Seaweed - useful properties and contraindications

You know why people rarely get sick in Japan, why are there a huge number of long-livers who easily pass the milestone in 100 years? It's all about nutrition and proper lifestyle. Every Japanese knows that food is a medicine that can heal the human body from almost any disease. All the representatives of this Eastern culture try to eat right, in their diet there are no sweet and sweet buns - only healthy seafood, natural vegetable sauces, rice, vegetables. A special place in the eastern cuisine is seaweed. These algae contain a huge amount of useful elements, but most of all kelp is valued for its high iodine content. This trace element is incredibly important for a person, iodine deficiency often affects well-being, health and even appearance.Today we will talk about sea kale, its beneficial properties, contraindications and the right ways to make this delicacy.

The composition and caloric content of the product

Many of us have seen sea kale on sale - most often in dried form, sometimes already pickled and canned. Fresh kelp is practically not for sale, only in close proximity to the coasts - where it was collected. Algae grows in the seas, on stony soil. Recently, people began to plant cabbage in special farms on the shores of the seas. Laminaria sown on the prepared soil, it quickly grows and gives a good harvest. Collecting algae under water is quite difficult, this is done by strong men. In clear weather, they dive under the water and tear cabbage, using a special tool that looks like a triple fork. Then the algae are dried, cut off the roots and sorted. Large algae, which managed to break a whole leaf - this is the most valuable product. Such sheets are sent in their original form to beauty salons for wraps. Smaller cabbage is cut and dried, or pickled - these are blanks for the food industry.

The composition of seaweed is very diverse. It has many different trace elements - phosphorus, iodine, sodium, magnesium, potassium, iron. Laminaria is also rich in vitamins A, E, C, D, vitamins of group B. In addition, algae contain fiber, sterols, alginates, polysaccharides and fatty acids. With all the variety of nutrients calorie product is quite low - no more than 30 kcal per 100 grams of product. What is so valuable seaweed?

Useful properties of sea kale

As noted, the most important property of seaweed - in the content of a huge amount of iodine. This trace element is very important for the body, its deficiency almost immediately affects the well-being and mental abilities of a person. Children with iodine deficiency are lagging behind in school, working people lose concentration and get tired quickly, old people suffer from sclerosis, women often suffer from hormonal disorders. Among the symptoms of iodine deficiency include chronic fatigue, reduced immunity, edema, anemia, menstrual disorders in women, overweight, depression, poor mood and depression.Enter sea kale into your diet, eat it at least a couple of times a week and within a month iodine deficiency will pass without a trace.

1. Oncology. In the last century, scientists and doctors noticed that the Japanese, who lived in their homeland, very rarely have oncological diseases. If they left the peninsula, their diets changed, women developed breast cancer and cervical cancer much more often, and men - prostate cancer. Scientists were able to prove that the whole thing in sea kale. Regular consumption significantly reduces the risk of developing cancer.
2. Blood and vessels. Sea kale is very useful for blood - it dilutes it, prevents the formation of blood clots. And the algae perfectly reduces cholesterol, breaks plaques on the walls of arteries. With constant consumption of seaweed can talk about powerful prevention of stroke and heart attack. A good portion of sea kale is not just a tasty dish, but also an effective medicine that allows you to quickly reduce the pressure.
3. For digestion. Sea kale is very useful for the entire digestive system, a large amount of fiber is used in the fight against constipation.Laminaria is very good at losing weight - with a low calorie content, the product gives an incredible feeling of fullness, in addition, seaweed speeds up the body's metabolic processes. It can be said that algae is a product with negative caloric content; the body spends more calories on digestion of seaweed than it contains in this product.
4. Vitamin C. Sea kale - a record for the amount of vitamin C in its composition. Ascorbic acid, first of all, is a powerful protection against flu and colds, an excellent prevention of ARVI. Regular intake of ascorbic acid in the body eliminates excessive bleeding, headache, pallor and aching joints.
5. When pregnancy. The high content of beneficial trace elements makes the product indispensable during pregnancy. Iodine protects the fetus from congenital abnormalities, allows you to carry the child without additional difficulties.
6. Vitality. Often, avitaminosis and lack of sunlight do their work, by the middle of winter people become gloomy, depressed, downtrodden and tired. Seaweed will fix this situation.Turn on kelp in your diet, after a couple of weeks you will notice that the mood of your loved ones has risen, forces have appeared for evening walks, sleep has become more calm and deep.
7. In cosmetology. The kelp has a special meaning in cosmetology. External use of seaweed allows you to increase blood circulation in the tissues, stimulates metabolic processes. This property of algae is used in the fight against cellulite. Seaweed based wraps are the most popular, effective and demanded procedure in beauty salons. In addition, the algae are added to face masks - the skin becomes taut, beautiful, natural, vibrant and vibrant.
8. Libido. At all times, seaweed was considered a real aphrodisiac, for both men and women. Laminaria is able to stimulate sexual desire, stimulates even the most dormant sex hormones.
9. Cleansing the body. Alginic acid contained in cabbage removes heavy metals and radionuclides from the body. Laminaria necessarily enters the diet of people who are at least somehow exposed to radiation. Modern man is also subject to numerous magnetic fields and other influences - exhaust gases, environment gadgets and instruments,unnatural food - all this affects human health, pollutes his body. Sea kale will help you in high-quality cleaning.

