Edible seaweed is an incredibly diverse, fresh, healthy lifestyle option!
There are so many benefits to embracing seaweed culinary choices. Seaweed is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in existence, and there’s plenty of evidence that it can help you lose weight, lower your cholesterol, and prevent heart disease. It may even increase your fertility! If you’re looking for a healthy alternative to traditional food sources, Canadian Seaweed is the perfect choice for a fresh start.
Table of Contents
- What is Seaweed
- The Environment
- Seaweed Benefits
- Why Canada?
- Here are 5 edible seaweeds that can be found in Canada
- Eat Seaweed Everyday for a Month, See Your Body Change…
- The Final Say…
What is Seaweed
Seaweed is edible marine algae that grows almost every where in the ocean. The edible types of seaweed are called macroalgae. It can be found on most coasts around the world including Canada’s West Coast, Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes.
Seaweeds have been eaten by people for thousands of years. They are nutritionally valuable and provide a valuable source of minerals, vitamins and dietary fibre. They also have great potential as a source of bioactive compounds which might prove to be beneficial for human health such as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
The Environment
Seaweed farming is a great way to preserve the environment. It has been shown that seaweeds actually improve water quality and fish habitat, and buffer against storms and erosion. Furthermore, edible seaweeds can be grown in small plots on land or off-shore where there would otherwise be no economic use of the space.
Seaweeds also do not require fresh water, arable land or fertilizer to grow (unlike most other crops), and they can be harvested with very little impact on the environment.
There are many edible seaweeds that grow in Canada (which we’ll cover below). While seaweed is a very common term, used over the world, edible seaweed can also be called sea vegetables.
Seaweed Benefits
Today edible seaweed is more popular than ever due to the benefits it can offer for health. Whether eaten by itself, used as a food ingredient or turned into supplements, edible seaweed can provide consumers with a number of benefits. Seaweeds are low in kilocalories and high in minerals making them an ideal supplement for healthy diets.
Another benefit is that edible seaweed needs very little processing to be edible and the cultivation of edible seaweed does not require much water or fertilizer. This makes edible seaweed very sustainable and environmentally friendly).
Why Canada?
As of May 2021, Canada produces over 12,000 tonnes and ranks in tenth place, as an exporter, of seaweeds in the world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Canada’s finest edible seaweeds are harvested along its vast coastline making edible seaweed a readily available and affordable product.
Here are 5 edible seaweeds that can be found in Canada
Kelp
A large brown algae that grows widely on rocky, sandy and muddy ocean floors throughout Canada’s West Coast and Great Lakes. People eat kelp as a vegetable or salad green. It is also used as a thickener and can be added to ice cream, jelly, and candy.
Kelp contains ten times more calcium than milk. Kelp is known mainly for its nutritional content. It contains vitamins, minerals and amino acids that are beneficial to health. Its high iodine content also makes it useful as a thyroid regulator, (although too much iodine can lead to hyperthyroidism).
Dulse
This edible red seaweed is typically found on the Canadian Atlantic Coast or North West Atlantic Coast of Canada. The usage for this edible seaweed is similar to kelp such as using it as salad greens or edible garnish. Dulse is also the main ingredient in many snack foods such as rice crackers, chips, and breads.
Dulse is rich in vitamins A and C, iodine, magnesium, potassium and iron. It also contains some protein. Dulse has a high concentration of carotenoids which are antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals. The red colour of dulse comes from unusual pigments called phycobilins, similar to those found in red edible seaweeds such as nori.
Nori
This edible red seaweed is typically found on Canada’s West Coast or North Atlantic Coast of Canada. It can be used to make sushi rolls which are more popular today than ever. Nori is also used in soups, salads and rice dishes. It can also be added to breads for flavour.
Nori is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2 and C. It also provides minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron and iodine making it a healthy edible seaweed that can be taken daily without any concerns.
Wakame
This edible brown seaweed is typically found on Canada’s East Coast or West Coast. It has a long history of being used as a health food in Japan and other Asian countries since it is extremely nutritious. Wakame has a very subtle taste which makes it ideal for salads, soups and other dishes.
Wakame contains high amounts of calcium, vitamin B1, vitamin E and flavonoids. Wakame is also rich in dietary fibre including soluble pectin which makes it an excellent edible seaweed for regulating bowel movements, lowering cholesterol levels and eliminating toxins from the body.
Kombu
This edible brown seaweed is typically found on Canada’s East Coast or West Coast. It comes from the kelp family meaning that its nutritional value is similar to other edible brown seaweed. Kombu is a great source of iron and calcium as well as vitamins A, D, E and several B complex groups.
Kombu can be eaten by itself, or dried and added to soups, stews and casseroles. It is also edible when fresh and added to salads. People have used kombu for hundreds of years in making dashi soup stock which is an essential part of Japanese cuisine.
All edible seaweeds on this list are harvested on Canada’s ocean shorelines. These edible seaweeds have been used by various cultures around the world for many years as a food source or simply added to dishes for flavour. The nutritional value of edible seaweeds is very high with proteins, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre sustaining its reputation as one of nature’s super foods.
Eat Seaweed Everyday for a Month, See Your Body Change…
The Final Say…
With 20% of Canadians not getting enough fibre each day, seaweed is the perfect way to get your daily dose of fibre without all the carbs found in traditional cereals like oatmeal or toast which can spike your insulin levels and cause weight gain over time. Plus you’ll be getting omega-3s that are crucial for heart health as well as many other benefits including decreased inflammation throughout your body!
Make sure you’re getting your daily dose of fresh Canadian seaweed. Canadian seaweed is a superfood that has been shown to help reduce cholesterol, prevent cancer cells from spreading and more! It also contains a high level of iodine which helps with metabolism and thyroid function as well as being rich in vitamin A for better eyesight. So next time you’re at the grocery store looking for something healthy, look no further than delicious Canadian Seaweed.
Hopefully this introductory post about edible seaweed, raises some good points for your own research and follow up. If you have any questions, suggestions, etc., please feel free to include them in the comments below (or you can even choose to be a guest writer).