Latest in diet wellbeing
Ocean greens
Increasingly valued for its medicinal properties, seaweed is poised to become the next superfood. New evidence suggests it’s good for your heart, can help prevent cancer and may even aid weight loss. By Kate Langrish
When its slimy fronds brush past you in the sea, seaweed may not seem especially appetising. But pass on a plate of these particular greens and you'd be missing out. For seaweed is a powerhouse of nutrients - high in protein but low in fat, and packed with calcium, magnesium, iodine, iron and potassium, to name but a few of its attributes.
No wonder, then, that it's being hailed as the latest superfood. Many types are found along British and Irish shores - from the dark, thin sheets of laver to the purple strands of carrageen - and all are bursting with minerals and trace elements, which they gain from the nutrient-rich sea. They're perfect for absorption by the human body, too, as seawater has almost the same proportion of minerals as our blood. It may be winning plaudits from health experts, but seaweed's medicinal value was recognised by generations before ours. Ancient Chinese emperors used it to treat a variety of complaints, while for centuries people around the British Isles dried seaweed as a source of vitamins in winter. So put aside slimy concerns - it's time to eat your sea greens.
Boost your heart's health
The people of Okinawa Island in Japan regularly live to 100 and are renowned for their healthy hearts and low cholesterol. In addition to a wide variety of vegetables, seaweed is an important part of their diet. Of course, it is only one factor in their healthy lifestyle, but increasingly research is showing that seaweed is beneficial to heart health.
‘There are two types of seaweed that are thought to be particularly good for high blood pressure - laver (known as nori in Japan) and dabberlocks (known as wakame),' says GP and seaweed expert Dr Prannie Rhatigan, who is based near the weed-rich shores of County Sligo. ‘Claims that seaweed can lower cholesterol and improve blood flow are also being investigated in Japan, and are showing very promising results.' Too much salt in the diet is also bad news for blood pressure, so she recommends substituting your table salt for ground seaweed. ‘It still tastes salty but has very little sodium chloride,' says Dr Rhatigan, whose book of seaweed recipes, Cooking up a Storm with Seaweed from Irish Shores, is due out next year.
Protect against cancerIt's well known that Japanese women have lower rates of breast cancer than Western women, and experts believe their seaweed-rich diet may be a factor. ‘Research in Japan has suggested that a diet high in kelp may reduce the amount of oestrogen circulating in the body, and this means there is less fuel for the development of oestrogen-dependent cancers,' explains public health dietician Rachel Cooke. ‘Seaweed also contains lignans and isoflavones, anti-oxidant compounds thought to help reduce the risk of breast cancer.'
Fight the flab
Already sought after by health food fanatics, seaweed could be the unlikely saviour of junk food fans, too. Researchers at Newcastle University found that alginate, an extract from seaweed, can strengthen the mucus lining of the gut wall and slow digestion so you feel fuller for longer. They suggest that seaweed alginates could be used to make junk food healthier by replacing unhealthy fat with the fibre-rich alginates. ‘With a burger, for example, you would remove some of the fat and replace it with seaweed extract,' says Professor Jeff Pearson, part of the research team. And it could also help those who've had one burger too many, as scientists in Japan have found brown seaweed contains a compound that appears to reduce the accumulation of fat.
Pick me up
Seaweed has been used as a tonic for generations - from cold remedies to cures for the morning after. ‘Seaweed baths can help ease hangovers as they detox your body,' advises Neil Walton from Celtic Seaweed Baths in County Sligo. And if you're suffering from the sniffles, the Ancient Chinese believed seaweed could disperse phlegm, while a team at Saga University in Japan found that a chemical in seaweed was three times more effective than a conventional flu remedy. This seems to be backed up by traditional use in Ireland, too. ‘Every grandmother uses carrageen to treat coughs. It was also made into carrageen blancmange to help people convalesce after an illness,' says Dr Rhatigan. ‘Everyone should eat a little bit every day to help fight off infections. It really is a treasure waiting to be found on our shores.'Ease your aching limbs
Ever-popular in health spas, seaweed baths' therapeutic value in easing weary bodies has been acknowledged for hundreds of years. ‘They have been used for centuries to help relieve the symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism - there are records as far back as the 18th century,' says Neil Walton, whose business Celtic Seaweed Baths (www.celticseaweedbaths.com) uses fresh, local seaweed in its tubs. ‘Our understanding is that seaweed helps draw out acidic toxins and may help rheumatism sufferers by conducting heat deep into the muscles and joints.' Seaweeds such as kelp and dabberlocks are also extremely rich sources of calcium, essential for strong, healthy bones.
Where to buy seaweed
If you don't fancy wearing wellies or waders and sourcing your own, many delis and fishmongers sell fresh varieties that you can use raw in salads or steamed with your dinner. Selwyn's on the Gower Peninsula, for example, sells laverbread - traditional Welsh seaweed purée - by mail order at £5 per kg (see www.selwynsseafoods.co.uk).
Health food shops and some supermarkets sell a variety of dried seaweeds; most are Japanese (such as wakame and nori, sold at Sainsbury's for £2.95 for 50g and £2.49 for 17g respectively), but it is possible to get some European varieties, too, such as dulse (try Tesco or visit organic Japanese food supplier www.clearspring.co.uk for stockists, otherwise order from www.seaveg.co.uk at £2.75 for 40g including p&p). Rehydrate them in hot water and add to soups and stews.
If you're not partial to the distinctive taste of seaweed, try a supplement instead. Kelp tablets, rich in iodine, are available in health food shops, such as Holland & Barrett (£3.29 for 250). But don't take more than 30 times the Recommended Daily Allowance of 150mcg as this can trigger a hyperactive thyroid.
