Christmas

We would like to wish all our readers, customers and Seagreens fans a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We hope you have a lovely, peaceful and restful time.

Remember, if you are running low on products you can stock up at your local health food shop or online. For details of local shops enter your postcode on the page http://seagreens.co.uk/Products/StockistSearch.aspx or from http://www.oceansofgoodness.co.uk/

Best wishes for 2013.

The Seagreens team

Healthy hummus recipe

Another recipe by food blogger Rachel Gillon

Hummus

 Many of my recipes seem to be about eating healthy meals, but what about healthy snacks or appetisers before a meal? A quick to make snack and a more healthy option than many of the cheesy and high fat dips in the supermarket is Hummus.

Made from chickpeas and tahini, a sesame seed paste it can be whizzed up in a few minutes and served with warm pitta bread, breadsticks and crudités. It is a great way to get kids experimenting with raw vegetables and my favourites are celery sticks, carrots, peppers and broccoli.

It is also one of those recipes that once you have a basic dish you can make different varieties by adding other ingredients. Coriander works well as does caramelised red onion, chilli and roasted red peppers. One of my favourites is to add approximately 2.5ml of Rosé Harissa and serve with some added chickpeas on top.

This is my basic recipe but you can adapt to suit your own taste by increasing or reducing the amount of lemon juice and yoghurt. For seasoning I use Seagreens Mineral Salt which    is a mixture of Hebridean seaweed and 50% Cornish sea salt.

1 400g can of chickpeas

3 desert spoons of Tahini

2 large garlic cloves

2 - 3 desert spoons of natural yoghurt

3 - 4 tbsp of rapeseed or olive oil.

Juice of 1 lemon

1/4 tsp of Seagreens Mineral Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Place all the chickpeas, tahini, garlic, yoghurt, oil and half of the lemon juice and seasoning in a food processor and blend until smooth.

Taste and adjust the seasoning and if needed add the remaining lemon juice.

This is a good healthy snack and would be ideal in lunch boxes or simply as nice light lunch.

Hummus also makes a nice vegetarian starter with vegetables and pitta bread or on one big platter with the accompaniments for everyone to share. Add some extra small dishes such as olives, sundries tomatoes and its a perfect starter to a meal rather than a snack.

Simple salmon supper

Including fish in the family's weekly diet, particularly oily fish such as salmon, mackerel,tuna and sardines is something that some people struggle with. My own boys, given the choice would chose beer battered fish and chips before a salmon or mackerel fillet.

Over the years I have learned to vary the flavours and ways of cooking to ensure that they did get their recommended portions of fish every week

This salmon recipe is one that I cook regularly and if you're looking for a quick salmon dinner then this is one for you. I've also started using 'Seagreens' with many of my recipes and I find it works really well with this dish.

4 Salmon fillets

3 Tbsp Olive or cold pressed rapeseed oil

Zest of 1 lemon

2tsp Seagreens mineral salt.

Couscous

200g Couscous

350 ml water

100g pitted olives sliced

10-12 Semi dried tomatoes roughly chopped

1-2 Tbsp olive oil

Seagreens Mineral salt to season.

To serve

Handful of torn basil leaves

Place the couscous in a heatproof bowl and pour over 350ml of boiling water.Cover with cling firm and leave for 10 minutes.

Place the salmon fillets in an ovenproof dish.  Mix the lemon zest and the olive or rapeseed oil together and pour over the salmon. Sprinkle the Seagreens salt over the fish and roast for 8 -10 minutes or until,cooked.

Divide the couscous between 4 plates and top with a salmon fillet. Scatter with torn basil and serve.

Written for Seagreens by Rachel Gillon, a food blogger from Renfrewshire. You can read Rachel's blog here http://aweepinchofsugar.wordpress.com/

Herb and Seagreens Mineral Salt Bread

This recipe is from Hannah Bailey who runs Wise Choice Nutrition. It was made in a breadmaker and ingredients are listed in the order for the specific machine. All machines vary so check before you start.

