Amazing Benefits of Dulse

It is known as dead man's fingers. So when this seaweed hangs down the side of a rock, you might feel that someone is beneath that rock with his fingers sticking out!

A popular snack food in Ireland, Iceland, and the United States, to name a few, dulse is one of nature's nutritionally dense foods. The noteworthy aspect of dulse, an edible red algae, is its protein content, which is higher than most other vegetables. Munching on dulse can do wonders for your health.

Scientists have found that the protein content in this seaweed is the highest in winter-spring period and lowest in summer-early autumn.

In fact, it adds more fiber to your diet than oat bran. And as you know, adequate intake of fiber a day keeps most stomach problems at bay. And this is not all, fiber is also a potent weapon against cholesterol. So there you have it; a healthy stomach and a healthy heart are what you get when you bring home dulse.

It works as an electrolyte that helps relay nerve impulses between the central nervous system and the rest of the body. So cutting the long story short, dulse is loaded with potassium.

Dulse tops all sea vegetables when it comes to iron - a mineral that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs to rest of the body. So for people with iron-deficiency, eating dulse should be a no-brainer. Furthermore, iron is also necessary for healthy skin, cells, and nails.

Iodine deficiency causes goiter and hypothyroidism apart from other problems. And to prevent this deficiency, we have iodized salt. But there are people whose diet restricts salt intake. This is where the iodine rich dulse emerges as a star. This seaweed is not only high in iodine, but low in sodium than most of its kind.

Why is magnesium an essential mineral for the human body? Well, given its key role in about 300 different biochemical reactions, We don't see any reason why it shouldn't be! And speaking of manganese (not to be confused with magnesium), one of its main functions is facilitating the metabolic process.

It is also important for the body to absorb and utilize iodine. And guess what, dulse is abundant in both these trace minerals important for the body.

Clinical studies show that the antioxidant properties of this seaweed help build and maintain a healthy immune system. And when we say healthy immune system, we mean less risks of developing conditions like multiple sclerosis, arthritis, lupus, Graves' disease, and other autoimmune problems.

Considering all the benefits that dulse has to offer, you have all the reasons to include this seaweed in your daily diet. Take care!