THE SEAWEED BLOG
for health and beauty

The Seaweed Blog is aimed at providing interesting up-to-date news on health news, simple everyday health tips and reminders and... well, anything seaweed, of course.

Not only health news that matter to us but also our own insights, experiences and experiments.

Sep 2, 2008, Go veg

So now that you've pledged to go veg, where can you get protein to maintain muscle strength? You need essential amino acids to build it.

Jul 23, 2008, Ramen Noodle Sushi

I've seen a Ramen Noodle Sushi recipe online and decided to include it in our list of recipes! Yum...

Jul 16, 2008, Seaweed for pets

If you've noticed, I hardly blogged anything from late May to early July.

I've been busy caring for our dog who has chronic kidney failure. He must have ingested something in our shed. :-(

I recommend the book "Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats" by CJ Puotinen. This has helped me improve the diet of Kazan, our dog. Seaweed benefits are mentioned here!

I've got loads to tell, but will save it for next time!

Check out the book! I truly recommend it to other pet lovers:

Jul 14, 2008, Antiaging health tips

Antiaging health isn't just about having a youthful face. It's more than that - just because no one can see your liver, kidneys, heart or colon doesn't mean you have to neglect them.

Jul 10, 2008, Shall we DANCE with seaweed?

Dance with seaweed, you ask? Yes, and to the tune of super nutrition.

Jul 8, 2008, Seaweed is the secret to super nutrition

Is your body starting to deteriorate? It doesn't have to be downhill from here... Seaweed is the secret ingredient to super nutrition!

May 29, 2008, Pregnancy nutrition reminders for the busy woman

Pregnancy nutrition doesn't begin when you find out you're pregnant. Read on for good-to-know advice.

May 15, 2008, Why are antioxidants important?

Antioxidants - what do they do, really? Most of us don't have a clue as to why they are important and why they abound in many fruits and vegetables.

May 9, 2008, Subscribe Here

Want to be updated on news, recipes and interesting health tips on seaweed? Subscribe and be part of our circle.

May 7, 2008, Total Body Makeover

A total body makeover doesn't only mean looking good. Get healthy and start that total body makeover from within.

Apr 24, 2008, Botox may leave you wrinkle-free but new study may have found some kinks

A new study conducted by the Italian National Research Council's Institute of Neuroscience states that Botox could reach the brain, after testing the toxin (yes, it is a toxin!) into the faces of rats.

Not only that, some 16 deaths last year have been linked to Botox injections. Getting a full set of bangs and sticking to natural ways of staying healthy and youthful are much safer and won't harm the brain.

Apr 19, 2008, Enjoy these seaweed benefits

Seaweed has been part of the diet of coastal people for centuries. Find out more about seaweed benefits here.

Apr 13, 2008, Harvesting seaweed info

Harvesting seaweed is done in marine salt waters as well as in fresh water lakes and seas

Apr 9, 2008, Aphrodite pearls, yours free...

Read how by clicking below.

Long ago, it was believed that the Goddess Aphrodite pampered herself with glorious seaweed - her secret to her unrivalled beauty. Now, celebrate passion, sensuality, and beauty with this delicate, multi-color, freshwater pearl pendant that gently dangles from a hip leather cord. Subtle chic for casual days. Sheer glam for a night out with friends.

Apr 2, 2008, Kazan likes Kombu!

Kazan's our dog :-)

I sneak in a piece of kombu in our rice cooker since there are days that my sons don't feel like eating "Mama's green stuff". At least I know they're getting their nutrients without their knowing it.

I secretly pull out the kombu from the freshly cooked rice, cut it to small bits and throw it in the garden soil.

Kazan was curious with what I was cutting up, so I let him have a taste... He was asking for more! So, he got to enjoy the kombu with his dinner.

Apr 1, 2008, Seaweed and your body share some startling similarities

Did you know that seaweed and your body have the same mineral composition? Seaweed biochemical composition mirrors the body fluids of a healthy person!