Herb and Seagreens Mineral Sat Bread (large loaf)

1 1/8 cups of water
2tbsp butter
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp Seagreens Mineral Salt
2 cups white flour, 1 cup wholemeal flour
1 1/4 tsp dried yeast
1 tbsp mixed dried herbs

You can visit Hannah's website at www.wisechoicenutrition.co.uk or Seagreens website to find out more about Seagreens and the products at www.seagreens.co.uk 

Latest media article

Did you see a mention of seaweed in the press last week? It's becoming increasingly popular with chefs and can retail for up to £200 per kilogram!!

Rory MacPhee has become the first person with a license to sell seaweed. In the UK, it is not currently legal to forage for food and then sell it on without a license. He is a founding member of the Seaweed health Foundation which is an independent foundation promoting the benefits of seaweed.

You can read more about the work he is doing here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/food/9675415/Seaweed-harvested-in-England-as-trendy-chefs-boost-prices.html

Seagreens bread

This recipe was sent in By Jan Booth who also makes soaps using Seagreens. Check out www.ostrich-oil.co.uk to find out more about her soaps.

To make the bread :


1 tsp yeast
475g honey & sunflower seed flour ( or any good quality flour of your choice)
11/2 tsb sugar
25g butter
11/4 tsp Seagreens Culinary Ingredient (200g jar - www.seagreens.co.uk/culinary)
320ml water (tepid to activate yeast)

Follow bread maker instructions and add to the bowl in the given order. This is a medium basic recipe and I set to dark crust.

If you don't have a bread maker, combine all the ingredients in a large bowl until the dough has slightly sticky texture. Tip out and knead to stretch the gluten. The dough is ready when it bounces back after being stretched which normally takes around 5 minutes of kneading. Put the dough back in the bowl and cover with oiled cling film in a warm place (airing cupboards are idea) for about 2 hours or until the dough has doubled in size. 
Preheat the oven to 180 C or Gas Mark 6. Lightly grease a loaf tin and place the dough in the tin then into the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes or until the loaf sounds hollow when the bottom is tapped.

To find out more about Seagreens visit www.seagreens.co.uk. To purchase the products, check the website for your nearest stockist or visit www.oceansofgoodness.co.uk 

The Natural Products Show Sweden

This week Simon, MD of Seagreens is in Sweden at the Natural Products Show. The show has a variety of exhibitors with products for health and nutritional supplementation and for food ingredients and cooking.

Seagreens has developed a range of products to enable the easy and convenient addition of their organic, dried and milled seaweed into the diet. Seagreens Culinary Ingredient adds flavour as well as being an effecive salt replacement.  A diet high in salt is known to increase the risk of cardiovasulcar diseases (high blood pressure, strokes, heart disease). As such, Seagreens provides a salty flavour without the high sodium levels and increases the nutritional value of meals. Seagreens also contains a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals to support health.

Recently, Eat Balanced has launched their range of nutritionally balanced pizzas which are available in Asda stores and contain Seagreens in the pizza base. The pizzas are a balanced meal containing the right proportions of fat, carbohydrate and protein. To find out more visit www.eatbalanced.co.uk

Seagreens  is also available in capsule form which can be taken as a supplement and may benefit a variety of conditions including:

• weight management
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• digestive conditions such as IBS

Research has demonstrated that Seagreens species could be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of many other diseases and conditions. The product is allergen free, organic and kosher certified and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Visit the Seagreens Healthcare Summary for more information http://www.seagreens.co.uk/University/SeagreensHealthcareSummary.aspx

Due to the intensive farming procedures which are followed in this country, the nutritional quality of our food has decreased significantly over the past 50 years. A teaspoon of Seagreens Culinary Ingredient contains more iron than a plate of broccoli. 

If you would like to know more about Seagreens, visit the website www.seagreens.co.uk or email post@seagreens.co.uk To find out more about the Natural Products show visit http://www.naturalproductsscandinavia.com/

Pork and bean casserole

This is a bit of a made up recipe so quantities aren't exact I'm afraid.

