This is the very, very last post I’ll write on this website.  Life has gotten so much busier- my toddler is growing up quickly and becoming so much fun to be around, my work hours have gone back to full time and I’m really enjoying my time spent studying (and the more time spent, the quicker it’ll get done!).

I believe one of the things you need to live a healthy life is balance.  That’s something I don’t currently have.  I’m running around like a crazy person, falling behind and when I think about trying to force out another article, or realise I need to come up with another new idea, I cringe.  The few posts up this year were scheduled months ago, in the hope I could buy myself some time.  Now that I’ve run out of those, I have very little desire to go back to it. I’ve lost a little of my passion for writing, maybe because I’m doing so much of it in other forms right now.  I feel as though I need more than a break from blogging, so I’ve decided to cut my ties.  If I return, it will more than likely be after I qualify as a Naturopath- quite a while away yet, and probably on a different site with a new name.

I’d like to take this chance to thank my readers, who’ve encouraged and supported me all this time.  Without you, I wouldn’t have lasted more than a few months!  I think two years is a pretty good innings and I want to leave on a high note, not just let things dwindle away to nothing.

Farewell

Many pregnant women take Ginger for morning sickness… but what else can you use it for?

This flavour packed little root is (I’ve found) a great way to introduce flavour to small people who are fussy eaters.  In sweets or savouries, using a strong spice like ginger reduces the need for salt or sweeteners and also has some great health benefits: helping to protect the stomach from NSAID damage (think Aspirin or Nurofen), settle nausea, stimulate blood flow and reduce cholesterol.  It’s high antioxidant and some studies have shown it to be an effective treatment for pain.  Though therapeutic use would be done with high dose tablets or tinctures, including it into the diet helps to broaden exposure to phytochemicals and nutrients that combine to create a really healthy (and yummy) diet.

Here’s the goss on ginger:

Phytochemical Compounds:

Fibre (2g/100g), phenolic acid, gingerol, phytosterols (150-913 p.p.m.), antioxidants, glutathione, monoterpenes, phenolic acid, terpenoids.

Major Nutritional Values:

• Energy (333kj/100g)
• Protein (1.82g/100g)
• Carbohydrate (17.77g/100g)
• Fat (0.75g/100g including 0.203 saturated)
• B vitamins, vitamin C (5mg/100g), folate (11mcg/100g)
• Magnesium (43mg/100g), Manganese (0.229mg/100g), Potassium (415mg/100g), Iron (0.6mg/100g), Copper (0.226mg/100g), Calcium (16mg/100mg), Selenium (0.7mcg/100g, depending on soil).

Therapeutic Benefits:

Reduces cholesterol, reduces platelet aggregation, lowers blood pressure.  Stimulates the digestive system and settles nausea caused by illness, medication (including chemotherapy), motion or pregnancy.  Protects the lining of the stomach from damage caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc).  Prevents gastric ulcers.  Increases circulation and can therefore move retained fluid.  Stimulates energy.  The warming nature of ginger can increase body heat-  best taken as a tea for this purpose.  Acts as an anti-inflammatory.  Antioxidants protect from free radicals that can cause cancers.  Phenolic acids and glutathione help to protect against environmental carcinogens.  Monoterpenes lower the risk of heart disease and cancer.  The terpenoid beta ionine has been shown to reduce the growth rate of cancers in vitro.  It also is shown to have pain killing properties because of it’s ability to block prostaglandins that cause inflammation and may be recommended for migraine, arthritis and other painful or inflamed conditions.

Advantages/Disadvantages

Ginger is a food that is very easy to include in the diet, via cooking, baking, ginger teas and even ginger confectionary (to be used in moderation).  A classic remedy for morning sickness, even the smell of fresh ginger is refreshing and soothing.  Ginger is easily obtained, available at supermarkets and grocery stores.  Because of the blood-thinning effects of ginger, it should not be used by those taking Warfarin.

*Info on nutrient levels taken from this USDA site.  Health benefits from Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases, Staying healthy with Nutrition by E Haas, Healing with Whole Foods by P Pitchford and Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal by R Stanford.  Email if you need references! Ginger is a food and my recommendation is as a dietary staple, not a cure or treatment for any disease.  Don’t use too much if you’re not used to cooking with it!

My new toy!

Last week, our trusty old bagless vac packed it in. It was a sad moment- even though she wasn’t very good, she was pink, and super cute. I’d been thinking about trading her in for a while though, as we have a few allergies in the family and I wanted something a bit more effective.

