Types of edible sea and freshwater algae

There are different types of edible seaweeds. Some are marine, while others grow in freshwater environments. They can be red, blue, brown, and range in flavor from intense to very mild or delicate.

Depending on the origin of the seaweed variety, it may have a salty touch or a strong sea flavor and aroma. Others are used for their high protein content or their abundant minerals, such as iodine.

In any case, for each situation and individual, there is a type of seaweed that you can choose to enjoy, meeting your culinary and nutritional needs. That’s why, in this article, we talk about all of them.

Types of Edible Seaweeds

Some are very well-known, like Agar-Agar and Nori, which you can practically buy anywhere, while others are less known, like alaria or cochayuyo, which is from Chile. In some places, they are widely used, like in Japan, while in others, they are gradually gaining popularity in soups, salads, and as accompaniments to prepared dishes.

Edible seaweeds can be grouped into different categories:

Since there is a great variety within each of these categories, it’s important to select them carefully. Edible marine seaweeds provide a unique flavor. They can be eaten on their own or as a complement to different foods. They are even used as supplements in the form of capsules or pills, as with spirulina and fucus vesiculosus.

Currently, due to the high demand for certain types of seaweeds, it is possible to cultivate them through aquaculture. However, not all species can be raised in human-controlled tanks. Certain varieties, because they require a different ecosystem, can only be found in the wild. These can be harvested and processed periodically to be packaged in a way suitable for human consumption.

Regardless of whether they are from aquaculture or selected from the best marine specimens, we will continue with the properties, benefits, and composition of each group of edible seaweeds.

Red Seaweeds

They are recognized by the color or pigments that give them an intense red appearance, ranging from brown to even black. The edible red seaweeds are:

Most are marine species known as Rhodophytas and have habitats around the world. They prefer warm water with little current. Some types of red seaweeds provide significant amounts of proteins and minerals and can help improve symptoms of digestive and intestinal diseases. Since they are high in fiber, they help eliminate toxins stored in the body while replenishing the body with the minerals and vitamins they contain.

Another property is that they stimulate the growth of the immune system and the reproduction of white blood cells. These help prevent illness caused by viruses and bacteria.

Just like with other types of edible seaweeds, it’s important to check the composition chart of each one before consuming them. They can be very beneficial, but they can also cause harm. Iodine is directly related to hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, so it’s crucial to consider the iodine content of each variety consumed.

You can prepare both cold and hot dishes, soups, and salads with a sea flavor using these seaweeds.

Blue Seaweeds

They are known as cyanobacteria since they are not actually seaweeds, but due to their similarity, appearance, and growth in aquatic environments, they are often confused with them. The best-known ones are spirulina and afa algae. Both are very rich in proteins and minerals, with iron being particularly prominent.

The use of these edible marine seaweeds often provides the necessary elements just like other common foods such as meat.

Although they have many benefits, such as providing nutrients, boosting the immune system, being a good supplement for the cardiovascular system, or regulating high cholesterol, blue seaweeds should be consumed in moderation. This is due to their high nutrient content. Excess consumption can be harmful rather than beneficial.

The most common way to consume them is in supplement form, such as spirulina capsules for weight loss.

Brown Seaweeds

There are many similarities in the way they obtain food and sustain themselves in their aquatic environment. They are a type of edible seaweed that performs photosynthesis, needing sunlight just like the others. The most common is for them to live in water. We can distinguish the varieties of brown seaweeds based on their culinary, organoleptic, and nutritional properties:

There are many brown species, and although they look like plants, they are not. They do, however, provide many nutrients and vitamins, just like vegetables. This makes them a primary food source for many marine animals and human communities.

Edible brown seaweeds are usually long, large, and live in temperate zones. However, some varieties float, such as Sargassum, or grow in cold ocean areas.

The name “brown” comes from their content of fucoxanthin, which gives them their “brown” color. They are very rich in minerals, with high iodine, calcium, magnesium content, and some with vitamin A and B vitamins, such as the kelp Arame.

Some of the benefits of these edible seaweeds include improving blood circulation and regulating high blood pressure. However, not all species provide the same values. It is important to verify the values when dealing with hypothyroidism, hypertension, and other ailments. Brown seaweeds are very good and rich, but if you suffer from any illness, it is advisable to do some research before starting to consume them.

Edible Marine Seaweeds

Although their use is still not widespread in some areas, and some people find them a bit off-putting, starting to consume marine seaweeds is a healthy habit. The vast majority of them, like the ones we’ve mentioned, are packed with minerals, vitamins, and substances that perfectly complement any type of diet.

The way they are preserved makes edible seaweeds ideal for storage in your pantry. When dehydrated, they remain intact for many months without losing their properties, and you just need to add some water for them to regain all their freshness. After spending a few minutes submerged in water, they recover their full flavor and healthy appearance. And the best part is that you can choose from many varieties and formats available for purchase. From tablets, dehydrated, or fresh.

Let’s take a look at the differences between each of these formats.

Differences Between Edible Seaweeds and Dietary Capsules

The decision to eat or take one or two seaweed capsules with your meal should be based on your goals. Adding edible marine seaweeds to a recipe can be a great idea, but in some cases, more potency is needed, and this is achieved through capsules or tablets.

In other cases, you may simply be looking for their taste, aroma, or health properties, so you can opt to buy them in their natural form or in a non-extract version.

Tablets provide speed and convenience. They also offer precise control over the amounts you consume each day to regulate their effects. However, they are not suitable for cooking. If you’re looking for seaweeds to lose weight, you should buy them in capsule form, and if you want to cook with them, directly get a package where they come dehydrated.