200g diced pork
1 red onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
4 large mushrooms, sliced
2 apples, sliced
1 tin of mixed beans in tomato sauce
1 tbsp tomato puree
Pinch of mixed herbs
Freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Seagreens Culinary Ingredient
1 stock cube
400ml water

Serve with freshly steamed seasonal vegetables.

1. Fry the onion, garlic and pork in a little olive oil. Add the mushrooms and apples and fry for a further 3 minutes,
2. Stir in the beans, tomato puree, stock cube, water and herbs. Bring to the boil then transfer to a large oven proof dish and cook at 170 C for 2 hours.
3. Serve with steamed vegetables and potatoes or rice if you wish

Eat Balanced's Seagreens Pizza

This week, Asda have started stocking some of the Eat Balanced pizzas which contain Seagreens. They have been developed by the Eat Balanced team to create a nutritious pizza which tastes great and, as Seagreens is from a sustainable source, it is environmentally friendly too.

The pizza bases have had half the salt replaced with Seagreens, which reduces sodium levels and adds additional nutrients to offer a more nutritional product. Seagreens is Human Food Quality Seaweed ^TM and contains over 70 different vitamins and minerals which are needed by the body.  It has a salty flavour but is much lower in sodium than salt (sodium chloride). It is sodium which is believed to have the detrimental effects on health (see previous blog post).  Pizzas are naturally quite high in salt due to the cheese on the topping and so by replacing salt with Seagreens, the sodium levels are very much reduced.

Not only does Seagreens add nutritional benefits, it also tastes great and has a nutty flavour which adds depth to the pizza flavour. Eat Balanced pizzas have been designed with nutritionists to create a pizza which is actually healthy and creates a balanced meal all in one product. They are higher in fibre, vitamins and minerals than standard pizzas. Each pizza contains just the right amount of salt, protein and carbohydrates along with the added nutritional benefits from Seagreens.

This is a pizza you can eat guilt free.

To find out more about Eat Balanced visit www.eatbalanced.com and to find out more about Seagreens visit www.seagreens.co.uk

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.

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 

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

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.

Mediterranean Couscous with Seagreens

Here's a really quick and easy mid week dinner idea. You can add in or swap the vegetables to suit your family's likes and dislikes. Serves 4 Ingredients 200g Couscous  1 Red pepper  1 Yellow pepper  1 Red onion  1 Courgette  Small knob of butter  1/2 tsp Seagreens Culinary Ingredient  Ground black pepper Olive oile If you like have meat with your dinner, add in some chicken breasts to the tray of roasted veg

Method: Roast the vegetables (and chicken) with a little olive oil, flavour with the black pepper and Seagreens. Cook the couscous according to the pack, normally for approximately 5 minutes in boiling water with no heat and a lid on the pan until all the liquid has been soaked up. Add a little butter to it at the end and then stir in the vegetables and serve.

Salmon and Spicy Vegetables with Seagreens

Nutritionist Hannah Bailey from Wise Choice Nutrition shares her latest recipe using Seagreens. This is a rough guide with no exact quantities so adjust to feed the number of people you are cooking for. It also works really well cold the next day for lunch too.

Fresh or tinned salmon

3 new potatoes per person, cut in half

1 carrot per person

Broccoli

Runner beans

1 tbsp olive oil

2 spring onions (or red onion)

10 cherry tomatoes per person

Tomato puree (2tbsp per person )

1 garlic clove, crushed

1tsp harissa paste (more if you like it spicier)

1 tsp Seagreens

Ground black pepper

1tsp Smoked paprika

1.       If you are using fresh salmon, pre-heat the oven to 200^OC/ Gas Mark7, bake in a foil parcel for approximately 20 minutes.

2.       Meanwhile, cook the potatoes, carrots, broccoli and beans until soft, drain and in a separate pan, fry the onion in a little olive oil.

3.       Add the tomatoes and garlic to the onion and gently brown until the tomatoes begin to soften. Add the tomato puree and remaining ingredients. If the sauce seems a little dry, add a couple of tablespoons of water. It is not meant to be runny sauce rather more a coating for the vegetables.