I did some research online and I found out that bag less vacuum cleaners…. Well, they actually aren’t as good as I thought! Unless you really clean the filters after each use (the auto clean function on my old one was useless) the filter clogs and compromises the sucking power. You can get some good bagless vacuums but you will pay a lot of money for them (and to replace said filters), and if you are comparing two equal models, the bagged is usually better for that reason. There is also the added problem of emptying them- I used to end up in a sneezing fit every time.

I decided, based on that, that I would get a bagged vacuum this time. I also wanted one with a HEPA filter. I just didn’t get why I could buy them for $70 in Big W when the others I’d seen could run into the thousands!

This is where my local Godfreys salesman blew my head off. Do you know what HEPA stands for? High Energy Particle Arrestor. In Layman’s terms: a filter. Yup, all HEPA means is that it has a filter. So why the fuss?

HEPA filters come in grades- the higher the better. Grade 12 is hospital quality and 13 is about as high as they go. Really high grades tend to be quite expensive but I managed to get a Hoover with a grade 11 HEPA bag plus another filter inside for added dust removal, all for just under $300.

I hope you’ve learned a little something I know I did. I’ll point out that this post wasn’t sponsored or anything- I just want to let you know how darn useful it can be when you buy a product from someone who knows what they are talking about! The Godfrey’s website has some great info on it and there are heaps of places you can go that have staff trained to answer those tricky questions.

Now, if only I had a cleaner to go with the vacuum…

We’ve had a Very Busy Christmas in the Natural Aussie Household.  Apart from the usual Christmas rush around, we moved house!  Our new place is much bigger and has a fantastic backyard and garden for the kids to get messy in. We’ve only had very small, low maintenance yards until now so it’ll be a big learning curve!  We’ve spent a bit of time at local nurseries checking out natural ways to eliminate pests (dishwashing liquid, veggie oil and chilli or garlic seems to work on most things!) and create an eco garden.  We learned that a truly sustainable garden can take a bit of effort to set up, but ends up being very low maintenance! Things like companion planting, composting, mulching and encouraging native wildlife can all help to create a space that plants and children thrive.

Remember the tomatoes I posted about last summer?  We got a couple of edible ones but the plants just didn’t last.  Let’s see if we have more luck in a proper garden… That’s if Master Two let’s them be!  He very much enjoys un-gardening (ripping out the tiny seedling I’ve planted) but I’m slowly teaching him to be gentle.  He’s in love with the resident kookaburra that lives on the clothesline and the other birds that are abundant where we are.

Have you taken the kids outside lately?  It’s a bit hot but if you aim for early morning or late arvo you’ll avoid the scorching sun.  Plant some citronella or catnip and crush some leaves as you go out to repel the mozzies, or rub a leaf directly on your skin for a very natural repellent (patch test first in case of allergies).  Citronella essential oil is also great to scare away the biters.  Marigolds are great as deterring pests and are good companion plants for the veggie garden.

Regular posts returning soon! Please leave a comment below and tell us what you did or are planning to do over the holidays, we LOVE to hear from our readers.

A.

Rice is often avoided by those on low carb diets but it’s seriously under rated- especially brown, unrefined rice.  It’s been shown to reduce blood sugar levels, provide fibre, B vitamins and vitamin E in the diet and can help to prevent obesity.  So why does it have such a bad rap?

White, refined rice has been stripped of nutrients and is a higher GI than it’s brown counterpart.  White rice became popular in Asian countries when only the rich could afford it- it became a status symbol that has (thankfully) now started to slide.  Brown rice takes a little longer to cook and has more texture than white.  It has a stronger flavour too and make a healthy, cheap filler ingredient to meat based or low fibre dishes.  It’s best soaked before cooking to dissolve the phytic acids (these bind to other nutrients and stop you absorbing them).

What you need to know:

Phytochemical Compounds:

Methionine, insoluble fibre (3.5g/100g), phytoestrogens, gamma-oryzanol, alpha lipoic acid, antioxidants.  Contains superoxide dismutase, coenzyme Q10, proanthocyanidins, lecithin. Also contains phytic acid unless previously soaked or sprouted- this may be advisable to prevent inhibition of absorption of major nutrients. Contains lignans, terpenes, coumarins.

