Wednesday, September 26, 2012

A Delightful Seaweed Salad

This is a dish that is a little wild, daring, and super nourishing. I like to make it for dinner parties to introduce my friends and family to the exciting world of aqua botanicals. The health benefits of seaweed (or to those who are sensitive to the feelings of these underwater plants- aqua botanicals) are numerous. Almost all coastal cultures incorporated these mineral rich foods into their diets, and trade of different varieties of kelp was essential for the health of inland peoples. In fact these salt trade routes were maintained and protected by tribal law, and when war was affecting these areas, people would trade salt and kelp by night. Sea veggies offer an amazing amount of nutrients and minerals. In fact they have offer one of the broadest range of minerals of any food, including foliate, magnesium, iron, calcium, and of course iodine. Sea veggies also have a super high concentration of cancer and tumor fighting lignans.

In the last couple of years the importance of a healthy thyroid has been affirmed over and over to me. My mother is now thriving after a short bout with thyroid cancer, and a number of friends who are younger have already had thyroid issues. The more I have learned about the role of the thyroid, and the symptoms for what an out of balance thyroid looks like, I see that this is a significant issue effecting millions of people. One of the most essential nutrients for thyroid health is iodine. The iodine that comes in enriched table salt is vastly inferior from the iodine found in sea vegetables. I like to keep things simple by getting my micro & macro nutrients from whole, real foods. In this I trust Mother Nature over large chemical companies driven by an insatiable hunger for profits.


“The thyroid gland adds iodine to the amino acid tyrosine to create these hormones. Without sufficient iodine, your body cannot synthesize them. Because these thyroid hormones regulate metabolism in every cell of the body and play a role in virtually all physiological functions, an iodine deficiency can have a devastating impact on your health and well-being. A common sign of thyroid deficiency is an enlarged thyroid gland, commonly called a goiter. Goiters are estimated to affect 200 million people worldwide, and in all but 4% of these cases, the cause is iodine deficiency.” www.tidalgreens.com

This is a salad for strengthening the thyroid, nourishing the whole body, and supports conscious preventative health (while being super delicious).



Ingredients


• 1 cup of dried E3Live Aqua-botanical Sea Veggie Blend (www.e3live.com)

• 1/2 cup Arame (sea veggie found in health food stores)

(If you can’t access the E3Live Sea Veggie Blend than just use all Arame)


Dressing

• 1 thumb-size piece of Ginger

• 2 cloves Garlic

• ¼ cup Ume Plum Vinegar

• ¼ cup Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

• 1-4 tbsp Namu Shoyu (unpasteurized Tamari) or Tamari Sauce

• 1 tbsp Raw Honey

• ¼ cup Toasted Sesame Oil

• ¼ cup Olive Oil

• ¼ tsp Cayenne pepper (optional)

• ¼ cup Dulse Flakes


Garnish

• 5 Green Onions (finely sliced)

• ¼ cup un-hulled Sesame Seeds (toasted)


Preparation-

In medium to large bowl, hydrate sea veggies in spring or filtered water. They expand quite a bit, so make sure there is extra room in the bowl. Add at least a 5-1 water ratio. If the sea veggies drink up all the water add. Let sit for at least 15 mins.

Remove skin from ginger and grate. Measure out Ume Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Toasted Sesame Oil, Olive Oil, Dulse Flakes, and Honey into a good size glass jar (I prefer the liter size.) Shake vigorously. Set aside so that the flavors can mingle and get to know each other. Right before we top the sea veggies with the dressing, we will check on the saltiness of the dressing and then add the traditional fermented soy product, Namu Shoyu. That is why we wait to add more salty flavor until the end!

Drain the sea veggies and press additional water out of them. Put into serving bowl. Add dressing to taste and toss. Let mixture marinate (if you have the time) for 15-30mins.

Finely slice green onions. Toast the sesame seeds in a skillet, watching carefully and stiring often, until they are a light golden brown. Add both to salad and enjoy! If you feel called you can make a little extra dressing and mix in some shredded kale, or serve over a bed of micro greens.



What exactly can you find in sea vegetables?
• Sea vegetables give you all 56 minerals and elements you need to survive. No other plant contains all 56.
• Sea vegetables have a surplus of iodine, a hard-to-find element necessary for healthy brain and thyroid function. This iodine, along with other amino acids in sea vegetables, helps stunt tumor growth, and reduces breast and uterine fibroids.
• Sea vegetables are rich in vitamin A, which helps keep your skin clear, and eyesight sharp. They’re also rich in vitamins C, E, and B vitamins.
• Sea vegetables have antioxidants, which boost your immune system, and help fight off disease.
• The sea vegetable nori is 28% protein. This makes it an excellent, zero-fat source of protein. Many other varieties of sea vegetables are also high in protein.
• Sea vegetables have extensive detoxification properties. They can remove toxins, metals, and radioactive elements from the body.
• Sea vegetables are rich in magnesium, which reduces blood pressure.
• Hijiki and kelp are sea vegetables high in calcium. Gram for gram, hijiki has 14 times more calcium than milk.
• Sea vegetables also have strong antibiotic properties. They are even effective against penicillin-resistant bacteria.
• Because of the phytochemicals in sea vegetables, eating them regularly helps reduce the signs of aging, and keeps your body healthy over the long-term.
• Sea vegetables are a good source of fiber. This keeps your body healthy with the regular removal of waste, and also helps prevent the formation of kidney stones.
• Nori has twice as much vitamin C as an orange.

( This info was found at: http://www.moneycrashers.com/health-benefits-seaweed-cook-eat/

2 comments:

  1. Love it! Keep them coming!
    Elizabeth

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  2. Thanks Elizabeth! Let me know if there are any other recipes you'd like to see. Lots of love!

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