4.       Cover the vegetables and add the salmon then serve.

To find out more about Hannah visit www.wisechoicenutrition.co.uk

Featured Business of the Week: Oceans of Goodness

Oceans of Goodness, based in West Sussex, is run by Robert & Stefani Monteath-Wilson. They are Seagreens specialists selling only Seagreens products. They sell the entire Seagreens product range by mail order nationwide and indeed worldwide.

They have several thousand customers who regularly purchase their Seagreens using the Oceans of Goodness fast same-day despatch service.

Most customers use the Oceans of Goodness web site to place their orders. The web site contains comprehensive information about the use of Seagreens such how they can help people and pets and dosages etc. To view the product range please click here

But those customers who like to speak to a real person can telephone 01293 520460 where they can obtain advice and information about the products.

Oceans of Goodness give discounts for Practitioners as well as anybody who makes purchases of three or more of the same item.

Robert & Stefani have been using Seagreens for more than 10 years and have been running Oceans of Goodness for 5, so are very knowledgeable about everything Seagreens.

Customers receive regular emails, if they want to, providing topical information about Seagreens as well as monthly special offers. And every customer receives an informative annual postal newsletter.

Oceans of Goodness are happy for you to use your local health food store to obtain your Seagreens, but if you prefer the convenience of mail order or do not have a local stockist then the excellent Oceans of Goodness mail order service is happy to help you.

If you would like to purchase a Seagreens product, please visit the Oceans of Goodness website (www.oceansofgoodness.co.uk) or for more information, visit the website or call Robert and Stefani on 01293 520460.

Seagreens and Spelt Scones

Makes 8 small scones / 5 Medium scones

Ingredients

125g Self-raising white flour
75g Wholemeal Spelt Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Seagreens Culinary Ingredient
50g Butter
100ml Sour cream
50ml Milk

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200˚C.
2. Add all the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Chop the butter into cubes and add to the bowl, rub together to make a fine bread crumbs. Mix together the sour cream and milk and add to the bowl. Bring the mix together into a dough. If the dough seems dry add another ½ tablespoon of milk to make a soft smooth dough that will leave the bowl clean. It's important not to overwork the dough or the scones will be heavy.
3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface. Roll it out evenly to about 3cm thick. Cut the dough using a round cutter (9cm for medium scones/ 6cm for small scones). You may need to re-roll the dough to make all your scones.
4. Place them on a floured baking tray, brush the tops with milk,(you could sprinkle some grated cheese on top of the scones) then put them in the oven for 12-15mins, or until the scones have risen and are a nice golden brown colour.

Featured Business of the Week: Artisan Bread Organic

Featured retailer: Artisan Bread Organic

Artisan Bread Organic (ABO) is run by Ingrid Eissfeldt. Based in Whitstable, Kent, ABO produce a wide range of specialists breads all containing Seagreens as a salt replacement. It is also used in their cakes. Customers can also buy jars of Seagreens in the bakery.

What types of bread does Artisan Bread Organic produce?

As the name suggests, the breads made in the bakery are artisan and therefore not your standard white or wholemeal loaf. To the foodies amongst us, this is a very exciting bakery which creates innovative products at very reasonable prices. Take for example, the Organic Pea Bread which is naturally gluten free, wheat free and baker’s yeast free bread. It has a sweet flavour from the peas which is infused with alpine herbs and reminds you of a good curry! The peas within the bread make it higher in protein than the standard white sliced loaf you might buy at a supermarket. The breads don’t have a long list of ingredients and unpronounceable chemicals added. ABO use Seagreens Culinary Ingredient in all their bread.

You can also buy breads made from quinoa, rye, spelt, soya and linseed. Not only can you buy loaves of bread, ABO also sell delicious packs of Glutini® which are ideal for beans on toast and make it a whole new experience. There is a range of pizza bases allowing you to create your own healthy, homemade pizzas. These are great for people with food allergies and intolerances as you can use ingredients which you know don’t affect you.

 

If you fancy having a go at baking some of the breads at home, ABO stocks a range of different flours and sell the Seagreens Culinary Ingredient which can be used as a salt replacement in the bread.  

