Edible algae, seaweed and seaweed | Tips for those who want to learn more!
Here are some good tips for those who want to delve deeper into the subject. Edible algae are a fantastic way to add nutrients to your daily diet and can be used as a gentler dietary supplement to provide your body with, for example, iodine. The terms algae, seaweed, and sea vegetables are used synonymously, and it's hard to distinguish between them. I will continue to use the word algae.
Personally, earlier in my life, I had used freshwater algae like Spirulina and Chlorella, mainly to provide protein as they were a popular supplement for vegetarians. But it was through my thyroid that I discovered all other algae for the purpose of supplying iodine and other minerals to the body. I had long been exploring alternative ways to support my thyroid and wanted to know more about iodine. About 20 years ago, the general recommendation was NOT to supplement iodine for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). More recently, this has been revised. There are many sources that believe you really do need to supplement iodine for hypothyroidism.
But what's the best way to supplement iodine? It's quite challenging to take it internally in its pure form. There are online groups that suggest high doses of liquid iodine internally. Others play it safe and apply iodine topically, on the skin. Algae sounded much gentler and better! A nutrient-rich source in the form of food, where iodine is included as part of other nutrients.
I found specific information about the thyroid on Fucus Man. Ryan Drum is a fantastic herbalist and seaweed lover. He is no longer active on the site, but his material can be found (for example, here's an article). He writes in detail about algae such as kelp, what kelp is good for, and what kelp contains. You get an understanding of which algae contain the most iodine and how to think about dosage. He has written several interesting articles about the cause of thyroid problems and how to work with algae to support your thyroid. Here you can see more edible algae with high nutritional value.
The Paleo Mum has written a lot about algae and nutrition. She describes why it's healthy to eat algae and which algae you can eat. For example, we learn more about the difference between kelp and wakame. That there are significant differences in the amount of iodine they contain. She writes from a broader perspective but has included topics like autoimmunity.
There are several Swedish writers and companies that highlight algae as a source of nutrition. For example, Linnea Sjögren, who has published the book Harvesting Seaweed and Shore Plants. It includes recipes!
We will probably see many more books, podcasts, and blogs about algae in the future! We will definitely start using more algae in our cooking. Do you agree?
