Usually consumed in Asia, edible seaweeds are still shy in our countries. Sea lettuce, dulse, sea bean, nori, spirulina, wakame, kelp... are all seaweeds you can put on your plate, dried or fresh for some! In addition to their delicate flavor, these "sea vegetables" have many nutritional benefits. Green, blue, red or brown, find out in this article why you should put them on your plate!

Algae, a concentrate of nutrients

SeaweedDepending on their variety, they are rich in vitamins A, B2, B9, C, K, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Magnesium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

Their high vitamin, mineral and trace element content gives them the title of "superfood".

Algae are therefore perfect for revitalization cures in case of deficiency, fatigue, convalescence, period of stress or examination...

Seaweed, soluble and insoluble fiber for your transit but not only!

Fibers are known to regulate transit. Indeed, fibers are neither digested nor absorbed but "tickle" the intestinal walls which react by accelerating peristalsis. At the same time, insoluble fiber absorbs water which has the effect of increasing the density of the stool and its plasticity. Thus, fiber helps fight constipation and diarrhea.

The role of fiber does not end there. These trap the sugar in the cellulose and then evacuate it through natural channels. Glycemia (the sugar level in the blood) is then regulated. Thus, for people suffering from diabetes 1, 2 or pre-diabetes, algae will be interesting at this level.

Seaweed, source of iodine

Iodine is a trace elementessential for the proper functioning of the thyroidas it is an important component of thyroid hormones. This butterfly-shaped endocrine gland housed in the neck is involved in many functions including brain development, general metabolism , body temperature regulation, reproduction and growth.

In France, table salts are enriched for the most part with iodine in order to compensate for possible deficiencies which can be catastrophic for health (goiter, edema) or even irreversible such as cretinism (mental handicap in children).

People on a low-salt dietare likely to be deficient in iodine. Algaecan be quite recommended for them.

To know : In case of a nuclear disaster, health authorities recommend taking a tablet of potassium iodide to protect the thyroid from radiation. In this regard, people living within a radius of 20 km around nuclear power plants have been given a voucher by these same authorities to go and get iodine tablets in priority and free of charge at the pharmacy in case of an incident.

Algae to protect against cardiovascular diseases

The potassium contained in seaweed helps to lower blood pressure when it is high.

In addition, the combination of fiber, antioxidants as well as fatty acids found in seaweed promote good cardiovascular health.

Seaweed, appetite suppressant and slimming food

Algae are very low in calories (200 to 300 kcal/100g) and low in fat (even if these are of very good quality). In addition, fiber also participates in the sensationtemporary satiety. Thus, seaweed can be included in slimming diets (see article "Do seaweeds make you lose weight?") .

Comment consommer des algues ?

In organic stores and some supermarkets, you can find many varieties of dried and flaked seaweed. These are the most convenient to start with because you can sprinkle them on your salads and raw vegetables or make yourself in a salt/seaweed mix as a condiment.

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Minute Seaweed Tatar Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 100g dried seaweed in flakes

• some pickles

• juice ½ lemon

• capers

• olive oil
  

Chop all ingredients in a blender and season to taste.

You can eat this tatare as a spread on a slice of wholemeal bread, as an aperitif, as an appetizer... Keeps 2-3 days in the refrigerator.

Contra-indications of the alga

Beware, however, of those prone to hyperthyroidism or any condition affecting the thyroid. Ask your doctor or naturopath for advice.

While Japan consumes seaweed to the tune of 14.5g per year per capita, in France, they are still very shy in our plates. If you want to enjoy their benefits, it is important to check their quality and their origin because algae can be contaminated by polluted waters, by heavy metals and pesticides.