were so good and I was one of those clueless vegetarians (though I now eat meat thanks to the advice on Mark’s blog).
So I was eating excess amounts of it but I am still paying for it today so it is better safe than sorry I think.
March 2nd, 2009 - 3:14 pm
Hi Son of Grok!
I found you through Nourishing Day’s blog. What a great storehouse of paleo goodness!
I LOVE seaweed as well, and I have three fave recipes, including one substitue for potato chips that will make you never crave Frito’s again!
http://oreganicthrifty.blogspot.com/2008/10/3-ways-my-kids-love-seaweed-nutrient.html
So nice to see your blog!
Carrie
http://oreganicthrifty.blogspot.com
March 2nd, 2009 - 3:55 pm
That’s cool. My son loves Nori. Here in Hawaii you can get it everywhere, kids take it to school and eat it like chips or crackers on the Mainland. It is really good for you.
BTW – Seaweed IS a type of algae.
March 2nd, 2009 - 4:04 pm
Kathy,
You may want to look into it!
LM,
We are known to crave what we are deficient in which if you are hyperthyroid obviously isnt seaweed!
Chris,
That sounds like an unfortunate situation all around. Welcome back to the carnivorous pack though!
Organic and Thrifty,
Alternatives to chips always help me convert friends! Thank you for the recipes. Awesome blog you have going too.
RedBeerd,
Thank you for that info bruther. Also thank you for pointing out that seaweed IS an algae. Not only is biology one of my worst subjects but I am also landlocked living in the middle of a desert! It pays to have readers that are smarter than you are sometimes. lol
March 2nd, 2009 - 9:36 pm
I got a gift of a bag of seaweed from my BIL in the US. I haven’t opened it yet, not knowing what to do with it! Now, I will dare, and let you know.
Sorry for being OT, remember I told you “I can’t deadlift my bodyweight yet”, and you encouraged me? I lift more than my body weight now (just a few days after that comment), and will soon hit 1.5 times that. It was all a fear of back injury and a slow-and-steady mentality that kept me in the lower levels of weight. Thanks, SoG!
March 2nd, 2009 - 10:05 pm
I think I tried seaweed once and didn’t care for it, but that was years ago. My roommate is a big sushi guy and has plenty around, so I’ll find some recipes and give it a shot. However, SoG, my big new thing this weekend was not food related, but being inspired by your last climbing post — I’ve been annoyed for a while that I don’t have any good spot in my home or garage for pullups, but I discovered the advantage to a tiny bathroom: I can put my feet on the edge of the tub, a nice grip with no slip, then “wall walk” around the walls the ceiling with my hands. Can definitely feel it EVERYWHERE!
March 3rd, 2009 - 8:12 am
Thanks for the tip. I wouldn’t have tried this on my own. It’s on my list now though
- Dave
March 3rd, 2009 - 9:43 am
Hi, I found your site through MDA (which I just recently found as well). I wanted to throw my 2 cents in with regards to the seaweed. I absolutely love it. One of my Asian dormmates offered me some my freshman year of college & I’ve been hooked ever since. Some of the ones that come in the preportioned packs tend to be a bit salty for me compared to the large sheets used for sushi. So I just rip those apart and have those for a snack. So delicious!
I also recently started roasting my own kale, which surprisingly has a similar taste profile to the seaweed but without the previously mentioned “fishy taste”. So if the oceany taste is not to your liking try the recipe at “healthycooking.suite101.com/article.cfm/roasted_kale”. Kale is so inexpensive and one of the forgotten vegetables I think. It’s used as a garnish at some restaurants!
So thanks for the site and helping me on my way to a “primal” lifestyle! I look forward to more posts in the future!
March 3rd, 2009 - 10:25 am
Rambodoc,
Awesome achievement! Keep up the good work. I too was always worried about my back but heavy deadlifting has actually gotten rid of my back pain.
Damaged Justice,
Lol, that sounds truly awesome! Just be careful as it doesn’t sound all that safe. Fun though!
David,
Let me know what you think… I really enjoy it.
Dominique,
Welcome to the site! I like the “sea” taste of my nori sheets. Let me know if I can help at all as you enter into a primal lifestyle! Sea vegetables are such a good source of nutrients andd one we forget about. I know I did befeore meeting mr. seaweed.
June 4th, 2009 - 9:51 pm
If only I knew you! We could totally get seaweed snacks! I definitely eat NORI by the bag full… and when I say bag full I mean 50-sheets per bag full! ha ha! I get mine from Asian Food Grocer online – they have the best prices on 50-sheets & they are delicious!!!!!!! It’s just a bonus that it’s a super food!
Wrap your salad in it – works like a charm….and when I bring home sushi grade salmon, eel, etc… I always wrap it in nori – perfect!
October 7th, 2009 - 1:24 pm
I was going through some of your old posts and had to comment on this.
My very favorite way to prepare it, is to buy ’suhi Nori’ and then fry it up in some oil/ fat, dab off extra oil between two paper towels and then lightly salt the crispy sheets. Voila! You have a result that is what the Japanese children eat instead of salty American potato chips!