ABO Buckwheat Glutini

ABO Organic Pea and Rice Flour

ABO Organic Spelt 

And for the sweet toothed among us?

Artisan Bread Organic also does a fantastic range of cakes. Again, Seagreens is added to all the cakes which boosts their nutritional profile and adds a depth of flavour not normally associated with sweet products. They have a range of Glutini®, some of which are sweetened using products such as date and others are less sweet as Cacao is used. You can also buy cake mixes, these do not contain Seagreens. There is also a sugar free cake available too for those who want to avoid sugar.

To find out more about Artisan Bread Organic, visit the website www.artisanbread-abo.com

Summer drink recipe

This is a great recipe for a hot Summer's day and an ideal way to take your Seagreens.

PUKKA’S Clean Green Smoothie

Ingredients

1 tsp Pukka Clean Greens, with Seagreens

1 small Cucumber

1 small Lettuce

2 sticks celery

1 tablespoon Pukka Aloe Vera juice

1 teaspoon omega 3 oil (Hemp seed)

Blend – Drink - Cleanse

Do you have a favourite smoothie recipe which you have added Seagreens too? We'd love to feature it on the blog and give other's ideas and inspiration to try Seagreens.

Email us your recipes and any pictures you have to info@seagreens.co.uk or info@wisechoicenutrition.co.uk. You can find out more information about Seagreens by visiting the website www.seagreens.co.uk

Seagreens, Allergies and Intolerances

Seagreens has many uses for those suffering from allergies and intolerances. But first, what is the difference between and allergy and intolerance? The terms are often used interchangeably but there is a difference. The Oxford Concise Colour Medical Dictionary defines an allergy as:

“ a disorder in which the body becomes hypersensitive to particular antigens (called allergens) which provoke characteristic symptoms whenever they are subsequently inhaled, ingested, injected, or otherwise contacted”

An intolerance is defined as “the inability of a patient to tolerate a particular drug, manifested by various adverse reactions” In the case of food intolerances, food is the drug.

Food allergies and intolerances are becoming increasingly common. However, many are self-diagnosed and therefore may not be allergies or intolerances at all. If you suspect you have an allergy or intolerance, it is important to have it tested by your GP and seek professional medical advice. Cutting out food groups in the belief they are causing the problems can lead to a very restricted diet which in itself can cause many health problems.

Most of the ingredients in food which give rise to allergies can be consumed from seaweed without the same symptoms. The diets we eat today are often high in ingredients which can aggravate the digestive tract. Wheat, caffeine, alcohol and dairy are often common causes of gastro intestinal discomfort and upset. Seagreens can be incorporated into the diet either through the Food Capsules or the Culinary Ingredient and will provide you with a full complement of nutrients needed by the body for optimal health. There are no known allergic substances in Seagreens and since their introduction in 1998, not one case of an intolerance or biological reaction has been reported.

Seagreens can also help some of the symptoms associated with food allergies and intolerances such as gastro intestinal problems and IBS.

For more information, visit the Seagreens website at www.seagreens.co.uk or email info@seagreens.co.uk or info@wisechoicenutrition.co.uk

Reference: Oxford Concise Colour Medical Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 4th ed. 

Seaweed and behavioural conditions in children

Seagreens may have a role to play in the management of ADHD and hyperactivity in children. 2 food capsules or 1g of food granules was found to significantly help behaviour. Not only does Seagreens ensure the child has a broad range of nutrients in their diet but also, Seagreens contain glyco-muco-polysaccharides (long unbranched polysaccharides which form an important component of connective tissue especially near joints).

Seagreens can be used to aid the withdrawal from drugs such as Ritalin. Many parents dislike the effect Ritalin has on their child but find it difficult to manage their child’s behaviour without it. Seagreens products are completely natural with nothing added or taken away. They are milled at the point of harvest on the coast of the Outer Hebrides.

