Lately I have been craving one of my favorite sea vegetables, Arame. Not sure why, but when I feel healthy food cravings, I follow its lead. So as I sat down with my yummy preparation here (A vitamix blended soup of sunflower sprouts, bunch of parsley, spinach, cucumber, garlic, onion, sea salt, kelp seasoning, shot of lemon juice and a dash of stevia....poured over a bowl full of chopped celery, olives, zucchini, daikon radish, cherry tomatoes and ONE CUP OF SOAKED ARAME and finally topped with hemp seeds and a drizzle of flax oil....I am out of my mind excited to give thanks and enjoy! Anyway....I am inclined to google the benefits of arame and thought I would share.
Arame certainly doesn't look appealing, but neither does pasta :) Don't let the color scare you. All you do is soak it in pure water for 15 minutes, drain and add it to your favorite dish. You can use it as you would sprouts on a salad or in a wrap/maki roll. Great in soups and some people even sautee it. Arame does not have much of a taste so it will take on the attributes of your prepared dish.
There are many varieties of sea vegetables to choose from. I would suggest choosing organic. Below is information regarding arame from www.potentsea.com. Also, I have a link below for information on all varieties of sea vegetables.
Hopefully you will give them a try and add some serious mineral nutrition to your diet. Your body will sing to you! You can find sea vegetables in the oriental section of most grocery stores!
Organic arame is perhaps one of the most nutritious foods that nature can provide. The benefits of arame and organic arame are wide ranging. Arame comes mainly from the cold waters off the coast of South Korea, though sub species can be found in Alaska and California. The Koreans have been using organic arame in their diets for many years.
Arame is a brown marine algae rich in many types of marine minerals, including: iodine, zinc, manganese, vitamin K and folate. Normally, organic arame is sun dried for several days before packaging. Arame is harvested in the spring when ocean nutrient levels are at an annual maximum.
Benefits of arame range from wellness support, to a stronger immune system, to better hair, skin, and nails. Many of those who make organic arame part of their every diet also feel that it boosts libido for both men and women. Arame is also a good source of Lignans, which help fight cancer. Due to the many health benefits of Arame, it has been the focus of several anti-cancer and cancer prevention studies. Also, organic arame is one of the most expensive sea vegetables available.
CONSUMERS GUIDE TO SEA VEGETABLES
http://www.sacfoodcoop.com/PDFs/seaveggies.pdf