I've been discussing some superfoods from Rosemary Gladstar's book, Herbs for Longevity & Wellbeing. Another one is seaweed.

These wonderful plants from the sea are a rich source of minerals. They can provide for our nourishment up to 10–20 times the mineral content of land plants, says Rosemary. Minerals are essential for the enzymes used in human metabolism, and seaweeds—such as kelp, duse, arame, and hiziki—have been used for literally thousands of years to promote healthy long life.

Seaweeds have fiber, essential fatty acids, and phytonutrients. You can think of them as nutritious “veggies from the sea.” For those of us who need an extra source of iodine to support our thyroids, kelp and other seaweeds provide a great source.

I have started adding kelp to my 10-year-old dog Sam’s diet to help her thyroid. I buy it in capsules for me, but I open them up and just add one capsules’ worth to her food every day. Rosemary suggests adding these plants to salads or salad dressings, soups, and other dishes.

Wendy Keeney-Kennicutt