Seaweed is not a weed at all, technically it’s not even a plant. Seaweed is algae. There are over 10,000 species of seaweed, ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to giant kelp. Besides being a great place to find fish, people have used seaweed for food and facials for thousands of years. Here are some other facts about seaweed that might grow on you.
The Secret Life of Seaweed
The book Seaweed Soup by Stuart J. Murphy is a pre-math mainstay. The hero, Turtle, makes a slimy, smelly seaweed chowder for lunch, which none of his friends want to taste. Young readers must keep track of bowls, cups, spoons and napkins as they learn how Turtle’s friends avoid hurting his feelings.
The electro-pop band, Passion Pit, included a song about seaweed on its debut album, Manners. The song was barely a blip on the Billboard 200, but the band’s second release, Gossamer, debuted at number four.
The seaweed wrapped around your favorite sushi rolls looks green but it’s Porphyra, a red variety. In Wales, laverbread is also made from Porphyra. In Belize, the sweet drink dulce is a mixture of seaweed, milk, cinnamon and vanilla.
One type of seaweed—dulse, or Palmaria palmata—has been used a food source in Northern Europe for many centuries, with written references dating back to Scottish monks in 563 AD and Icelandic sagas in 961 AD. Though it dipped in popularity during the 20th century, snacking on salty, dried dulse has remained common in the coastal communities of Iceland, Norway, Scotland, Ireland and Nova Scotia.
Seaweed is rich in minerals like calcium, copper, iodine and iron and is loaded with protein, fiber, vitamins and folic acid. Indonesia is the largest producer, harvesting over three million tons per year.
Carrageenan, that mysterious ingredient listed on the labels of candy, baked goods, salad dressings, meat products and beverages, is extracted from seaweed. So is the gooey stuff the dentist squishes into your mouth to make a mold of your teeth.
Diet pills sometimes contain seaweed extracts that expand in your stomach to make you feel full. Best yet, seaweed prevents flatulence. Cattle with seaweed mixed into their feed produce less methane.
Remember those petri dishes in high school biology class? Agar, the gel on the bottom is made from seaweed.
Looking for a new way to shake your booty? Check out the Seaweed Hula on YouTube. Even a klutz can master the choreography which basically involves fluttering your arms and swaying your body like, well, seaweed.
Next time seaweed gets on your line, don’t toss it back. That stinky mess of vegetation has inspired artists and scientists. It could be a new medicine, a spa treatment or your lunch.
Besides being a great place to find fish, people have used seaweed for food and facials for thousands of years. | Feature photo: Shutterstock
