Health
Seaweed benefits may include:
- feeling full longer
- proper thyroid function
- reduced hunger
- regulated blood sugar
- detoxification
- gut health
- heart health
- lower blood cholesterol levels
- inflammation reduction
- reduced risk of heart disease
- reduced risk of type 2 diabetes
- weight loss
Seaweed side effects may include:
- may aggravate existing thyroid conditions
- increased risk of thyroid malfunction (when consumed excessively)
Seaweed is…
- Alkaline 9.0 pH level once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
Environment
Water footprint: unknown
Carbon footprint: low, 0.0 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of aquatic plants, a car driving equivalent of .0 miles or .0 kilometers, seaweed has a relatively low carbon footprint
Destruction: low, seaweed production is relatively sustainable, there is no significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc.
Seaweed is…
- Sustainable
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Animals
Kills: none, seaweed production does not require any animals to die
Harms: none, seaweed production does not require any animals
Indirectly kills or harms: none, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Seaweed is…
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers often experience exploitation, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Seaweed…
- May involve worker exploitation, laborer issues, human rights concerns
Where does most seaweed come from?
Much of the world’s seaweed is from large sea farms off the coasts of China, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan. The world’s top seaweed exporting country is South Korea, followed by China, Japan, USA, Canada, UK, Spain, Philippines, Denmark, Germany.
Is seaweed nutritious?
Yes! Seaweed is a great source of protein, Vitamin c, calcium and has a high mineral content with anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory properties.
seaweed is alkaline.
Is seaweed alkaline or acidic?
Seaweed is alkaline.
What is the pH level of seaweed?
Seaweed has a 9.0 pH level once digested. Sea vegetables are an alkaline food group. Dulse, kelp and wakame are highly alkaline.
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
seaweed is gluten free.
Is seaweed gluten free?
Yes, seaweed is gluten free. Seaweed does not contain gluten. Seaweed is a type of sea vegetable, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
seaweed is not a common food allergen.
Is seaweed a common food allergen? No, seaweed is not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to seaweed but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
seaweed is sustainable.
Overall, is seaweed eco friendly? Is seaweed sustainable?
Seaweed production is relatively sustainable since there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
seaweed is vegan.
Is seaweed vegan?
Yes, seaweed is vegan. Seaweed is a marine algae, or sea vegetables and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non Vegan Foods List
seaweed is a product that may or may not have labor issues.
Is seaweed a product with laborer concerns?
At this time there are no major concerns with seaweed production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening!
It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may come with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Sources:
Seaweed, laver, raw – FoodData Central
Marine algae listings on the National List (pdf)
Adriane Marie
As an educator, author and conscious consumer advocate, I study and organize ethical info for you to quickly see how our purchases impact animals, people and the planet. I hope you find this HEALabel knowledge useful and can apply it to your life for personal and societal improvement and empowerment.Get ethical insight before you buy.