SEAWEED AND HEART HEALTH
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), February is National Heart Month, and our favorite time of year to focus on heart health. One of the easiest (and most delicious) ways to support proper heart health is through a more wholesome diet. The AHA recommends eating a variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables, which (lucky for you) includes seaweed! Here are some of the ways seaweed can not only compliment proper heart health, but an overall healthy lifestyle as well.
#1 Seaweed Contains Antioxidants
Free radicals are cells that are unstable and highly reactive. Translation? Free radicals are NOT good for you. That being said, they are hard to avoid and can be created through natural processes in the body or from external factors like air pollution, cigarette smoke or industrial chemicals. Yuck! They can also lead to ailments like diabetes and heart disease. Yikes! The good news is you can protect yourself from free radicals with antioxidants. The even better news? Seaweed is full of antioxidants and vitamins like A, C and E. It also includes other plant compounds that can help protect the body’s cells against free radical damage. Someone pass us some seaweed please!
#2 Seaweed is a Great Source of Iodine
Iodine is a mineral that helps the body produce thyroid hormones, which control metabolism and other important bodily functions like the health of the brain, heart, kidneys, liver and muscle function. No big deal, right? (We are totally kidding. It’s a super huge deal!) An inadequate dietary intake of iodine can often lead to an insufficient production of thyroid hormones, which (you guessed it) can affect other parts of the body like the heart, kidneys, liver and muscles. In some cases, an iodine deficiency can even lead to iodine deficiency disorder (IDD), ultimately causing adverse effects to these tissues. All the more reason to incorporate iodine in your daily diet! Try enjoying sources like cod, shrimp, tuna and…seaweed. Yum!
#3 Seaweed is Naturally Rich in Nutrients
Being naturally rich in key nutrients and various health-promoting compounds like dietary fiber, lipids, minerals and peptides, seaweed (and even supplements that include macroalgae) can help promote cardiovascular health. Although supplements are a wonderful way to include additional minerals and vitamins in your diet, we believe the best way to get those good-for-you nutritional benefits is through real, whole foodsYep, we’re looking at you seaweed. Whether you enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert or snacks, seaweed is super simple to include at every meal. (Sign up here to receive our Seven Days of Seaweed Newsletter for super seaweed recipe inspo.)
Seaweed is Not a Cure All
Although seaweed and sea vegetables are super delicious, nutritious and helpful in creating proper heart health, it’s incredibly important to remember seaweed is not a cure all. As noted by the University of Wisconsin Health’s Preventive Cardiology Program (phew, that’s a mouthful), “Though seaweed is a healthy food choice for both consumers with and without heart disease, it is not going to help you beat or cure heart disease.”
Like fruits and vegetables, seaweed is a great addition to your plate, but it can’t do all the heavy lifting (even Superman has the Justice League!) But that’s no reason not to enjoy it. I mean, hello, it’s downright delicious and incredibly versatile. Look at all of the fun ways you can eat seaweed:
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Enjoy seaweed snacks like Seaweed Popcorn
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Fill seaweed wraps with your favorite ingredients like avocado, cilantro and salmon and enjoy a handcrafted seaweed hand roll
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Make an easy seaweed recipe with your family
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Pick up a seaweed salad or sushi at your favorite local store or neighborhood restaurant