The Japanese call the feathery undaria "wakame", the Koreans call this herb "miyok", and this name is often found in the recipes of dishes of both people. Wakame algae appeared on the Russian market relatively recently, in contrast to seaweed, the benefits of which for the body are no longer in doubt.
First of all, speaking about the benefits of wakame for human health, it should be noted the high content of iodine in this product. That is, undaria should be introduced into the diet for those who are deficient in iodine. In addition to iodine, wakame contain a number of other valuable micro- and macroelements, in particular, iron and phosphorus, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. The high protein and calcium content makes Undaria plumose a valuable food product for pregnant and lactating mothers. In Korea, traditionally, in the daily menu of young mothers there is a soup based on seaweed - miyokkuk (kelp soup). In addition, wakame seaweed contains special substances that help burn fat and prevent the formation of new fatty deposits. Thus, wakame is useful for people who are overweight, pre-obese and various forms of obesity. Also, wakame seaweed is used to prevent the development of diabetes, as well as normalize blood sugar, weight, alleviate the condition and prevent the development of complications in diabetes.
There are no contraindications to the use of wakame seaweed, as such. However, given that the iodine content in 100 grams of wakame is significantly higher than the daily requirement, it is worth limiting the amount of wakame in the daily diet. The daily intake of iodine is contained in 1 teaspoon of dried seaweed or 20 grams of fresh undaria.
Wakame has a pleasant marine aroma, salty sweetish taste, soft and not as sharp as the taste of kelp or nori. Seaweed goes well with soy sauce and tofu, with meat or mushroom broth. Soups and salads are made from wakame. In order to prepare a salad of dried seaweed, it is necessary to fill the latter with water and leave for a while. In the process, the algae are saturated with liquid and greatly increase in size. It is convenient to grind dried seaweed in a coffee grinder and add this powder to soups and salads.
