Irish Sea Moss (use code ENGNF15 for 15% off first purchase) is an edible seaweed that’s packed with nutrients and amino acids. This is sold in a glass jar then you just order plastic-free refill pouches after that.
Before taking supplements, check with GP if pregnant/nursing or you have thyroid disorders, are on blood thinners or have a shellfish allergy. Keep supplements away from young children & pets.
The main ingredient of bladderwrack (found on the rocky Atlantic Irish coastline) is an anti-inflammatory that’s good for digestion, brain, heart, eyes and immunity. It also helps healthy bowel movement, and can help to relieve diarrhoea and constipation. Due to iodine, it’s also good for vision and thyroid function. Peppermint extract and black pepper are added, for added benefits to aid digestion.
Never harvest seaweed yourself (rocks are slippery and you need expert training to ‘give seaweed a haircut’ without removing roots). As someone once said ‘it’s seaweed to you, but the universe to a shrimp!’ Dogs are often tempted to play with seaweed fronds, but don’t let them eat it (it expands in the stomach as it dries, and is also salty). People with iodine/thyroid problems are usually advised not to eat seaweed – talk to your GP.
SeaGrown Seaweed Beer uses hand-harvested seaweed from Yorkshire’s coast with notes of caramel, toasted bread, herbs and lemon, combined with local kelp. It also makes seaweed seasonings. Harvesting seaweed offshore helps reduce agricultural runoff and algae bloom, which harms marine wildlife.
England has over 600 species of seaweed (mostly native species) although warming coastal temperatures is (like on land) affecting growing, due to climate change. The most common type is bladderwrack (the type that looks a bit like ‘bubble wrap’ with big air bubbles). Only about 20 species of seaweed are edible, though others are also used in beauty care and some are dehydrated to make seaweed salts.
But seaweeds exist mostly to give homes to marine creatures, especially kelp forests, which also help to prevent coastal erosion. Fish often live in seaweed forests, which is why important only experts hand-harvest seaweed from the shoreline.
The Cornish Seaweed Company offers sustainably-hand-harvested products (this company has a license to harvest without significantly affecting the ecosystem – they harvest by hand, always above the point of growth and do not disturb wildlife). They also rotate harvesting areas to allow ample time for recovery, and leave harvested areas for several years, before harvesting again. Cornish Seaweed Salt mixing organic dulse, nori & sea greens with Cornish sea salt. This is ‘saltier’ than tabel salt in taste, so you can use less of it.
using seaweed for skin care
Cornish Seaweed Soap is vegan and free from palm oil, using the natural properties of seaweed to heal skin. Made with kelp, dulse, nori and bladderwrack, this includes a mix of clays, shea butter and essential oils (avoid for pregnancy/nursing and affected medical conditions).
Phoenix & Providence Face Mask uses hand-harvested seaweed on the Isles of Scilly for a cleansing skin treat to draw out toxins using kaolin clay and seaweed (the high mineral content makes it wonderful for skin, and salt water is a natural detox to absorb oil). Contains oils of lavender and rosemary. The powder is activated with a little water, and sold in a glass jar.
using seaweed in the garden
Seaweed biostimulant helps to grow bigger crops and is designed for veg patches, lawns and outdoor potts. It can also contribute to resistance to unwelcome garden visitors, and is blended with water to apply weekly to poor soil. Recommended for outdoor use only. If planting green spaces, learn how to make gardens safe for pets.
