Sea Vegetables, a valuable Source of Important Nutrients

For most of us when we think about sea vegetables, food is not the first thing that comes to mind. Hippocrates Health Institute have long recognized the valuable contribution sea vegetables can make to maintaining health by implementing a wide range of these vegetables of the seas into their signature Life Transformation Program. However sea vegetables such as kelp, nori, wakami, and

dulce contain a rich source of many essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements not found in land-based vegetables.

To understand why sea vegetables are highly rated as part of the optimal health diet at Hippocrates Health Institute, it’s important to know why some of the nutrients they provide are not available in most land-grown vegetables. Since commercial farming practices began over the past decades they have contributed a great deal to land erosion and depleting our soils of many essential nutrients that would otherwise have made it into our foods. The oceans however are abundant in naturally occurring minerals and vitamins that become part of the sea vegetables.

 Although Hippocrates Health Institute always encourages organic produce; many people still eat non-organic vegetables that have been treated with chemical fertilizers. While fertilizers contain minerals essential to sustain plant growth such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur and magnesium, these minerals have been chemically processed.  Nitrogen for example is gassed at high temperatures and pressure to produce ammonia. Phosphorus and potassium are treated with acids forming granules designed to dissolve in order to reach plant roots.

Hippocrates Health Institute regard the following list of nutrients found in sea vegetables highly beneficial for maintaining good health if consumed on a regular basis: dietary iodine (one of the best natural food sources of iodine essential for healthy thyroid functioning), potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, nitrogen, iron, zinc, boron, copper, manganese, chromium, selenium, bromine, vanadium, and nickel. In all sea vegetables contain 56 minerals and trace elements required for biological functions in quantities greatly exceeding those of land plants.

Most people are familiar with or have eaten sushi, and will know that the green wrapping on the outside, is a sea vegetable or seaweed. This is in fact called nori and is probably the most commonly known sea vegetable. Other edible sea vegetables, a lot less well known include dulse, kombu, wakame and kelp, and even less known is - how to eat them. At Hippocrates Health Institute all of these vegetables are used to dress salads and flavor sauces adding colors such as red, brown, blue and various shades of green.

The most popular seaweeds used in the Hippocrates’s kitchen are:

Nori
This is a dark green, sometimes reddish sea alga, most commonly dried into sheets and used for

sushi. Nori is one third protein and high in dietary fiber. Nutritional values vary, but typically a 100g serving of dried nori contains about 40g of protein, 36g of dietary fiber and 3g of zinc. It also contains high levels of iodine, carotene, vitamins A, B and C, as well as significant levels of calcium and iron.

Dulse
This purple-red alga, has a strong salty taste and can be dried and eaten like a cracker. When hydrated it can be used as a flavoring in soups or tossed over a salad adding an extra dimension of color.

Kelp

Kelp has a brown color and is commonly found on tidal shores growing up to 6 feet in length. Its best-eaten fresh in soups or over salads, but can also be dehydrated to make a crispy garnish for grain or pasta dishes. Kelp is a highly nutritious super food with the best quality to be found in Iceland. Icelandic kelp can be sourced in supplement form.

Kombu
This sea vegetable is harvested in deep waters where it clings to rocks, and when dried appear almost black on color. Loaded with minerals, vitamins and trace elements, especially iodine, calcium, potassium, iron, carotene, and Vitamin B, they have a slightly sweet taste, and are helpful in dissolving mucus and regulating blood pressure.

Wakame

Also known as alaria, this sea vegetable grows in thick beds in shallow waters, and contains high levels of fuxcoxanthin, which helps to burn fats.
It is also an excellent source of omega-3 oils, calcium, iodine, thiamine and niacin. In Asian medicine wakame is used to purify blood, and for strengthening the intestines, skin, hair and reproductive organs. Korean mothers traditionally drink wakame soup to help fortify their milk during nursing. In japan miso soup is not a true miso soup without wakame!

Dr. Tung’s Earth Day Giveaway

As we pause to celebrate the importance of Earth Day and honoring our environment today, Hippocrates Health Institute are excited to partner with sustainable dental health products company,
Dr. Tung’s, for an exciting giveaway on this holiday!

Dr. Tung’s commitment is to offer our customers natural, more effective, leading-edge oral care products. Good oral health is an integral part of overall health, and they integrate modern and traditional knowledge to produce highly effective products for you and your family. They use only natural ingredients and flavoring, and have a long-term commitment to recyclable and biodegradable materials.

Hippocrates Health Institute proudly carry four Dr. Tung’s products in our store:

● Ionic Toothbrush – Unlike regular toothbrushes which try to force plaque off the teeth by friction, the IONIC brush makes the teeth let go of plaque, like turning off a magnet! A recent independent report showed that ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES, including SONICARE and ORAL-B, do not remove significantly more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush! Yet the Ionic toothbrush has been clinically shown to remove up to 48% more plaque than a manual brush!

● SmartFloss – Smart Floss dental floss is clinically proven to be more effective than regular floss. It has been shown to remove up to 55% more plaque than some of the most popular flosses, i.e. regular waxed and un-waxed flosses and PTFE monofilament floss (compare to Glide). The floss is lightly waxed with a natural blend of vegetable and beeswax (no petrochemical wax) and has a natural cardamom flavor. It also comes in a biodegradable container.

● Stainless Steel Tongue Cleaner – Used and recommended by dentists and hygienists, Dr. Tung's cleaner is the leading tongue cleaner in the health market and is sold in health stores and dental offices around the country.

● Snap-On Toothbrush Sanitizer – The Snap-On Sanitizer is a REVOLUTIONARY product that releases all-natural, anti-bacterial vapors to kill germs and safely sanitize your toothbrush between brushings. The new pack with Snap-In refill now gives 6 months total protection per pack - this is 50% more than the old pack. Plus it saves 46% plastic over the old one.



Hippocrates Health Institute is giving away one of each of our Dr. Tung’s store products to TWO winners - PLUS a friend - in honor of Earth Day and practice conscious consumerism!

To enter, visit Hippocrates Health Institute's Facebook Page  

Terms and conditions
The Dr. Tung’s Giveaway begins April 22, 2015 at 9:00 AM US Eastern Time and ends April 25, 2015, 11:59:00 p.m. US Eastern Time ("ET") (the "Contest").   By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to the Official Rules and warrants that his or her entry complies with all requirements set out in the Official Rules.  This is a chance-based contest and chance along with completion of rules plays a determination of winners.

WHO MAY ENTER – Official Rules  
Contest is open only to individuals who have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry and who do NOT reside in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan or Syria. Employees of Hippocrates Health Institute, and its subsidiaries and affiliates, and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they live) or persons living in the same households of such employees, whether or not related are not eligible.

CONTEST IS VOID IN CUBA, IRAN, NORTH KOREA, SUDAN, SYRIA AND WHERE PROHIBITED.

1). Fully read this blog post about Dr. Tung’s mission to provide sustainable, holistic dental products to make our mouths (and, thus, our total health!) happy and healthy.

2). SHARE with us on Facebook in the comments below how you are a conscious consumer and celebrate Earth Day every day, TAG a friend, and TAG the @Dr. Tung’s Facebook page.

3). For additional entries be sure to Like the Dr. Tung’s Facebook page. (If you do so please indicate this in your comment below in the Facebook post)