Major Nutritional Values:

• Energy (1548kj/100g)
• Protein (approx 7g/100g)
• Carbohydrate (77.24g/100g)
• Fat (2.92g/100g including 0.584 saturated)
• High in B1, B3, B5, B6 and Biotin
• Some B2, little or no B12
• Some Vitamin E (1.2mg/100g)
• Magnesium (143mg/100g), Manganese (3.74mg/100g), Potassium (223mg/100g), Zinc (2.02mg/100g), Iron (1.47mg/100g), Phosphorous (333mg/100g), Copper (0.277mg/100g), Calcium (23mg/100mg), Selenium (23.4mcg/100g, depending on soil), Silicon

Therapeutic Benefits:

• o The bran coating on wholegrain rice contains lowers blood sugar levels.
• o The oil of rice contains an antioxidant that neutralises lipid peroxides of fats and oils- this counteracts excess cholesterol, particularly LDL cholesterol.
• o Brown rice contains polysaccharides, a high density form of complex carbohydrate that is high in fibre.
• o Fibre in brown rice helps to lower cholesterol, prevent obesity and improve digestion.
• o B vitamins support the central nervous system and promote calmness.
• o The Vitamin E contained in rice is a unique form called ‘tocotrienols’, that help to lower excess fat and cholesterol in the body.
• o Gamma-oryzanolis an antioxidant that helps to transform fat into lean body mass and helps to strengthen muscle.
• o Alpha lipoic acid assists liver restoration, converts glucose to energy and slows the ageing process.
• o Coenzyme Q10 assists the cellular mitochondria and protects mitochondrial DNA.
• o Lecithin is important for brain function and may be used for enhancing brain activity.

Advantages and Disadvantages:

Rice is a grain that is gluten free, but high in nutrients when in it’s unrefined state.  It can be used as a flour for those with gluten sensitivity.  Rice milk is also commonly used by those with milk intolerance and is a nutritious substitute that is low in fat.  Eating wholegrains like brown rice replaces higher kilojoule, lower nutrient foods like refined white rice or processed foods.  It is inexpensive and easy to cook, making it an easy way for most people to increase fibre and nutrient intake.

Whole, unsoaked brown rice contains phytic acid, a Phytochemical that may bind to iron and calcium, depleting it’s absorption by the body.  This can be avoided by soaking or sprouting the rice prior to eating it.

*Nutrient levels taken from this USDA site.  Rice is a food and not designed to treat or cure any medical condition.  It’s a healthy carb but should still be eaten in moderate amounts!

The humble Aussie Sanga. Two bits of bread and what goes inside is anybody’s guess, and only limited by your imagination and the contents of your pantry. Easy to eat one handed and fits just right in a lunchbox. So how do you turn white-bread-and-jam into a healthy culinary treat? Here are some simple ideas for adding nutrition to your lunch time staple:

1. Swap white bread for brown or grainy

2. Ditch the bread and make it a wholegrain wrap or pita

3. Butter it up (without butter)- try avocado, pesto, nut pastes, tahini, greek yoghurt or a high-omega butter replacement

4. Make it meaty with some good protein, like tuna (now in a spread from John West- preservative free, packed in BPA free glass), fresh salmon, feta, nut spreads, or sliced meat from last nights leftovers (I avoid ham and deli meats due to preservatives and nitrates)

5. Give salad a go-go! It doesn’t have to be complicated, some lettuce or baby spinach, a quick slice of tomato, avo, onion, whatever is around. Sprinkle some olives and sprouts, or if really short on time, those crunchy salad mixes are so easy

6. Think outside the lunchbox and use left over casserole, pasta, veggies (pumpkin sandwiches are yummy!), mince on a sandwich, or in a wrap/pita

7. Feeling cookish? Bake some bread. Preservative free, no added sugary, salty stuff and super yummy!

8. Make it a DIY project by popping the sandwich topping in a container to be assembled at lunch. This avoids soggy bread

9. Experiment with herbs, spices, seeds and flavours. Pestos, tapenades, all those funny little jars you walk past in the supermarket can sometimes be healthier than the old egg mayonnaise. Some are high in fat and check for preservatives, but the high nutrient ingredients (things like olives, tomato, herbs) make a nice change from a plain salad sandwich

10. Forget the sandwich and have your ‘toppings’ as a yummy salad!

How UNICEF’s Global Parent Program Helps Children Around the World

UNICEF is a global charity that works to protect the rights of the world’s most vulnerable children. UNICEF works to ensure children worldwide are healthy, educated, safe and happy and that they can grow in communities without conflict, where they’re respected and where they can reach their full potential.

