Why seaweed is good

Look for it in specialty shops, although some grocery stores sell it in thin, square sheets for use in recipes. Dried seaweed is good for you when eaten in moderation — it contains many vitamins and minerals, but is quite high in sodium and iodine.

The majority of the calories in this sea vegetable derive from carbohydrates — each serving has 3 g. You need much more than this in this meal plan, though, so consider serving seaweed with a healthy carbohydrate, such as rice, to meet your daily requirements of to g.

You also take in 1 g of protein , or 1. Dried seaweed contains mg of sodium per serving. For a healthy person who can eat up to 2, mg of sodium , this accounts for However, if you have hypertension or heart disease — or you are at risk of developing heart disease — limit your sodium intake further to 1, mg. Eating dried seaweed may be ill-advised if you qualify for the lower limit. Eat a serving of dried seaweed, and you consume 6, percent of the daily recommended intake of iodine.

While your body requires iodine for the healthy function of your thyroid , too much is a bad thing. Consuming a serving of seaweed occasionally will not harm your health, but taking in too much of this food regularly may lead to the development of benign thyroid conditions or exacerbate preexisting thyroid conditions.

If you or a family member suffers from a thyroid condition, be sure to ask your doctor about high iodine intake. Finally, how do we eat it? Of course, seaweed is readily available at your fave sushi place in rolls and miso soup, for starters , but you can enjoy it at home too, in a variety of different ways.

It's pretty easy to find -- grocery and health food stores that feature Asian products traditionally have a wider selection. As for what to do with it An easy seaweed salad: Wakame seaweed, sesame oil, low-sodium soy sauce, sesame seeds and rice vinegar! Seaweed is also available dried and as a powder or flake -- try sprinkling dried seaweed on vegetable sides, salads and rice.

Jennifer Aniston's Trick for Flat Abs. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Some people say it tastes like bacon when fried. Add kombu when preparing dried beans.

The seaweed helps break down the sugars in beans that cause gas. Shake store-bought furikake—a topping that includes sesame seeds and nori—onto popcorn, roasted veggies, cooked fish, or omelets.

Nori sheets in the form of seaweed snacks are ubiquitous these days. Look for other varieties online and at Asian supermarkets, natural-food stores, and better-stocked grocery stores.