Julie Engfer

This one goes out to Christen. Seaweed can be baffling. However, don’t give up. It is one of nature’s super foods.

Here is some information gleaned from www.oceanvegetables.com

1. Shiny and healthy hair.
   Amino acids, vitamins and minerals help strengthen hair strands and texture resulting in lustrous hair. Biotin, which belongs to the family of B vitamins, promotes healthier and shiny hair.
2. Keeps the mind sharp.
   Significant amount of vitamins, protein, ionic minerals and trace minerals enhances your brain’s performance specifically Asparagine, which energizes the brain and also boosts the immune system, while Boron improves mental clarity as it assists in unclogging arteries.
3. Makes skin clear, young looking.
   Rich in beta-carotene, Vitamin A, minerals and amino acids, sea veggies maintain collagen (a property necessary for smooth functioning of connective tissues) making skin supple, soft to touch. Laugh lines and wrinkles are reduced.
4. Preserves good eyesight.
   Sea vegetables are the leading sources of natural carotenes like Vitamin A (beta carotene) and bioflavonoids – antioxidants that help clear up the cellular debris that accumulate in the eyes. Bioflavonoids for one, works with prolonging Vitamin C action in the eyes, which help prevent swelling and inflammation of ocular tissues. Vitamins A and C keep vision 20/20 and help prevent “dry eye” syndrome.

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5. Improves gum health.
   Aside from calcium, sea vegetables are also rich in vitamin C, one of the most essential vitamins, which keeps the gums in the pink of health.
6. Strengthens teeth, so flash that smile.
   26x the calcium of milk, seaweed strengthens teeth (and bones!). It also has Fluorine that fights tooth decay.
7. Maintains healthy thyroid function.
   Abundant natural, organically-bond iodine extracts maintain healthy thyroid function, help prevent goiter.
8. Helps ease colds and other respiratory problems.
   Seaweed’s strong anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties help prevent against colds, flu and other respiratory problems.
9. Prevents allergies and infections.
   Overflowing with vitamin B, C, minerals and amino acids and anti-inflammatory properties, sea plants enhance resistance to allergies and other infection.
10. Strengthens the immune system.
    Polynutrients in ocean vegetables help strengthen the immune system and keep the body resistant to illness and infection.
11. Fights “roaming” free radicals. An army of antioxidants fights dangerous free radicals (cells that go wayward) for a super strong and protected immune system.
12. Reduces cancer risks.
    Powerful antioxidants and anti-cancer properties help inhibit abnormal cell growth by a whopping 95%!
13. Stunts tumor growth. Iodine and amino acids combine to significantly reduce breast and uterine fibroids; help prevent cysts from forming.
14. Pumps up energy!
    Energy-boosting B vitamins, Vitamin C and minerals fight stress and fatigue so you stay active and alert.
15. Enhances cell regeneration. Retards ageing!
    Replete with phytochemicals and anti-ageing properties, sea plants enhance cell regeneration and rejuvenation thus, delaying ageing.

RECIPES

Now that you know what sea veggies can do for you aren’t you just living to try it? One of my favorite sources for sea vegetables is Mendocino Sea Vegetable Company. I have met them and toured their facility. They are very high integrity employing the old methods of coastal indigenous peoples in their harvesting practices. If you are a raw-fooder, this is a great place to make your seaweed purchase. Their dried seaweeds remain as full of nutritional value as possible with their low heat methods of drying.

This site is also a great resource for recipes and they have a seaweed book for sale as well.

Although I always enjoy a good seaweed salad with sprouted quinoa, my default favorite thing is to make nori rolls stuffed with fresh veggies and dip it in home made bon-bon sauce full of ginger and garlic.

Bon Bon Sauce by Cherie Soria
Yield: 1 cup/250 mL (3-4 servings)

This Asian-style sesame sauce can be used on just about anything. If you thin it with water, it’s a tasty salad dressing; if you use less water, it’s a great vegetable dip, spread, or filling for celery sticks. Enjoy it as a dipping sauce for Vegetable Sushi Vietnamese Salad Rolls, or use it instead of mayonnaise for cabbage slaw. However you serve it, Bon Bon Sauce is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
 
1/2 cup (120 mL) raw tahini
2 tablespoons (30 mL) grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons (30 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons (30 mL) agave syrup or sweetener of choice
2 tablespoons (30 mL) wheat-free tamari
1 clove garlic, crushed
 
1. Combine of the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Add a small amount of purified water as needed to form a thick sauce.
2. Stored in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator, Bon Bon Sauce will keep for up to 1 week.

For more recipes like this one visit www.rawfoodchef.com, home of Living Light Culinary Arts Institute. They have a nice newsletter and Living Light is the foremost Raw Vegan Culinary Arts school in the world (also on the Mendocino Coast by the way).

Enjoy your seaweed!