Seaweed: Why adding the iodine-rich plant can boost your health

"This unassuming marine macroalgae (to give it its proper name) is packed full of vital minerals and nutrients, and can make for an unglamorous, yet functional addition to your diet. Seaweed is exactly as the name suggests - an edible marine algae that grows along coastlines and on rocks under the water. It comes in thousands of varieties, but the ones we eat most commonly fall into three groups: brown (like kelp and wakame), red (nori, dulse), and green (sea lettuce)."

"Humans have been eating seaweed for a very long time. Archaeological evidence suggests coastal communities were harvesting it well over 10,000 years ago. Long before we knocked up supplements, smoothies or biohacking podcasts, people simply ate what grew within their locality. For those residing in coastal areas, seaweed was immediate and packed with minerals, iodine, fibre and trace nutrients that are actually hard to find elsewhere."

"East Asian cuisines are probably best known for their seaweed delicacies. In Japan, kombu - a variety of kelp - forms the backbone of dashi stock, nori wraps sushi, and wakame turns up in soups and salads. Korea leans on miyeok-guk (seaweed soup), traditionally eaten after childbirth, and in China, sea vegetables have been part of both food and medicine for centuries."

Seaweed is an edible marine macroalgae found along coastlines, available in brown, red, and green varieties. It contains protein, calcium, vitamins, fiber, iodine, and other trace minerals. Archaeological evidence shows coastal communities harvested seaweed over 10,000 years ago. Coastal diets gained access to minerals and nutrients that were otherwise scarce. East Asian cuisines use kombu, nori, wakame, and miyeok-guk; European traditions include dulse, carrageen moss, and laverbread. Seaweed provides functional dietary benefits and is increasingly embraced by chefs, nutritionists, and sustainability advocates as an ancient nutrient-rich food. Iodine supports thyroid function and seaweed is a significant dietary source.

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