Increasing the daily dose from 2 capsules to 4 or increasing the food granules to 2 teaspoons (1/2 a gram) before, during and after the withdrawal from Ritalin can help the child come off Ritalin and stabilise behaviour. In some cases, it may be beneficial to keep the dosage at the higher level for 3-4 weeks after the withdrawal. Depending upon the severity of the child and the age, a higher dose may be required. Some children may be able to return to the 2 capsules a day or 1 teaspoon of the granules but each child is different. Seagreens is endorsed by the UK Hyperactive Children’s Support Group.

If you would like to know more visit www.seagreens.co.uk or email info@seagreens.co.uk or info@wisechoicenutrition.co.uk

New recipe from one of our customers

We love hearing how you use Seagreens and seaweed in cooking. Here is a recipe from one of our customer's Fi which uses seaweed.

Sea-side Chicken Bites for Kids

Makes 12-15

2 chicken breasts (250g)

2 tbsps rice flour

1 ½  tbsps dried sea lettuce, finely chopped

Freshly ground pepper

5 rice cakes (25g)

Free range Egg

Local Rapeseed oil

Oven 200C Gas 6

1.   Wash the chicken and pat it dry with kitchen towel. Cut it into large (3cm) chunks.

2.   Put the flour and half of the finely ground sea lettuce into a plastic bag and season with a little black pepper.

3.   Add the chicken pieces, two at a time, to the flour mixture and shake well to coat the chicken. Repeat to coat all of the chicken chunks.

4.   Put the rice cakes and remaining sea lettuce into a plastic bag, seal and gently crush the rice cakes, using a small rolling pin (a child size rolling pin works well). Pour the crushed rice cakes and sea lettuce into a large bowl and use the your fingers to break down any lumps.

5.   Lightly beat the egg with a fork and put it into another bowl.

6.   Dip the sea-side coated chicken bites in the egg, and then coat them in the crushed sea lettuce rice cakes.

7.   Place the bites on to a non-stick baking tray and drizzle minimal rapeseed oil over the top.

8.   Bake in the pre-heated oven for 10-12 minutes (until when tested with a skewer, the chicken juices are clear). 

Serve with homemade tomato ketchup

ALWAYS HAVE A GROWN-UP IN THE KITCHEN WHEN YOU COOK

Copyright www.stirrinstuff.org

Recipe from Fi Bird author of Kids' Kitchen (Barefoot Books 2009). Fi is also publishing a book on foraging which will be available in Spring 2013 and has a section on coastal seaweed in it.

Pasta sauce recipe

Here’s a recipe for using Seagreens in a homemade tomato sauce. It’s ideal for pasta and could have meat, in particular chicken added if you wish. The quantities are for 1 person so you will need to multiply these if you are cooking for more

2 small handful of pasta (preferably wholemeal)

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion

1 small tin of chopped tomatoes/ passata

2 small carrots

Broccoli

2 tablespoons sour cream (optional)

½ teaspoon Seagreens culinary ingredient

½ teaspoon oregano

Grated cheese


1.    Cook the pasta according to the instructions 
2.    Peel and chop the onion and carrots, fry all the vegetables and add the passata and herbs     and stir. Leave to simmer while the pasta is cooking. If the sauce becomes dry, add a little water
3.    Serve with grated cheese

This is a really quick recipe, great for rushed dinners. More vegetables can be added especially if you have some which need using up. If you have small children who are fussy over vegetables, blend the source before serving to hide them.

To find out more about Seagreens, visit www.seagreens.co.uk or email info@seagreens.co.uk or info@wisechoicenutrition.co.uk

Seaweed and cardiovascular disease

The polysaccharides in brown seaweeds are believed to have many properties which protect against and be useful in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, in particular, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disorders and artherosclorosis (the furring of arteries).  Artherosclorosis can lead to narrowing of the arteries which in turn restricts blood flow. If a clot is in the blood, it may get stuck in a narrow artery leading to a stroke or heart attack.

They also help regulate blood lipid levels and blood sugar which can be factors causing cardiovascular disease. Enzymes involved in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids are also activated by the polysaccharides. This also helps regulate blood lipid levels and prevent hyperlipidemia (high fat levels in the blood)

Seagreens may also be beneficial to those people suffering from raised blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause strokes in severe cases and is known as the silent killer. There are rarely any symptoms with high blood pressure. Taking Seagreens daily and eating a healthy balanced diet, low in salt, combined with regular exercise can help lower blood pressure. Optimum blood pressure is 120/80.

