Yes, we’re talking about seaweed. Stay with me. Sea vegetables are incredibly nutritious foods, some of which you probably already eat. Ever have sushi? Well, the black nori that wraps your sushi roll is a nutritious sea vegetable.

Sea vegetables are high in protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals; low in calories.  Some important nutrients you’ll get are:

• Vitamin B6: Important for turning food into energy, healthy nerves and metabolizing protein.
• Vitamin B12: Rarely found outside animal sources, it’s important for nerve function, red-blood cell production and energy.
• Iodine: Necessary for a healthy thyroid.
• Iron: An important part of supplying oxygen to your muscles.
• Potassium: Needed for electrolyte balance and muscle function (don’t forget that the heart is a muscle). Helps lower blood pressure.

Sea vegetables in a healthy diet can reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. They have anti-viral properties and help fight inflammation. Remember that chronic inflammation can indicate an immune system in overdrive, leading to diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

How to Buy & Use Sea Vegetables

In general, you’ll find bags of dried sea vegetables in the store. While they’re no-brainers at places like Whole Foods and your local health-food store, you may also find them in the Asian or Natural Foods sections of your local supermarket. Brands include Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, Emerald Cove and Eden.

• Add dulse flakes to salads, soups or stir-fries. Dulse is also a good substitute for table salt.

• Include a strip of kombu when you cook dried beans to help tenderize them. Make a soup broth with a strip of kombu simmered in water.

• Roast strips of laver at 300° for about 5 minutes until crisp, and eat like potato chips.

• Add rehydrated wakame to miso soup.

• Lightly toast nori sheets, then use them to make mini wraps of rice, tomatoes, tofu, avocado, sprouts; anything you like!

My challenge to you this week: eat outside your comfort zone and try one of these sea vegetables. I’d love to hear how you like it!

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