Seaweed Treasure

FeelWell Nutrition Seaweed Donburi Bowl

Seaweed is everywhere on the Wild Atlantic coast and, let’s face it, where there’s a coastline anywhere in the world, you will find this precious treasure! Don’t be fooled by it’s somewhat derogatory and useless sounding ‘weed’ name. Seaweed, in it’s many forms and varieties, is a bounty and most certainly not useless to us humans. More traditional coastal cultures know this all too well and include seaweed in the diet, apply it topically on the skin and even use it as fertiliser for ‘land’ vegetables.

So what has this sea vegetable to offer nutritionally? Packed full of micro-nutrients that we may struggle to obtain from other sources, seaweed contains minerals such as; magnesium, iodine, calcium, iron and vitamins; A, C, E, K, plus B vitamins including folate. The value for hormone health is clear, including thyroid function and sex hormone function e.g. oestrogen balance. Consider immune health also with some great anti-oxidants in there e.g. Vitamin C and E. Red blood cell formation and cellular energy production may also benefit from inclusion of this functional food in the diet. And, the good news is, it is so easy to include!

You can sprinkle Dulse flakes in soups and stews, an easy way to incorporate it, or make dishes where seaweed steals the show! e.g. in traditional Japanese cooking or, even closer to home, from the Connemara homestead, the later is where I first got introduced to Dillisk. My grandfather dried Dillisk on hot summer days, on the window sills. That unusual texture and flavour soon became addictive! What would he make of Japanese Donburi/ Don, Sushi and SeaVeg Crisps as regular features in my diet now!? I think he would approve and hoping you do too. I have included recipes here for you to try, if you haven’t done so already. These are some favourites with FeelWell!

As well as eating seaweed, bathing in seaweed is another lovely way to absorb it’s many minerals and antioxidants. Check out Bite Sized Living for info and encouragement on this health promoting way to enjoy a nutritional soak!

Isn’t it wonderful that what is plentiful to forage is full of juicy goodness and that our elders enjoyed it straight out of the sea and dried on a window sill! Seaweed is still all about keeping it simple, consider great brands such as; Wild Irish Sea Veg and Bláth na Mara or, better still, forage on the seashore and find your own treasure for your dinner plate!