Seaweed also helps control cholesterol levels which when raised can be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Seaweed can also help make blood less “sticky” (it has an anti-coagulant effect) which also helps it flow more freely around the body.

For more information visit www.seagreens.co.uk or email info@seagreens.co.uk or info@wisechoicenutrition.co.uk

Seaweed and arthritis

It’s been reported in the news today (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2149721/Seaweed-pill-help-beat-arthritis.html) that seaweed may have an anti-inflammatory effect and therefore could be useful in treating chronic conditions such as arthritis and other conditions which cause inflammation of joints.

The seaweed has been discovered off the coast of Hawaii and was destroying coral reefs but tests have found it is a potent anti-inflammatory. There may also be a use for it in the treatment of cancer and heart disease however; this has not been proven yet.

Several types of algae and cyanobacteria are known to produce novel compounds (new combinations of different chemicals). Many of these are showing promising use for drug development for humans and other uses too.

Seaweed and Seagreens have also been identified as possibly protecting against certain types of cancer and heart disease. Seaweed contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals which act as anti-oxidants and scavenge the free radicals which can be cancer causing. It also contains high amounts of fibre.

Seaweed may help prevent heart disease as it changes the lipid profile in the blood and lowers cholesterol which are believed to be causes of heart disease. As seaweed is also an appetite suppressant it therefore reduces the amount people eat which may help people who are overweight to lose weight and therefore reduce the risk of heart disease.

To find out more visit www.seagreens.co.uk or email info@seagreens.co.uk or info@wisechoicenutrition.co.uk

Seagreens and weightloss

Several studies (in particular Paxman et al., 2008) have identified a positive relationship between seaweed and weightloss. It has been found the alginate in seaweed can help reduce energy intake in overweight adults. It has been found that when seaweed is consumed, especially when Seagreens granules are used in food, people are less hungry at their next meal. Not only does this mean less Calories are consumed at the meal but also, less snacking occurs between meals. It is often the snacking which is most Calorific especially when junk food is eaten as there is no nutritional value to it.

Not only is seaweed believed to help people lose weight and decrease energy intake, seaweed also has a cholesterol lowering effect and may help stabilise blood glucose levels too. High cholesterol and blood sugar are commonly associated with obesity so using Seagreens can help prevent these diseases beginning in obese patients.

Here are a few ways you could use Seagreens to help you lose weight:

•       Take the capsules (between 2 and 6) each day
•       Use Seagreens culinary ingredient in bread to help you start the day with Seagreens and    lower your energy intake from the start
•       Sprinkle a teaspoon of Seagreens culinary ingredient on cooking such as spaghetti bolognaise and other pasta dishes, curry and stir fry

If you would like to buy Seagreens products they are available here http://www.oceansofgoodness.co.uk/SeagreensCulinaryIngredient.aspx

To find out more, email info@seagreens.co.uk

Seagreens and children

Seaweed not only has massive benefits for adults but also children. Children can use Seagreens products in the same ways as adults but it is advised that children under 10 consume half the dose of adults. This is particularly for the capsules which can be taken from 2 up to 12 a day for a specific health condition in adults. If you are using Seagreens to treat a specific condition, it is advised that you check with your GP first but begin with 1 capsule a day. You can also email info@seagreens.co.uk to ask more specific advice.

Seagreens contains a wide range of amino acids which may be beneficial to children. It contains glutamic acid which can be used to treat childhood behavioural issues. It also contains GABA which can help with epilepsy and phenylalanine which a deficiency can cause eczema and slow intellect. Seagreens also contains taurine. A deficiency of taurine may be causative in epilepsy and may also be linked to IQ in Down’s Syndrome.

Children can frequently be fussy eaters and using Seagreens in cooking will help ensure they have a full complement of vitamins, minerals and amino acids essential for development. The culinary ingredient is ideal to use as children will not notice the flavour but will gain a lot of benefit from the added nutrition it gives to a meal. It can be used in all types of cooking. Try stirring a teaspoonful into any meal to give it a boost and replace the salt.