Mar 7, 2008, It's Friday, Soap Offer ends in 10 minutes

OK, it's Friday - the last 10 minutes before we end the soap offer.

We're pulling it out but you can still purchase the Algine Plus seaweed tablets with free worldwide shipping (for now).

Time to whip up a new batch of seaweed soap! Enjoy the weekend.

Mar 4, 2008, Seaweed Slimming Soap Offer ends this Friday

For those of you who still want to try out the Seaweed Slimming Soap for free, the Trial Offer ends this Friday at midnight. We still have a few bars left and will be whipping up a new batch soon.

The availability of the new batch of swaweed soap will be announced soon.

Feb 27, 2008, Customer feedback: the good, the bad and the ugly

We love customer feedback. The good ones are those who send in their feedback on how Algine Plus has improved their health and on our seaweed recipes.

The bad and the ugly? Shipping delays!

We've had a few customers who emailed saying that their package arrived more than 21 days after they ordered it. One even received it a month after!

The postal service here informed us that it would take from 7 to 14 working days. Looks like they're a little bit off.

So, to as not to disappoint future and regular customers, we're sending off our international orders from Singapore starting March 6.

We'd like to thank those who took the time to email us on both good and bad news! Please continue to stay in touch.

Feb 16, 2008, A heart healthy diet includes seaweed

A heart healthy diet means making a lot of lifestyle changes. Seaweed provides valuable nutrients that prevents heart disease.

Feb 14, 2008, How can you mend a broken heart?

It's Valentine's Day and I'm listening to the radio. "How can you mend a broken heart" was playing a while back. Hmmm, in terms of health, we shouldn't wait till we get a broken heart, then fix it. Eating nutritious food and doing daily exercises will prevent that heart from breaking.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Feb 12, 2008, I heart seaweed

I thought it would be fitting to talk about the heart and how just the right amount of seaweed keeps it healthy. Valentine's day, after all is just a day away.

The heart benefits greatly from the nutrients of kelp. This brown seaweed provides not only our heart, but also our blood with cell salts, vitamins and minerals. And amazingly, kelp contains the ideal ratio of potassium and sodium, both known to keep the healthy heart pumping properly.

Nori doesn't only taste wonderful wrapped around sushi, it also contains riboflavin and vitamin B2 and other nutrients that help in promoting healthy blood.

In general, seaweed oxygenates the cells and tones heart muscle... I heart seaweed!

Feb 11, 2008, A Taste of Edible Seaweed

Edible seaweed come in all shapes, colors and tastes. Get to know some of them here.

Feb 7, 2008, More on nori

Nori (several species of the red algal genus Porphyra) is probably the most popular seaweed for eating, both historically and today. It is yummy in soups, re-wetted in salads, just as a dried snack, toasted lightly in a dry iron skillet, deep-fat-fried with cooked rolled oats as the Celtic "Laver Bread", and as a food wrap in sushi. Nori sheets are a manufactured food product. Nori was eaten abundantly by indigenous peoples wherever both occurred. It tends to have a sweet, meaty flavor pleasant to most palates.

(with thanks to Dr. Ryan Drum for the info)

Feb 6, 2008, Celebrating Seaweed Day

Japan celebrates seaweed day today! Several centuries ago, in 710, nori was considered a prized treasure fit for a king. In this case, emperor. Today, seaweed isn't just for royalty anymore. Nori is now daily eaten in one way or another in Japan. It's in miso soup, chopped up in salad or rolled around sushi (yum). And not only the Japanese eat it - there are sushi restaurants in almost all major cities in the world!

Enjoy Seaweed day!

Feb 5, 2008, Sea Lettuce

Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca and Monostroma spp.) has a strong seafood taste and odor but is easy to eat as a snack or in salads since it is quite delicate after drying and crumbles easily into tiny tender pieces.

It provides roughage in our digestive system. Sea lettuce is very high in iron and also contain vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin C, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

Add this to soups and salads.

