Secrets of the Superhuman Food Pyramid: Benefits of Nori (Seaweed)

Nori is a type of seaweed popularly used for making sushi. Made from porphyra and/or enteromorpha species of algae, these seaweed varieties grow in shallow and cold water. Nori often comes in thin sheet form and has a black-purple color which turns a deep green when toasted.  Though nori’s popularity in the United States is only fairly recently, this seaweed has been eaten for centuries in Asia, specifically in China and Japan.

Adding nori to your dishes will not only make your meals more flavorful but will also make you healthier overall as this unassuming seaweed packs a punch nutritionally.

Read further and learn more about the benefits of nori and why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends this vegetable.

Nori’s Benefits:

Nori appears to be the only vegetable that has been studied and confirmed to contain Cobalamin, a type of vitamin B12, in the form that’s bio-available to humans. In a study conducted by the Sapporo Medical University in Japan, nori made from the Porphyra tenera algae has been found to contain biologically active Cobalamin. In a subsequent study done by Kochi Women’s University, the research was expanded to include green and purple nori from the enteromorpha and porphyra species, respectively, and it was established that the Cobalamin in nori can indeed be absorbed by humans. It is crucial to note that animal products like meat and eggs are the traditional sources of bio-available Cobalamin, so these findings prove beneficial for vegans and vegetarians.

In the same study conducted by Kochi Women’s University, it was found too that nori has the lowest dietary iodine among all seaweed products. This makes nori a more suitable choice for those who need to watch their intake of this mineral, like individuals who have thyroid conditions, for instance.

Nori made from the porphyra species of algae contain porphyran, a type of sulfated carbohydrate, which appears to have cancer-preventive properties. In a  Korean study on gastric cancer cells, porphyran was found to induce cancer cell death as well as inhibit the spread of malignant cells.

The porphyran in nori has been found in another Japanese study to have anti-allergenic properties as well. This capacity of porphyran to inhibit contact hypersensitivity in laboratory rats may prove useful in finding therapeutic approaches for allergies later on.

Nori’s Practical Uses:

Nori can be added to soups to provide that characteristic salty and tangy taste. You might want to toast nori to bring out its flavor before sprinkling it on your soup. To toast, turn the gas burner to low and holding the nori with tongs, pass the sheet back and forth atop the flame for about 30 seconds or until it becomes crispy.

Nori can be made into a delectable snack, too. Fold a nori sheet in half, unfold again, and brush the inside half sheet lightly with sesame oil using a pastry brush. Sprinkle some salt on the inside half. Fold, press, and cut into bite size strips. Place in a baking sheet, making sure the strips are arranged with intervals so as to avoid sticking. Put the baking sheet inside the oven preheated to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and toast the strips for 15 minutes or until crisp. Take out and place the crispy strips in a cooling rack and repeat the process for the remaining nori sheets. To store, place in an airtight glass jar. You can toast these nori strips again later on should they lose their crispiness during storage.

In the next post, I’ll tell you the benefits of organic greens powder or capsule that will help you in your quest to Become Superhuman.

In the meantime, if you care to jump ahead, here is a complete listing of the vegetables on Superhuman Food Pyramid:

Eat:

• Sprouts

• Avocados

• Olives

• Asparagus

• Broccoli

• Cauliflower

• Cabbage

• Naturally Fermented Sauerkraut

• Naturally Fermented Pickles

• Bok Choy

• Collards

• Swiss Chard

• Kale

• Mustard Greens

• Nori (Seaweed)

• Organic Greens Powder or Capsule

Moderate:

• Sweet Potatoes

• Yams

• Plantains

• Potatoes

• Corn

• Peas

• Carrots

• Celery

• Cucumber

• Squash

• Zucchini

• Romaine Lettuce

• Red Lettuce

• Iceberg Lettuce

• Fennel

• Radishes

Avoid:

• Canned Vegetables

• Non-Organic, Un-Rinsed Vegetables

Also avoid if autoimmune disease or nightshade sensitivity:

• Potatoes

• Tomatoes

• Peppers

• Garlic

• Onions

• Eggplant

If you have questions, comments or feedback about the benefits of nori, the Superhuman Food Pyramid, this website, or other aspects of Becoming Superhuman, then leave your thoughts below, as well as any tips you have on the benefits of nori.