Where is nori found

The Japanese people do eat a lot more Nori on average than any other people in the world and the average life expectancy of both men and women in Japan are amongst the highest of any people in the world Definitely food for thought though, wouldn't you say? Speaking of weight, there may actually be a connection between the 3.

In , a study found that algae can actually reduce our rate of fat absorption by almost 75 percent. This is due to algae's inhibitory effect on a digestive enzyme called lipase which catalyzes the breakdown of fats.

And as surprising as this may sound, one sheet of nori contains as much fiber as a cup of spinach and more omega 3 fatty acids than a cup of avocado while providing all of this nutritional power on less 10 calories per sheet. By comparison, the avocado contains calories. Shocking isn't it? I actually didn't see that last one coming. With all of the amazing and surprising things we have already discovered about seaweed health benefits, can it actually get any better?

A study at Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain concluded that consuming seaweed can have anticoagulant and antimutagenic effects, elicit strong antitumor activity, and plays a strong role in the modification of lipid metabolism in the body. Conducted at Pukyong National University in the Republic of Korea published a study on the role of phlorotannins, a bioactive derivative found in edible seaweed.

This is a significant study because phlorotannins has been linked to being an antiallergenic, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic and anti-human immunodeficiency virus. Without a doubt, there seems to be pretty significant evidence pointing toward seaweed health benefits. Good quality sushi nori probably won't be available in your local grocery store.

If it is then you are indeed lucky. For the rest of us, the best place to pick it up is in your local Japanese grocery store. If you don't have any in your area you can find it online or here at Amazon. Like this Page? Looking for Something in Particular? Search this Site using Google Below! In , the national government offered compensation to fishing cooperatives and nori cultivators to give up their rights in the bay, opening the way for further port development.

By this point in my research I wanted to see for myself how nori is made, so I signed up for a workshop. Volunteers who had grown up in nori-making households were on hand to take us through the traditional process, showing us how nori was chopped, by hand or using a meat grinder, then mixed with water to make a kind of slurry. Then we got to step up and make sheets for ourselves, which is done by pouring a measure of the slurry into a mold held over a woven, slatted mat.

We then hung our mats on easels in the sun to dry, which is the point in the process at which you must have wandered by. Another interesting fact I picked up is that virtually all nori cultivators in Japan now grow the same variety, a hardy transplant from Hokkaido called susabinori Porphyra yezoensis. Even so, the taste, color and texture of the finished sheets varies widely, depending not on differences in production but rather on the temperature and salinity of the seawater in which it is grown.

You can also buy ajitsukenori flavored nori , which is spiced up with soy sauce, sugar and other seasonings, although I personally prefer the plain. Fortunately, nori is an affordable, healthy food, loaded with protein, fiber and beneficial nutrients, including calcium, beta carotene and folate.

All that and hardly any calories! Some consumers also greatly enjoy eating whole sheets dipped in soy sauce. Some Chinese cooks use nori or other seaweeds as well, especially in traditional soups featuring fish and other sea vegetables. Because of its popularity for sushi, toasted nori is readily available in most markets around the world.

Specialty stores may also carry special snack foods made from it, along with untoasted nori and other dried seaweeds. When using nori to cook, make sure to handle it carefully, and do not allow it to get wet, because it will grow soggy and rubbery. If you do not use up an entire package, seal it well so that it will not get moist or stale.

When sushi was first introduced to the West, chefs devised the "uramaki" or inside-out sushi rolls which hid the nori as dried seaweed was thought to be a step too far for the western palate. These days, sushi is hugely popular worldwide and, nori is now back to the fore not only in the sushi bar, but as both an important ingredient in the fusion chef's kitchen and as a snack by itself.

Nori has also been attracting attention for its nutritional properties. It is a fat-free, alkaline food, high in fibre, protein and antioxidants. As well as containing various vitamins, minerals and iron, it is a rich source of iodine, which is essential important in hormone development, and a single sheet of nor contains the same amount of calcium as 20cc of milk or one egg.