Thursday 27 September 2012

Seaweed pizza

With the Eat Balanced pizzas containing Seagreens now being available in Asda, here is a pizza base recipe for you to try at home and create your own pizzas on:

375g plain flour
1 tsp caster sugar
1 tsp Seagreens Culinary Ingredient
7g dried yeast (fast acting)
225ml warm water


  1. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the water and mix to form a dough then shape to make the base.
  2. Add your tomato puree and then your toppings of choice
  3. Bake in a preheated oven at 190 C/ Gas Mark 5 for 20 to 25 minutes.
By adding Seagreens to the pizza base, you are lowering the salt content of the pizza as well as adding lots of vitamins and minerals which are found in Seagreens. The Culinary Ingredient adds a new depth of flavour to pizzas whilst improving their nutritional profile too. We will be posting more about the Eat Balanced pizzas in the next blog post.
Let us know your favourite pizza toppings and send us your pictures to info@seagreens.co.uk. To find out more about Seagreens and it's uses, visit www.seagreens.co.uk.

Thursday 20 September 2012

Soba Noodle Salad with Wrack Seaweed and Purple Sprouting Broccoli


This is a fantastic recipe which is quick to make and can be vegetarian or have meat such as chicken or prawns added if you prefer. Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

250g Soba Noodles
250g purple sprouting broccoli
1 tsp Seagreens Salad and Condiment
1 tsp Sesame seeds

For the dressing:

2 tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil
1/2 tsp diced green chilli
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2tsp chopped fresh ginger
2 tbsp Soya Sauce
3 tbsp Rice Vinegar

Method:


  1. Cook the soba noodles in boiling water for 3-4 mins, then drain and rinse in cold water.  Add boiling water to the Seagreens Salad and Condiment to rehydrate the seaweed. Leave to stand for 8 mins then sieve. Steam the broccoli until tender, then rinse under cold water.
  2. Combine the broccoli, rehydrated seaweed and cooked noodles in a medium-sized bowl.
  3. Mix the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Pour it over the salad and toss before serving. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds.
You can buy the Seagreens products in some local health food shops or at www.oceansofgoodness.co.uk 

Wednesday 12 September 2012

How does sodium affect our bodies?



Although sodium is needed by the body for various functions such as electrolyte balance, the movement of products between cells and nerve conduction. However, too much sodium has been linked to conditions such as high blood pressure and other heart diseases.

In July, the University of Alberta in Canada released a press release with findings which may explain why high sodium levels have also been linked to osteoporosis and kidney stones. The full study was published in the American Journal of Physiology- Renal Physiology.

It was discovered that consuming too much salt on a regular basis, slowed down sodium absorption so any potentially harmful excess passed through the system. It was suggested that this natural decline in absorption may also affect calcium absorption. After further research, researchers believed this to be the case.

The findings from the study suggest that when the body tries to remove sodium in the urine, it also excretes calcium. Calcium is needed for bone strength and density which could explain why a salty diet can cause osteoporosis. Kidney stones are formed by an excess of calcium in the urine so this may explain their formation.

The recommended amount of salt per day is 6g which is approximately a teaspoon. Salt is often found in hidden food sources such as bread, cereals and ready made sauces. Where possible try to make your own and of course, if you want to add salt to food, swap it for Seagreens Culinary Ingredient or the Mineral Salt.

To find out more visit www.seagreens.co.uk or to buy visit www.oceansofgoodness.co.uk

Thursday 6 September 2012

Seaweed protein and heart disease


People who eat a restrictive diet through being vegetarian or vegan can struggle to consume all the vitamins and minerals needed by the body. Unless you are a very creative cook, it can be difficult to consume all the essential nutrients through food especially when you are vegan. Vegans may suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency due to the foods they cut out.

In 2011, a study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry has found that seaweed contains an important compound which can have a big impact on your health. After reviewing several journal articles, it was discovered by scientists in Ireland at the Teagasc Food Research Centre in Dublin, that a protein based compound is important for heart health. Several species of seaweed were found to contain bioactive peptides. These compounds may help prevent cardiovascular conditions and blood drainage issues including raised blood pressure.

High blood pressure is one of the major risk factors in cardiovascular disease. However, through lifestyle and dietary changes it can be controlled. High blood pressure is often known as the silent killer because it rarely has symptoms. As you get older, blood pressure naturally increased slightly and factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, heavy drinking and an unhealthy diet can contribute to it.