Introduction: Kelp is rich in calcium and iodine, which can promote the growth of bones and teeth, prevent osteoporosis, and is a nutritional health food for children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Due to the combined effects of sulfated polysaccharides, sitosterol, kelp acid, and potassium, kelp can lower cholesterol, prevent arteriosclerosis, lower blood pressure, and prevent and treat various cardiovascular diseases.
Kelp is a common food in our daily lives. So, what are the benefits of eating kelp for the elderly? Does kelp help the elderly stay healthy?
Kelp, also known as seaweed or kombu. Kelp has little fiber, thick flesh, and a delicious taste. It is especially nutritious and contains rich nutrients such as polysaccharides, alginic acid, protein, proline, vitamin C, vitamin B2, carotene, iodine, potassium, iron, calcium, cobalt, etc.
Medicinal and Dietary Effects
The polysaccharide substances contained in kelp have the function of lowering blood lipids. Regular consumption of kelp can prevent arteriosclerosis, lower blood lipids, relieve constipation, and strengthen the body. It is a health food for patients with high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, tumors, thyroid diseases, edema, etc.
Kelp has the effect of preventing cancer, leukemia, and bone pain.
Kelp is rich in calcium and iodine, which can promote the growth of bones and teeth, prevent osteoporosis, and is a nutritional health food for children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
The iodine contained in kelp can promote the dissolution of pathological nodules in iodine-deficient goiter, and with the help of the osmotic pressure of electrolytes formed by iodides in human tissues and blood, its viruses and inflammatory exudates can be absorbed or excreted.
Due to the combined effects of sulfated polysaccharides, sitosterol, kelp acid, and potassium, kelp can lower cholesterol, prevent arteriosclerosis, lower blood pressure, and prevent and treat various cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the elderly should eat more kelp in their daily lives, but they must decide how much to eat based on their own physical condition!
Kelp Recipes
Kelp and Duck Soup
Ingredients: 300g duck meat, 100g soaked kelp.
Seasonings: Salt, starch water, egg white, MSG, pepper as appropriate.
Instructions:
1) Wash and slice the duck meat and kelp separately.
2) Place the duck slices in a bowl, mix with egg white and starch water, blanch, then remove and set aside.
3) Place kelp in a casserole, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer over low heat for half an hour.
4) Put the duck slices into the casserole, add salt, MSG, and pepper, stir well, and simmer for a short while.
You can add chopped scallions and sesame oil to the pot to make the soup more fragrant.
Kelp and Rice Porridge
Main ingredients: 50g fresh kelp, 150g japonica rice
Side ingredients: 50g mung beans
Seasonings: 5g brown sugar
1. Wash the kelp, cut it into 3 cm long and 0.5 cm wide shreds, and set aside;
2. Wash the mung beans and japonica rice, and set aside;
3. Add an appropriate amount of water to the pot, put in the japonica rice and mung beans, first bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer the porridge;
4. When the japonica rice is cooked, sprinkle the kelp shreds into the pot and cook for a moment longer;
5. Add the brown sugar to the pot and stir well, and it is ready to eat.
How to eat kelp for the most nutrition?
Kelp is known as the "longevity vegetable," "vegetable from the sea," and the "iodine champion." From a nutritional point of view, it is a health food that promotes longevity.
Kelp with Winter Melon
Kelp contains nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin B, which have therapeutic effects on diuresis, reducing swelling, moistening the intestines, and preventing cancer. Winter melon, like kelp, is a food that clears heat and relieves summer heat. These two foods not only help to relieve summer heat but also aid in weight loss.
Kelp and winter melon are most suitable for making soup. If you like fava beans, you can also add a little to the soup. Fava beans are rich in crude fiber and other effective nutrients, which can enhance the weight loss effect of the soup.
Kelp with winter melon, and tofu with kelp, are the most nutritious foods, and they can also achieve the effect of weight loss.
Precautions for Eating Kelp
1. When eating kelp, it should be cleaned and soaked in water according to the actual situation, with frequent water changes, generally for more than 6 hours. If the kelp becomes soft and loses its toughness after soaking, as if it has been boiled, it means it has spoiled and should not be eaten.
2. After buying kelp, it should be eaten as soon as possible. If it cannot be finished, the opened kelp should be refrigerated in a refrigerator or freezer. Because during storage, the nutritional value of opened kelp will degrade due to factors such as temperature and light. Conversely, microorganisms will continue to multiply, and harmful components will also increase. These reasons will cause the kelp to spoil and become inedible.