The Rev. J. Graydon Wilson of Fremont has faith in kelp.
Brenda Moreno of Scribner also sees the benefit of seaweed.
Both use seaweed fertilizer when raising fruits and vegetables.
“The ocean is the source of all our life,” Wilson said. “Ocean water contains (at least) 60 important ingredients — minerals and all.”
For a quarter of a century, Wilson has added granulated seaweed to the top soil for tilling. He also uses a fish emulsion, made from Gulf of Mexico fish.
“It’s so much better for you — not eating any kind of chemical (fertilizer),” Moreno said.
When Moreno ordered pepper plants from New Jersey, the company suggested seaweed for fertilizer.
“Peppers are larger and tomatoes are almost perfect. They grow so fast,” Moreno said.
She also uses the natural fertilizer on a rarity — celery plants. Typically, celery doesn’t grow well in this area.
Not a lick of seaweed in your diet?
Chances are — there is.
Seaweed or its extracts such as carrageenan are used as a stabilizer in ice cream and other foods — even toothpaste.
Greg Lauterbach, owner of Harvest Health and Coffee in Fremont, stocks several seaweed products and supplements.
“It’s a natural way to get a lot of trace minerals,” Lauterbach said.
“Because of runoff from agricultural lands, a lot of nutrients are washed into the sea,” Wilson said.
“Whole nutrients — that’s why people do well on it,” Lauterbach added.
Liquid kelp, for quicker access — or in tablet form may help thyroid function.
“It’s high in iodine and works on the thyroid,” Lauterbach said.
Powdered kelp can be sprinkled on food or incorporated into smoothies. It has a salty taste, Lauterbach said.
Dulse powder can be used like a seasoning — instead of salt when cooking.
Sushi nori — toasted seaweed sold in sheets — is used for various sushi and nori rolls.
“My stepmother was Korean. She put Japanese pickles and rice in them,” Lauterbach said.
The packaging of the sushi nori, manufactured by Eden, suggests the product can be also be used like a vegetable or garnish.
Lauterbach, who has tried all the seaweed supplements, said the tablets are the most popular. They contain no added sugar, salt, dairy, yeast, wheat, corn, soy, preservatives or artificial color/flavor.
Wilson subscribes to seaweed. At 94, he takes no prescription medications.
“I keep on eating to get the benefit of nutrition from the ocean,” Wilson said.
“Seaweed is a marvelous source of health,” Wilson added, reverently.
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