Feb 4, 2008, Which seaweeds are best to eat?

This week, we will be focusing on the various seaweeds that we can eat.

Dulse, a type of red alga, is an easy to eat snack but quite salty and often a little fermented in the marketplace; its relatively high fatty acid content results in rancidity after a year or more in storage. (Dr. Ryan Drum)

Use dulse in soups, sprinkle on salads or take it as a snack!

Jan 30, 2008, Yummy Spam Musubi

Spam Musubi isn't in the healthy category since the main ingredient is Spam (and there's seaqweed). But it's a yummmmmy Hawaiian treat - and let's keep it as a once-in-a-while treat.

Jan 29, 2008, Mochiko Chicken with Seaweed

You're going to enjoy this Mochiko Chicken recipe variation. It's wrapped with seaweed. The Hawaiians think of the greatest chicken delights!

Jan 28, 2008, Ahi Poke

Ahi Poke, an easy-to-prepare Hawaiian seaweed recipes you can try at home.

Jan 25, 2008, Seaweed Skin Care Secrets

Skin care secrets don't have to come in expensive designer bottles. You can start seeing a difference with these simple skin care tips.

Jan 24, 2008, Shoulders, knees to toes

So we've taken care of our face. What about the rest of our body?

A bath can do wonders to the body and spirit. Boost it up a notch by adding a bit of seaweed to release the toxins in the body and to refresh the skin.

Same thing goes for a massage but there's more to it. A massage speeds up the movement of blood from the heart to the extremities. After a few minutes of massage, say from five to ten minutes, the oxygen content on the massaged areas has increased ten to fifteen percent! Lymphatic drainage is also improved since the strokes and pressure on the skin helps in the release of toxins. Using massage oil with seaweed extract will help in releasing the toxins. By the way, here's good news for those who give the occasional massage to a loved one - massaging burns calories!

After the pampering, a good moisturizer or lotion protects the skin to an extent from the environment, like pollution and dirt.

Jan 23, 2008, I've got you under my skin

Seaweed does wonders to our skin. When applied topically, seaweeds draw out toxins from our body and releases its nutrients into us through our pores. There are skin care products containing microalgae or seaweeds in their facial cleansers, toners, moisturizers and facial masks, to name a few, and they vary in ingredients and price. The best way is to test it on yourself and see how your skin reacts.

If you are more experimental, you can also use your kitchen counter as your very own lab :-) Experiment with whipping up natural ingredients together, and instead of putting them in your mouth, apply it on your face.

And from there, its nutrients go into then under your skin.

Jan 22, 2008, Our skin shows how we are

Our skin is the largest organ of our body and it announces to everyone how we are:

If we slept late, we have the eyebags to prove it. If we lack water or exercise, our skin is dull. If we've had a good day or eat healthy, we glow.

Let's have more of those glowing moments! Here are a few things to avoid both pimples and wrinkles: the sun, smoking, stress, lack of sleep and sugar.

Jan 21, 2008, I'm no longer with AA

Nope, it's not what you think. My AA stands for Allergies and Acne. This lethal combination wreaked havoc on my teen social life.

The good news is that I'm over my allergies thanks to the benefits of seaweed. As for acne? My last bout was when I was pregnant for the first time. I was 28! Pregnant and with zits - not a pretty sight. Anyway, we're focusing on skin this week. Being acne-free feels great! But since I am now in my forties, I need to work on staying wrinkle-free naturally for as long as I can.

Jan 19, 2008, Common Cold

Something as simple as the common cold keeps us away from doing the things we love or doing the things we have to accomplish. What causes it and how can we get rid of it?

Jan 17, 2008, Down with a cold? What to drink and what to avoid

When I was younger, and everytime I had a cold (which was verrry frequent), well-meaning people always recommended drinking lots of "fluids."

Now that's a vast selection of drinks! But there are drinks that are good for you and drinks that are not.