UNICEF works with partners who have committed to improving the lives of children. Those partners and government and not-for-profit organisation, corporations and, of course, individuals who have chosen to sponsor children… just like you.

COMMITTED

UNICEF needs compassionate Australians who recognise injustice in the world and want to do something that makes a real difference.

COMPASSIONATE

With committed, compassionate individuals, couples and families working to defend and protect children’s rights, significant milestones have been reached. In 2012, it was reported that the number of infant children dying daily had reduced. UNICEF’s committed, compassion and caring change-makers helped fund health initiatives and positive action to stop the preventable deaths of children under five. We call these change-makers our Global Parents.

CARING

These people may, in fact, be parents with children of their own. They may not. What they are, are people willing to make a difference – a very big difference – in the communities where UNICEF does its charity work.

Global Parents sponsor the delivery of health care, schooling, care and support into the communities that need it most.

Global Parents have helped UNICEF:

• Immunise 58 per cent of the world’s children against diseases such as polio and measles.
• Respond to emergencies where children are provided with food, water and continued access to education.
• Distribute 23 million mosquito nets to protect children from malaria.
• Build schools in 41 countries and ensure children receive the basic levels of education they deserve

A Global Parent’s monthly charity donation helps UNICEF give children access to vaccinations, food, clean water and sanitation, education and protection.

As a Global Parent, you will be given regular updates from children around the world who are surviving and thriving because of the work you are helping UNICEF to do. Your support helps UNICEF reach the children who need your help the most.

Join UNICEF

With your sponsorship, UNICEF can continue to protect the rights of the world’s most vulnerable children.

Join UNICEF and become a Global Parent. Visit www.unicef.org.au or phone 1300 134 071.

This is a sponsored post.

*note- all skin care ranges in this article are also suitable for mums, dads, grandparents and anyone else looking for exquisitely beautiful skin!

When your kids grow out of bum creams and baby wipes and move into the world of pimple creams and tanning lotions, it seems like there is an awful lot you need to know. There are so many brands, who throw science words and famous faces at you, telling your teen that only flawless skin is beautiful. And if you don’t have flawless skin? Well, for just $99.95 a month (plus extras; and postage; and more extras) you can be gorgeous, popular and sing like Katy Perry!

Of course, not all parents want to lather their kids with Benzyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid and other harsh chemicals. Often, these big name products can cause or irritate sensitivities, and dry out the skin… ironically, leading to MORE oil production and therefore worsening acne. I know, I speak from experience.

Acne is a blocked pore, full of oil. When the oil oxidises it turns black (forming a blackhead) or may get infected (creating whiteheads or big pimples). Often, the first thought is to strip that nasty oil away and leave the skin sparkling clean, but this isn’t always helpful. As soon as your skin is ‘dry’, ie straight after using a harsh cleanser, your cells go into overdrive trying to correct it. They pump out even greater quantities of oil to replace what was stripped off- you see, that oil has a purpose. It’s there to maintain pH balance, act as a germ killer, protect cells for dehydrating and allow good flora to flourish on the skin surface. The key to good skin and minimising problems is balancing oil productions, not stopping or removing it. Good hygiene (hand washing, ear scrubbing etc) can minimise breakouts, as can some really gentle- but effective- natural skin care products. Here are some of my favourites:

For Skin you Love

The LOVE System by Australian Bush Flower Essences is a fairly new range and one I’ve recently discovered, and fallen in love with. The range not only takes care of your skin, but your soul- each product is infused with Bush Flower Remedies, formulations that are traditionally taken under the tongue for emotional upset, spiritual balance, focus and cognition (there are about a dozen different remedies). The range is gentle and natural and has a unique approach to product selection: Feeling over the day? Use the Purifying Cleanser to wash away negative emotion. Fragile? Emergency Moisturiser will calm frazzled nerves. Uninspired? Morning Citrus Dynamis face wash will remind you why life is there to be lived. And- my favourite- having a fat/ugly/bad hair/breakout day? Use Body Love moisturiser, and gently learn to love who you are. Even the directions- ‘apply to your beautiful face’- will help you start your day right. There is no better range for a budding teen, to help their skin be healthy and clean, but also nourish the seeds of self esteem and confidence. Not just for teens either- I’m using the range now and I’m absolutely head over heels in love with it!*These are the guys who make Adol-essence, a product I raved about here.

