Kombu Seaweed

What is Kombu seaweed? 

It is a marine vegetable that may be eaten and is a member of the brown seaweed family. It's most often used to make a mild, umami-flavored Japanese soup. It is one of the most extensively utilized seaweeds in Korea and Japan, and it is easily available there.

Like wakame, arame, and kurome, which are other varieties of marine kelp, kombu is a member of the Laminariaceae family. The majority of kombu comes from the Saccharina japonica (Laminaria japonica) species, which is widely grown in the seas of Korea and Japan on ropes. Actually, over 90% of the kombu in Japan is grown, mostly in Hokkaidō but even as far south as the Seto Inland Sea.

Minerals including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, vanadium, and zinc are abundant in kombu. This seaweed and other brown algae are excellent sources of iodine and vanadium, a mineral also present in sea vegetables, which may aid in the conversion of blood sugar into storable carbohydrates and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

How do I use Kombu seaweed?

It works well for preparing soups and broths, but it can also be used to wrap fish to give your dinner a tasty flavor and an extra mineral boost. Kombu strips have a sharp edge and might feel a little bit spiky. These work well when dropped into water to create stock or broth.

Kombu seaweed benefits:

The natural taste enhancer kombu has several health advantages. It gives meals a savory umami flavor. In terms of nutrition, kombu has iron, calcium, and trace minerals in addition to iodine, which is necessary for thyroid function. Additionally, kombu includes vitamins A and C.

◉ Improves digestion and reduces gas: Certain amino acids present in kombu may aid in the breakdown of the heavy starches in meals like beans. This makes it simpler for them to be absorbed. This seaweed's delightfully savory taste is derived from the glutamic acid it contains, and the fiber aids with overall digestion.

Kombu may also lessen the potential for beans to produce gas. When people have intestinal gas, it's usually because they lack the enzymes needed to break down the raffinose sugars in beans. These sugars are highly favored by the bacteria in the stomach, which release carbon dioxide and hydrogen, causing gas and even bloating of the stomach. Digestive enzymes included in kombu may provide a more pleasant legume meal experience.

◉ Potentially Helps Prevent Cancer: Sea veggies may be beneficial in avoiding cancer. Scientists are investigating sea vegetables as cancer-fighting foods since they are known to have anti-inflammatory properties, and we know that inflammation and chronic oxidative stress are risk factors for the development of cancer.

According to a Chinese study that was published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, kombu may be able to prevent liver cancer by acting as an antitumor. Mice injected with the seaweed extract showed inhibition of tumor growth, leading researchers to conclude that “LJP exerts an antitumor effect and can be used as a therapeutic agent for cancer.”.

◉ Aids in Staving Off Anemia: Because iron contributes to the formation of hemoglobin, which delivers oxygen through the blood and maintains healthy cells, skin, hair, and nails, it is essential to bodily function. Kombu could be able to provide the essential iron required to be healthy.

A frequent iron deficiency-related anemia is brought on by a deficit of healthy red blood cells. The body is unable to produce hemoglobin because of the missing component. The function of these red blood cells is to remove carbon dioxide from the body's tissues and provide oxygen to them.

You can have fatigue and dyspnea if your iron levels are low or if you run out of supplies. The most vulnerable groups include women who are menstruating, pregnant or nursing, have had major surgery, are vegan or vegetarian, or suffer from ulcerative colitis, to mention a few. Fortunately, kombu is a high-iron meal that may help avoid the symptoms of anemia and iron deficiency.

◉ Improves Thyroid Function: Not only does kombu have iodine, but it is the seaweed with the greatest iodine content, making it one of the world's most iodine-rich foods. Our meals must include iodine for the thyroid to operate correctly and for the appropriate generation of hormones. It could even be beneficial for those fighting hypothyroidism; however, careful monitoring of consumption is necessary if severe thyroid issues are present.

Iodine is thought to give antioxidants that may even help prevent cancer and heart disease, and it is essential for the manufacture of thyroid hormones, according to a paper published in Thyroid Research. Seaweeds are capable of absorbing the natural salts present in the ocean; some types have iodine concentrations that are over 30,000 times higher than those found in the deep blue sea.

According to the American Thyroid Organization, obtaining the daily needs of iodine is crucial for maintaining a healthy thyroid since our bodies aren't capable of producing it on their own. Because the iodine shortage affects over 40% of the world's population, kombu is an excellent dietary addition.

Where can I buy Kombu seaweed?

Buy Kombu seaweed from the health food store in the USA, Alive Herbals.

Kombu Seaweed information (at a glance):