How to Add Kelp to Your Diet
Kelp, a type of brown algae often referred to as seaweed, may be a new addition to the Western plate, but it makes up about 10 percent of a traditional Japanese diet. Kelp has been found to have many health benefits; those include the presence of cancer-preventing agents, according to the National Foundation for Cancer Research and the National Institutes of Health. Although the taste and texture can take some getting used to, adding kelp into your diet is not difficult at all.
Things You'll Need
- Japanese cookbook
- Dried or pickled kelp
- Dried, powdered kelp
- Sugar cookie recipe
- Smoothie ingredients and blender
- Gelatin capsules
- Glass of water
Instructions
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Eat more Japanese food. Kelp, known as kombu in Japanese cookery, is a main ingredient in dashi soups and in some sushi dishes. You can find dried or pickled kombu at Asian food markets and ideas for cooking with kombu in a Japanese cookbook.
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Use dried kelp powder instead of salt to season your foods. Kelp has a naturally salty taste and high iodine content.
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Bake some kelp cookies. Yes, cookies! This is a particularly useful step for kelp-skeptics. Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe, omit the salt and add a teaspoon of dried, powdered kelp into the batter. The cookies should have a sweet, lightly smoky flavor that even kids enjoy.
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Add a tablespoon or two of dried, powdered kelp to a breakfast smoothie made with milk, ice and your favorite fruits. The saltiness of kelp enhances the strong sweetness of fruits.
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Take kelp powder in capsule form. If you absolutely can't get accustomed to adding kelp to your food, you can take kelp as a dietary supplement. Fill gelatin capsules with dried, powdered kelp and take with a full glass of water.
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Tips & Warnings
Store dried kelp in a cool, dark place to prolong its freshness.
