Wakame Flakes (Undaria pinnatifida) – Seaweed, Organic

Wakame is one of the most popular varieties of seafoods eaten in Japan and Korea for centuries. It is thought that the first seaweed originated one billion years ago.  Five million years later shellfish appeared and one hundred million years later fish appeared. Wakame is a type of Kelp. Wakame can grow to 1 to 3 meters in length and has long been cultivated as a food source.  It has a golden brown colour and occurs in very large stands.

Wakame grows in inter-tidal cold waters of Northern hemisphere oceans. Like other Porphyra species, Wakame is cultivated in seaweed farms where the shore emerges above sea water during low tides and submerges under the water at high tides.

It has been used in cooking by the Japanese for many centuries. A well known dish that uses Wakame is miso soup served with tofu and pieces of Wakame added for flavour and texture.

Properties:

Wakame is deep green in colour with a distinctive salty and sweet taste. This seaweed is rich in minerals, anti-oxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, protein, vitamins and dietary fibre in ample amounts contributing to overall health and wellness. Wakame contains trace elements such as iodine, iron, copper, cobalt, selenium, nickel and zinc, similar to Nori and Kombu.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine the salty taste in associated with kidney energy and winter. Like the kidneys in the body, these plants absorb minerals from their surroundings. Wakame has an affinity to the bones and the marrow.

In Japanese culture sea vegetables are considered detoxifying and it is suggested that they can clear heavy metals from the body. It can help with fever and inflammation and is  good for decongesting the throat and lungs. Wakame has an affinity to the thyroid gland and skin conditions.

How to use:

Add to meals like stir fry with soba noodles, protein, mushrooms, daikon and other vegetables. Use with other sea foods like Gaia’s Sea Vegetable Blend and sprinkle on any dish you are cooking.

It can be made as a tea by adding to any Green Tea or Yerba Mate, Lemongrass and Wakame flakes. Use water that has been cooled to 75 -80 degrees and steeped for 5 minutes. Use about 1 teaspoon per cup.

Cautions & contraindications:

Seaweeds contain naturally high levels of iodine, which is contraindicated in persons with hyperthyroid. This product is harvested from the sea therefore occasional shell fragments may be present in the product. Consumption of this product may cause a serious or life-threatening reaction in persons with allergies to fish or shellfish.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or illness. Please consult your healthcare provider prior to the use of this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications or have a medical condition. Individual results may vary.