It is difficult to describe all the useful properties of this product. But despite this, kelp is not useful to everyone, you should know about it.

Contraindications to the use of seaweed

As you have already seen, kelp is quite a potent product that has a serious effect on the body. That is why before introducing cabbage into the diet, you should familiarize yourself with some contraindications.

1. Laminaria cannot be consumed in hyperthyroidism, when there is an excess of iodine in the body - this can aggravate the situation.
2. When lactating to lean on the sea cabbage is not worth it - iodine can accumulate in the mammary glands. If you are pregnant, eat kelp only after consulting a doctor.
3. Children cannot eat sea kale, at least until they reach the age of three. The high content of various trace elements in the composition of algae can trigger the development of an allergic reaction.
4. By the way, an allergy to seaweed can appear in an adult. If you are trying sea cabbage for the first time, start with small portions.
5. The taste of kelp is quite hard and irritating, it can be harmful to the stomach in the presence of gastritis and ulcers.
6. With reduced blood clotting can not consume seaweed, as well as other products that thin the blood.

Otherwise, if you do not have chronic diseases, you can enter sea kale in your diet, although 2-3 times a week for 100-150 grams. But how to cook it properly?

How to cook and eat sea kale?

If you bought ready pickled or canned cabbage, you just need to open it and put it in a plate - the dish is ready for use. But dried kelp is much more beneficial - it does not contain vinegar, sugar or other flavoring additives. Dried kelp can usually be found on the market where spices are sold. Dried seaweed is poured with water at room temperature, left for a couple of hours, and then washed through a colander. This will get rid of natural mucus and sand, which can get into the product from the seabed.Sea kale itself is very tasty, it is enough to season it with spices, add onions, garlic and vegetable oil - you get a nutritious and easy salad that can be used as a side dish for fish or meat.

Sea kale can be mixed with other vegetables, such as classic Korean carrots. This salad should be seasoned with garlic, ginger, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, red pepper and vegetable oil. Get spicy Asian salad. Sea kale in the form of sandwiches with red sprats goes very well. A slice of black bread should be smeared with a thin layer of mayonnaise, put a little cabbage on top and garnish with tomato sprat. This is a great appetizer that will surely decorate your table. Delicious and healthy are not only snacks and salads, but also first courses. Sea kale goes well with a languid mushroom flavor. To prepare the soup you need to take the meat broth, add potatoes and wheat cereal. Separately, lightly fry the onions, carrots, and mushrooms, soaked kelp in the pan. Transfer the contents of the pan to the pan, boil, add salt and spices to taste, serve with white breadcrumbs and parsley. The soup is rich, tasty and very healthy.

If you do not like to eat sea kale, you do not poison the slimy algal substance, you can buy kelp in dried and crushed form. You can sprinkle any dish with this powder, it gives it not only the taste of seafood, but also gives invaluable benefits. Eat sea kale - be healthy and full of energy!

Video: the use of seaweed