Seaweed snacks have gained popularity all over the world. These snacks are the food items made from the seaweed obtained from the sea and ocean. Seaweed is a type of algae that grows deep down the sea. These aquatic algae known as seaweed can vary in colors like Green, Brown, Red, and Black.
It is one of the staple foods in Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and China. People in western countries are also adopting seaweed snacks due to their health benefits and the rising population of vegan people in these countries.
These snacks are very nutritious and are available in different varieties to fulfill the requirement of munching snacks. Seaweed snacks are healthy options for every age group due to their nutritious value. People can use seaweed snacks as a substitute for their unhealthy & junk snacks, which causes many health problems.
4 Health benefits of seaweed snacks that you should know
As the title mention, seaweed snacks offer several health benefits to their consumers. Here, we are mentioning those 4 major health benefits that attract consumers to have these snacks. However, these health benefits totally depend on the type of seaweed used in the making of the snacks.
1. The Rich source of nutrients
It is very important for everyone to maintain the nutrition level in their body. Nutrients like minerals, antioxidants, potassium, protein, vitamins, folic acid, and many more, are very important for maintaining the body. The correct amount of nutrients balances the body and enhances its functions. A seaweed snack carries a set of nutrients that helps a body to carry out their functions properly. It boosts the body’s energy and functions.
2. Lose weight
Seaweed snacks act as an anti-obesity diet that makes it a healthier snack for consumption. These snacks have a lot of fiber and very low calories that help in losing weight. The majority of people around the world have some kind of extra fat, but they cannot control their eating habits. So, people with obesity can switch to these healthy substitutes for snacks. Consuming healthy snacks with some physical activities can help in losing weight.
3. Better functioning of the Thyroid gland
The thyroid gland releases hormones that perform different functions. These functions include repairing cells of the body, the growth of the body, and many more. The nutrient which helps in the better functioning of the thyroid gland is Iodine and seaweed snacks are a rich source of iodine that makes it a better food snack substitute. Substituting the seaweed snacks from regular ones can actually help a person to maintain the functioning of the thyroid gland.
4. Reduces the risk of heart diseases
Heart diseases are among the most common disease and causes of human death in the world. These snacks contain carbohydrates called fucans that help in decreasing the risk of blood clotting and thus reduces the risk of heart diseases. Therefore, if a person consumes seaweed snacks in the correct amount they can protect themselves from heart diseases.
What are the options available in Seaweed snacks?
We have mentioned its health benefits, now it’s time to add some flavors to these healthy snacks and for that, we are going to tell you the varieties of seaweed snacks that are available in the market. You can easily find them in supermarkets, retail stores, and online platforms. So, we are listing some kinds of seaweed snacks that are popular among the population:
- Seaweed chips- seaweed chips are among the most popular seaweed snacks. People are adopting seaweed chips Due to their mentioned health benefits and mind-blowing taste.
- Seaweed flakes- It has a satisfactory taste and is used to enhance the savory taste of various dishes. There are many famous dishes that contain seaweed flakes to enhance the overall flavors of the dish.
- Nori sheets- The most common form of seaweed snack are the nori sheets. You must have seen then on your sushi plate, which is the famous Japanese food. Sushi offers a sweet, sour, and spice taste for food lovers, which is why they are so popular.
- Seaweed strips- There are many Korean and Chinese foods like soup, salads, etc., which have these strips as their ingredients that make them stand out in the dish and make it more flavorful.
Apart from all the above-mentioned varieties, there are a few other varieties of seaweed snacks also available in the market like seaweed powder, whole leaf seaweed, etc.
To Sum up
Seaweed snacks are healthy snacks made up of ocean plants known as seaweed. They contain various nutrients. Due to this, people are adopting seaweed snacks even more. With this, the great taste of these snacks and the explosion of flavors they give are also boosting its demand.
The changing preference of people towards healthy snack options, increasing vegan population, and rising health concerns among people are propelling the growth of the seaweed snack market. But, the lack of awareness among farmers about the extraction of seaweed from oceans is restricting the growth of the market.