UBA – GRI Seaweed Startup

Production of Seaweed Based Plant Growth Promoters and Biopesticides and Edible Coating Blends for Fruits and Vegetable Preservation for the Livelihood Development of Fisherfolk

UBA - GRI Seaweed Startup

Funded by – National Cooperative Development Corporation,
Government of India Scheme: Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

THE GANDHIGRAM RURAL INSTITUTE (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY), GANDHIGRAM – 624302

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Dulse

Dulse, or Palmaria palmata, is a type of edible seaweed with an impressive nutrition profile. It’s also called dillisk, dilsk, red dulse, sea lettuce flakes and creathnach. It’s rich in macro- and micronutrients, including protein, fiber and antioxidants.

Dulse looks like a leafy, red lettuce when it’s fresh, although it’s hard to find the seaweed fresh because it’s usually dried immediately after harvest. When the seaweed is raw, it has a leathery texture, and the fonds, which grow from the root, vary in shape. Along with its notable antioxidant and nutrient content, dulse is well-loved for its taste, which has been likened to that of bacon.

Nutrition :

Dulse nutrition features both macronutrients and micronutrients, including dietary fiber, protein, iodine, B vitamins and potassium. There is no recommended serving size, but adding one to two tablespoons to recipes as a garnish or flavor enhancer is sure to provide a range of nutrients to your diet. One five-gram serving of dulse flakes contains approximately:

  • 13 calories
  • 2 grams carbohydrates
  • 1 gram protein
  • 1 gram fiber
  • 836 micrograms iodine (557 percent DV)
  • 0.4 milligrams vitamin B6 (22 percent DV)
  • 391 milligrams potassium (11 percent DV)
  • 1.4 milligrams iron (8 percent DV)

Dulse benefits health in the following ways:

 

Provides Iodine

Iodine is a vital nutrient that’s responsible for regulating thyroid function, supporting healthy metabolism and preventing certain chronic diseases. Because many adults do not consume enough iodine-rich foods, iodine deficiency is not uncommon.

Works as an Antioxidant
Consuming foods with antioxidant compounds helps reduce oxidative stress in the body that can lead to several health issues. A 2020 study indicates that red alga dulse has a high antioxidant capacity and scavenging activity.

Provides Plant-Based Protein
Dulse is one of the most protein-rich seaweeds out there, second to nori. Adding the red seaweed to your diet can help increase your protein intake, which is beneficial to cardiovascular health, maintaining a healthy weight and lowering inflammation.

Fights Inflammation
Eating this red seaweed is an excellent way to keep inflammation at bay. An animal study published in Food Research International found that anti-inflammatory components, including phycobiliproteins and chlorophyll, can be extracted from dulse and used to reduce acute inflammation and swelling.

Supports Metabolic Health
Like wakame seaweed, which is known to help fight diabetes, dulse may help support metabolic health when added to your diet. Research suggests that the bioactive compounds in dulse are linked to metabolic health improvements.

Algal polysaccharides help improve satiety and modulate gut microbiota, and protein peptides and phenolic fractions have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antidiabetic effects.

 

How to Use :

You can find dried dulse flakes in your local health food or grocery store. Dulse lasts quite a while, about two years, but you should store it in a cool, dark place.Before using it in recipes, be sure that the flakes are free of shells and small particles that may be left over from harvest.

There is no dosage recommendation for dulse, but it’s considered safe to eat in normal food amounts. Adding it to recipes throughout the week will provide a range of nutrients, but don’t go overboard, as it’s very high in potassium and iodine.

You can eat raw dulse or cook it to add to recipes, like sandwiches, omelets and salads. It can be treated as a flavor enhancer or prepared alone as a snack, which is common in the Northeastern United States, Canada, Iceland and Ireland.