To name a few, water is the best the drink to rehydrate the body. A cold makes me get lazy to drink but I always do after I blow my nose or use the toilet - fluid out, fluid in! Gross, I know, but it had to be said. If you're getting bored with just water, add some lemon juice. That should excite things a bit :-) Teas can be soothing but be sure to drink more water than tea.

On the what to avoid list? Coffee for its caffeine and all dairy products since milk increases the production of phlegm. OK, ice cream doesn't fall under fluids but it contains dairy, so stay away. And, as Dr. Mercola recommends, avoid all juices. Whaaat? It turns out, that fructose found in juice will actually make you feel worse -- particularly orange juice!

So, to keep things simple, stick to good ole water.

Jan 16, 2008, Antibiotics for a respiratory virus?

Remember the time I told you I stopped taking Algine Plus? I caught a really mean virus during that period. After coughing for two weeks (which felt like forever), I gave in and visited the doctor. She recommended that I take antibiotics.

I was desperate. I crossed over to the dark side :-), took the antibiotics, thinking that maybe it would work. After a week, I was coughing again. Antibiotics are useless in getting rid of viruses.

So, learn from my mistake. Do not just do anything to get rid of a cough. There are other ways to prevent or get rid of that pesky virus.

Jan 15, 2008, You can't touch that

Viruses, not bacteria, are the culprit to giving us a cold or the flu and I don't want to scare you, but these viruses are everywhere and are harmless until they land on a host (wow, I must have been one virus magnet).

They particularly take a liking to the nasal passages and the colder, the better. That's why they multiply fast when you are outside on a cold winter day or when you are enjoying cooler temperatures in an air-conditioned room.

Our bodies know when there is a virus getting a party started so it reacts by raising the body temperature (since viruses don't like heat) and it produces extra mucous to flush the virus out of us.

Your face? you can't touch that! OK, that's a bit extreme, we all touch our faces very frequently but just be sure you wash your hands thoroughly before touching your face - maybe to take out an eyelash that landed in your eye, apply make-up or to scratch your nose. The virus could be on your hands and that's the easiest way to transport them to your eyes, nose and mouth.

This is one way to keep the virus away.

Jan 14, 2008, "Sorry, I can't go, I have a cold."

My standard answer when a bad cold makes me stay home instead of going out and having fun with friends.

I grew up suffering from constant colds and daily sniffles and sneezes. I have pictures to prove it (but refuse to look for them). Graduating from kindergarten school in my striped uniform and matching sniffles, taking part in our class culminating activity in red and white shorts with a matching red nose, my First Communion in a pristine white dress with a hood that I wanted to pull over my face everytime I sneezed, not to mention vacations... they would have all been memorable shots if I wasn't caught sneezing or wiping my watery eyes or hiding my runny nose.

This nose has been through a lot. Aside from the inflammation and sinus infections, I had my share of nose jokes. But, happy to say, all these experiences are a thing of the past!

My journey towards health started with much frustration over popping pills, antihistamines, steroids (!), drinking all kinds of syrups, getting daily injections of vitamin C, to name a few.

Glad to say, I hardly catch a cold nowadays and I can even bike along fields during pollen season without ending up looking like Jabba the Hutt.

This week's focus is about natural ways to getting rid of sinus infections, colds and watery eyes.

Jan 12, 2008, Beat the winter blues

Beat the winter blues with some of these winter tips.

Jan 10, 2008, Throw a Winter Blues party!

Invite a few friends over and enjoy the winter afternoon with good company. Prepare light soups and mini-sandwiches, thirst quenching drinks (winter air is very dry) and some fun activities!

How about moisturizing facials, seaweed masks, invigorating foot massages? Listen to soothing music all throughout the afternoon.

Fun, healthy activities shared with good friends is a sure remedy to beat the winter blues.

Jan 9, 2008, Miso hungry

Winter is a great time for soup. I keep a pack of miso in the fridge so I can easily cook up a bowl of miso soup when I'm in the mood for it.