Acne Emergency

If you need a treatment for severe acne, the Botani Skin Rescue kit is the way to go. Peroxide free, it kills bacteria and balances pH and natural oils in the skin to prevent the growth and spread of pimple causing germs. It’s suitable for all skin, even sensitive, fragile or dry skin types as it doesn’t dry out the natural oil production. In addition to a whole face care range, they also have an excellent spot treatment!

One for the Boys

Image courtesy of MooGoo

If you have a young manly teen who abhors the idea of ‘flowers in his skin cream’, the MooGoo range has a great, natural acne cream. It’s very easy to use, as it doubles as a moisturiser. Just rub it on, and you’re done, no girly primping required! Along with their whole body products that can also be used on the face (very manly that- a bit like shampooing your hair with soap, or trimming your nails with your garden shears…) the MooGoo acne cream is endorsed by a Very Special Celebrity. Note- using the Acne cream does not guarantee you screaming fans, or hair like Moostin Goober… *Of course, this great acne treatment is also good for girls, and women or men of any age. Just don’t tell the boys that!

Of course, general diet and lifestyle can also help- drink plenty of water, get some sunshine, sweat a bit and try not to stress. Eating plenty of protein, wholegrains, fruit and veg helps too!

I was looking through some old files and found this the other day.  It’s the recipe for a first aid balm I once made for a college assignment.  It worked so well, I had a few people hooked on it, but I guess I just forgot about it over time.  I want to make it again soon- I like to do it from scratch but you can use ready made liquid herbs if you want to cut out a few weeks of brewing time!  If you make it, please let me know how you went!

*The only change I’d make is to swap to a vegetable based pawpaw cream, rather than a petrochemcial base.  I used Lucas at the time as it was the only one that was TGA listed and could therefore made therapeutic claims about it’s action.  I used loose herbal teas as they are smaller quantities of pure, dried herb- I prefer Blooms brand as they are non-irradiated.  If you would like the references, just drop me an email and I’ll send them to you!

Home Made Herbal First Aid Cream.

A first aid preparation for use on cuts, minor burns, skin irritations, bites or stings or mild eczema or dermatitis.  I chose this preparation for it’s versatility and usefulness in nearly every household.    Most herbal skin products are for ailments like dermatitis, very rarely have I seen one with a use in the first aid area, despite the range of herbs suitable for these uses.  I chose to keep the formulation simple, to allow higher potency and hopefully more efficacy.

Ingredients:

5ml Calendula officinalis fluid extract (from flower) (2:1)

5ml Urtica dioica fluid extract (2:1)

75g  Lucas Pawpaw ointment

Preparation of Fluid Extracts:

Dried herbs were purchased as herbal tea (Hilde Hemme’s brand of pure, therapeutic grade herbal leaves).  Both extracts used a 25% alcohol base and were made via the following method:

A 1:4 tincture was created by adding dried, ground herb to ethanol and water.  This created a 1:4 w/v tincture.  The herb was placed into a jar and covered with menstruum.  The initial products had to be discarded; the herb was not ground fine enough, and the menstruum only covered a portion of the herb.  Upon grinding it to a finer texture, it created a thick, somewhat lumpy marc.  After several days of maceration some of the bulk was lost; over the 3 week period, it became more liquid.  After the initial 3 week maceration period had passed, both mixtures were pressed and strained, using a cloth to squeeze out the extract.  It was pressed in batches (some were pressed 2-3 times, as

the cloth kept splitting under the pressure!), and the final product was strained twice to ensure no residue would be present.  This extract was kept, measured and added to ¼ of it’s weight in dry herb.  This was again macerated for 3 weeks.

The resulting fluid extract was then used in the final preparation.

Measurements were:

50g of dried herb was added to 52ml ethanol and 148ml water.  When pressed, the Calendula yielded 125ml of extract and the Nettle produced 130ml.

Calendula extract was then added to 30g of dried Calendula officinalis.

Nettle extract was added to 30g of Urtica dioica.

After re-macerating, approximately 70ml of extract was obtained from each batch of herb.

Preparation of Cream:

75g of the base cream was placed in a bowl and warmed over a water bath to loosen it’s consistency.  The extracts were combined (30ml of each) and the mixture was added in 1ml increments, to obtain the highest dose possible without making the mixture too runny.  The first drops of herb added cooled the cream, causing it to harden a little.  To prevent the end product becoming lumpy, I placed the bowl of extract in the warm water left over for 10 seconds.  This warmed it enough to mix smoothly into the cream.

