Seaweed is one of the healthiest foods on the planet, packed with vitamins, minerals, protein and antioxidants.  It has been used in Asian countries for centuries as a food source and for medical conditions.  There are 10,000+ different kinds of seaweed on our planet, but not all are edible.  The most edible form of seaweed is algae and there are a few kinds of algae; red, brown, green and blue-green.

There are around 1500 different species of brown algae or kelp on our planet and some kelp can grow more than 300 feet (that is almost as long as a football field!). Brown algae has no roots, stems or flowers — they have blades that look leaf-like. It’s high in iodine, potassium, calcium and B vitamins. Iodine helps balance your hormones and maintains your health.  If your iodine deficient it can cause weight gain, thyroid issues and even exhaustion.  Research has shown that brown alga reduces blood glucose levels, so it can be beneficial for people with diabetes.  It can also promote digestive and cardiovascular health and help manage weight, since it is similar to dietary fiber by keeping your body feeling full.  It even has anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce swelling and ease pain.  Isn’t it amazing that our oceans contains these healing plants!!

Two of the most popular edible brown algaes or kelp are Kombu and Arame.  Kombu is also referred to as the “King of Seaweed.” It is used in Japanese cuisine mainly to make dashi, a soup stock which no other seaweed has that gift.  It is also used to make one of my favorite living drinks “Kombucha”.  Kombu is high in dietary fiber, calcium, iodine and iron which all have great benefits for you green monster, but the two biggest benefits of Kombu is that it has anti blood-clotting properties and it can protect leukemia cell lines from gamma radiation.  Arame is used liberally in Japanese cuisine, it has a sweet mild taste which makes it versatile to use in many dishes such as muffin, soups and salads.  This brown algae has tons of benefits from weight loss properties to great sources of calcium, iodine, iron and is a great plant based protein source.  The two best benefits of Arame is it is high in trace minerals so it is great for your skin and it contains lignans, which work as antioxidants to help neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals.  With all these benefits, brown algae truly heals the body from the inside out, wouldn’t you agree green monsters!!!

Please seek the advice of a health care professional before starting any supplement.

Here are some products to try so you can reap the benefits that brown algae has to offer:

1. EDEN Kombu Sea Vegetable – wild, hand harvested

EDEN Kombu Sea Vegetable grows wild in the clean, cold northern waters where the choicest grades of kombu grow bathed in steady Arctic currents. Eden selects only the tender central part of the plant that has the best flavor and texture. The fronds are hand harvested using long poles with knives attached to cut the kombu free from the ocean bottom. As the kombu floats to the surface it is gathered into boats and taken ashore. The fronds are washed, folded and naturally sun dried on the white sand beaches before cutting and packaging.