Wakame (sometimes called sea
mustard), scientific name Undaria
pinnatifada, is a thin, stringy brown seaweed which is a deep green color
and is very common in Japanese and other Asian cuisine. It is used in making miso soup, used in
casseroles and salads. It has been
described as an edible sea vegetable with a delicate, briny flavor. Wakame is sold either dried or fresh. When used in cooking wakame is best cut with
kitchen shears as it is difficult to cut with a knife.
The leaves should be cut into small pieces as
they expand when cooked. The thick stem
of the seaweed is not edible. If not
cooked, it can also be eaten raw. Use in
moderation; however, as it is high in sodium content.
Wakame is an invasive and
aggressive species which can grow up to an inch per day and can choke beaches
and edge out local marine life; however, it is cultivated in Japan where they
grow it on ropes tied to offshore rafts. Very low in calories, wakame has only
about 4 calories per 10 grams of raw seaweed. It is low in carbohydrates and
fat and rich in vitamins and minerals, including manganese, sodium, magnesium,
calcium, folate in addition to traces of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E,
vitamin K, thiamine, niacin, vitamin B12 and the rest of the B vitamins. Also antioxidants and the amino acids
tryptophan, threoninie, leucine, valine, alanine, aspartic acid and glutamic
acid. It is a rich source of
eicosapentaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid.
Wakame seaweed has been used
traditionally in Oriental medicine to purify the blood and strengthen
intestines, skin and hair, reproductive organs and menstrual regularity. Some health benefits associated with wakame
are possible weight loss. Studies in
animal show that a compound in this seaweed, fucoxanthin, seems to reduce the
accumulation of fat. Fucoxanthin
stimulates a protein that increases fat burning. It has also been found to reduce LDL
cholesterol (which is the bad cholesterol) and improve triglyceride levels
(which affect metabolism). If
fucoxanthin is shown to be as effective in humans it may lead to new types of
medication to combat obesity. Additionally, it appears to have anti-cancer
properties due to it being rich in iodine, which has been shown in studies to
suppress and even kill breast cancer cells.
It is a diuretic, helping reduce the amount of water in the body,
preventing bloating. Due to the fact it
is packed with calcium and magnesium it is also touted as being able to help
prevent osteoporosis. Wakame can be used
in topical beauty treatments. Studies
have shown it may be of benefit for acne vulgaris by reducing sebum production. Brown seaweed extracts have shown benefits
for cancer in mouse studies. Animal
studies of these extracts show they exert anticancer activity for several types
of cancer including leukemia, breast cancer and lung cancers. Heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and
hypertension may also be helped by intake of brown seaweed. It also contains several compounds that can
protect your skin from UV rays and pollution.
The antioxidants help protect your body and support general overall
cellular health. The B vitamins in the
seaweed have anti-inflammatory properties. - http://www.mainesealhttp://www.mainesealiving.com/product-category/maine-sea/iving.com/product-category/maine-sea/