Rissa, Pinky, our 3 other sisters, and I grew up spending summer vacations in Japan and fell in love with the soup at a young age. There are 2 reasons I love miso: I know it's good for the body and it takes me back to those lovely summers in Japan. Here's our recipe of miso soup to beat the winter blues:

Jan 8, 2008, Skin care during winter

All skin types go dry during the winter months. Even the oiliest of skins! Since not all of us can fly south for the winter, we need to be armed to combat the drying effects of winter on our skin such as fine lines, crow's feet (oh no!) and flaky skin (not pretty). So be prepared.

You need to keep the skin moisturized by doing simple things like drinking enough water daily; switching to a lotion-based cleaner for the winter; and using a toner that is low in alcohol content, to name a few.

Seaweed does wonders to the skin so I suggest pampering your face with a seaweed mask. Our lips have a tendency to get chapped due to the dry air, so keep a lip balm within handy reach.

For the body, a relaxing or rejuvenating massage or a seaweed bath brings back the moisture to our winter skin.

Jan 7, 2008, Winter Blues

I've enjoyed the winter wonderland during the holiday season and now, I am a bit weary about the winter blues. This is my second winter in Holland and I am learning to deal with the winter blues. How?

When the sun is out, so am I! I get all wrapped up and invite our dog out for a long walk to be able to soak up the sun's rays and get my (oops, I mean our) dose of Vitamin D. Hey, even our beloved pets need the sun and exercise! By the time we're back home, we both have a sunnier disposition. Try it!

When the weather's bad, and you just want to stay in, light exercises helps cure that depressing feeling you have lurking inside you.

Luckily, my sisters Rissa (in the Philippines and Pinky (in Singapore) get to enjoy the sun whenever they want!

Jan 4, 2008, Gimme Five for the New Year

5 tips... 5 tablets... 5 rites...

Nutrition is important and sometimes we just don't have enough time to prepare all-nutritious meals in the kitchen. To ensure I get my nutrients, I start off with 5 tablets then move on to five rites. Want to know more?

Jan 3, 2008, Forget the four-letter word this year

D-I-E-T. The word "diet" has a very negative effect on me. Instead of saying,

"I have to go on a diet this year,"

you might try saying,

"I choose to eat healthy food this year."

Doesn't that sound better? And achievable? So, choose not only healthy food but also choose the words you use. Go for uplifting inspirational words instead of negative, degrading ones.

Jan 2, 2008, How's your health journal?

Have you ever thought of getting yourself a journal for your journey to health? It doesn't have to be an expensive and fancy journal. A simple one will do.

Here, we write down what we ate, what we drank, any observations on the effects of certain foods our body is experiencing. This way, we get to understand our body more. Write down your healthy days and the days you're not feeling well. What were you feeling, not only physically but emotionally?

If you're starting with Algine Plus, write down your observation on how your body is doing.

At the end of the year, you can see how you've progressed. Don't forget to celebrate!

Go out and get your journal today! :-)

Jan 1, 2008, Happy New Year! The party's over

But who says we need to stop celebrating? Life is great and January 1 is always a good day to be grateful.

This is the day I go over my bad habits (doesn't everyone have bad habits?) and see which I can work on. Out with the bad habit, in with the new. I've replaced soda or soft drinks with water years ago. I've switched from white bread to brown. I've swapped ordinary table salt for sea salt.

And when I know deep down inside the bad habit has been replaced, I celebrate! I go for a walk, watch a movie, visit the library to read leisurely. Bigger achievements deserve bigger celebrations like making a day trip to Amsterdam or a weekend in Brussels.

This year, I'm continuing my journey to a healthier me. How about making that journey with us? We can celebrate the tiniest achievements together - Let's keep this party going!

Dec 29, 2007, Enjoying time with the family

We at Ocean Vegetables haven't been blogging at all this week since we're spending time with what matters most to us - family.

Hope you're enjoying your family, too! We will be back to blogging next week. In the meantime...