The result was a cream consisting of 10ml fluid extract (5ml of each ingredient) in 75g of base cream, to form a product that was easy to apply and stayed on the skin.  This was then packaged in a sterile jar.

Directions:

Apply cream as needed to bites, stings, sunburn and minor cuts or wounds.  May also be used on eczema, dermatitis or itchy skin rash.  Store away from sunlight in a  cool,

dry place.  Refrigerating this product will create a cooling and soothing effect on application.  If the rash does not heal, if an allergic reaction occurs or if symptoms worsen, consult a doctor or healthcare professional.

Rationale:

Calendula officinalis: Marigold has been used for many years as a healing, antiseptic cream.  The hydro-alcoholic constituents have shown to exhibit antimicrobial activity and the triterpenoids have an antiinflammatory effect.  Though the healing constituents have not been identified, it is thought to be due in part to the carotenoids present in the flower (Hunter 2006, p.214).

Urtica dioica: I decided to use the Stinging Nettle for it’s antiseptic, anti-itch and anti-fungal properties after seeing it in a cream made Martin and Pleasance.  Unfortunately, I could not find any data to support the ‘anti-itch’ components.  However, Kavalali (2003) does support the companies claims of anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties and also claims it to be antiviral.  Mills and Bone (2000) support this.

Lucas Pawpaw Ointment: For a first aid ointment, this TGA Listed product seemed an obvious choice.  Not only does it adhere well to the skin, it’s also hydrating, antiseptic, antifungal, drawing and healing.  (Lucas’ Pawpaw Remedies, n.d.)

Contraindications:

Not to be used by anyone with an allergy to Marigold (Daisy Family), Nettle or Pawpaw.  A patch test is recommended before first time use (apply to inner elbow and leave for 24 hours).  Should not be used on serious burns or burns on the face, genitals or joints as these require attention from a doctor.

Have you heard of it?  Wakame is a seaweed and seaweeds are generally high in iron and iodine, essential for healthy brain function and great to help growing bodies (or mamas-to-be who are growing little bodies!).  It provides nutrients that assist thyroid function, energy, metabolism, nervous system, bone strength and much more.  As mentioned below, watch the salt content if you are on a low sodium diet.  I use Wakame by soaking and adding to a salad, pasta or stir fry- I’ve even added it to bread (a sour dough olive concoction- don’t ask for the recipe, I made it up, forgot it and have never been able to replicate it since…)  I just use the Power Super Foods Wakame which you can get in a lot of health food stores (or from their website)- it’s great quality and they do a lot for charity.

Here’s a quick run-down on this amazing super food:

Major Nutritional Values:

• Energy (190kj/100g)
• Protein (3.03g/100g)
• Carbohydrate (9.14g/100g)
• Fat (0.64g/100g, including 0.13g saturated)
• Vitamin A (360iu/100g)
• B1 (0.6mg/100g), B2 (0.23mg/100g), B3 (1.6mg/100g), B5 (0.697mg/100g).
• Vitamin C (3mg/100g)
• Vitamin E (1mg/100g)
• Calcium (150mg/100g), Iron (2.18mg/100g), Magnesium (107mg/100g), Phosphorous (80mg/100g), Potassium (50mg/100g), Sodium (872mg/100g), Zinc (0.38mg/100g), Copper (0.284mg/100g), Manganese (1.4mg/100g), Selenium (0.7mcg/100g)

Therapeutic Benefits

Seaweeds in general are very nutrient dense- wakame is particularly high in calcium, iron and iodine as well as B1 and B3. Iodine helps to promote a healthy thyroid and may assist maintaining a healthy weight.  Algin, a fibre molecule, is particularly beneficial, as it binds to heavy and possibly toxic metals, taking them out of the body.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Wakame has a high mineral content which can supplement a diet lacking, particularly in calcium or iron.  It is easy to include in basic foods, as it can be used as a green vegetable or made into a spread.  When cooked with beans, wakame has a softening effect on the hard legumes. The sodium level is unfortunately high, so wakame (and most other seaweeds) should be eaten in moderation by those wishing to avoid salt.

*Information gained from a few sources, primarily this USDA website.  Wakame is a food and not designed to treat any medical conditions.