To find out more about children and Seagreens or anything else, email info@seagreens.co.uk or visit the website www.seagreens.co.uk 

All about Seagreens

Seagreens was established 15 years ago by Simon Ranger who has a vision that one day, we will all be eating 1gram of seaweed a day. The company began harvesting seaweed off the Lapland coast of Norway using sustainable methods. This began in the late 1990s and Seagreens have set the standards worldwide for harvesting human quality seaweed.

We are passionate about harvesting seaweed as close to our consumers as possible and therefore keeping air miles and costs to a minimum. There are no processing plants involved in the production of Seagreens. The seaweed is milled next to where it has been harvested from. This means nothing is added or taken away giving consumers the highest quality and nutritional product possible.

In 1998, Seagreens was named the first organic ocean to table seaweed producer. In 2009, our joint partner Hebridean Segreens Ltd, received full Organic Certification for harvesting and production in Scotland. No other seaweed factory of this kind has a Food Hygiene Certificate. Producing human quality seaweed in a safe and clean environment which will have health benefits is of paramount importance to us.

Seagreens have also been certified Kosher and all the products are suitable for vegetarians and vegans as only vegetable products are used even to produce the capsules.

To find out more about Seagreens, visit the website www.seagreens.co.uk or email info@seagreens.co.uk or info@wisechoicenutrition.co.uk

How can I use Seagreens in my diet

Seagreens culinary ingredient can be used as a flavouring for cooking for both sweet and savoury dishes and in salads. Here are a couple of recipes for you to try:

Sundried tomato and basil bread

400g strong white bread flour

5g Seagreens Wild Wrack

15g unsalted butter

5g yeast

250ml tepid water

10g sundried tomato paste

25g sundried tomatoes (chopped)

1 tsp dried basil

Preheat the oven to 230^OC or Gas 8.  Place the dry ingredients in a large bowl, add the water a small amount at a time and mix to form a dough. Add the tomatoes and tomatoes paste and mix well. Knead until the dough is elastic and stretchy. Place in a greased baking tin and bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Seaweed noodle salad (quantities adaptable)

50g noodles per person

Red pepper

Yellow pepper

Carrot

1 tsp of Seagreens Food Granules

Soy sauce

Olive oil

White wine vinegar

Cook the noodles. Chop the vegetables. Add the seaweed. Mix the vinegar, oil and soy sauce together to make a dressing and pour over the salad

If you have a recipe you would like to share then email it to info@seagreens.co.uk or info@wisechoicenutrition.co.uk

Seagreens uses in treating ill health

There is an extensive body of research suggesting Seagreens has many uses in potentially preventing and treating ill health. Research suggests Seagreens may have a protective effect against:

•          Cancer
•         Cardiovascular disease and
•        Immune problems

Seaweed may also have a role to play in the treatment of these diseases. It is the brown seaweeds which are thought to have this effect.

Due to its natural antibiotic and antibacterial properties, Seagreens products may also have a role to play in the treatment of:

•          Candida
•          Chronic fatigue syndrome
•          Helicobacter pylori
•          Hypothyroid
•          Irritable bowel
•          Immune deficiency
•          Indigestion
•          Stomach ulcers
•          Mercury toxicity
•          Weight problems

Seagreens appears to have a positive effect on the whole body, acting as a detoxifying and cleansing agent to improve health and remove waste products and toxins.

Seaweeds are highly nutritious and contain over 70 vitamins and minerals which the body needs. They are also a rich source of proteins making them ideal for vegetarians. As well as contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals, seaweeds also contain polysaccharides which are compounds that help the body cleanse and heal the intestines and assist with the breakdown of food.

If you feel your health needs a boost, try Seagreens today and see what a difference it can make. As little as 1g per day for adults on a regular basis can have a positive effect.

If you would like to know how Seagreens can help a specific illness, email us info@seagreens.co.uk or info@wisechoicenutrition.co.uk. You can also visit the website www.seagreens.co.uk