Yesterday was a great Friday. It started with a Tabata workout, just something quick to give a little ‘jumpstart’ to my day. I upped my weights from the last time for all exercises in this session.
Friday Morning Tabata JumpStart:
- 5 min TM warmup then arm swings and circles
- Smith Squats 4 minutes
- Seated Row 4 minutes
- ValSlide Rear Lunge with KB 4 minutes (alterating legs)
- DB Chest Press 4 minutes
- Rear Delt Static Holds 4 minutes
- Overhead 1-arm KB Shoulder Press 15R, 15L
Personally, I don’t feel I’ve had a good workout if I don’t FEEL it the next day. I can say that today I DO feel it! 
Love that!
After my workout I had a jumbo green smoothie.
- 10 oz water
- Rice protein
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 large peeled cucumber
- 1/2 banana
- 1/2 pear
- lots o’ spinach
- a few turnip greens
- sprouts
- 2 stalks celery
Then I made another one to take to work. This one was minus the chia seeds and the rice protein. I figured the chia seeds would swell way up and I did not want to eat my smoothie with a spoon like some sort of green pudding.
My mid-morning snack was a Cashew Cookie Lärabar at my desk:
Lunch was the travel smoothie shown above. My afternoon snack and dinner kind of ran together: movie popcorn. MSP and I had a date to go see a movie. We chose “Avatar” in 3D and all we have to say about it is that it was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. A great movie with so much to look at. I highly recommend splurging on 3D if you decide to see this movie, especially with all of the computer-generated scenery and effects. Just BEAUTIFUL. Two thumbs up and maybe even a couple of TOES up as well!
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OK, let’s segue from movie reviews to food ‘reviews’, shall we? Yesterday I mentioned that I’d be back today to talk a little bit about DULSE.
What is Dulse?
Dulse is a dried sea vegetable. I’d read about the benefits of seaweed years ago but the best I did to incorporate them into my diet at that time was a sprinkle of kelp powder on my salads here and there. And probably not nearly enough for my body to even notice it! I was reacquainted with sea vegetables (seaweed) again when I started receiving acupuncture therapy and began to do a lot of reading on Traditional Chinese Medicine and healing, alkaline foods. According to Paul Pitchford in Healing with Whole Foods, “Sea plants contain ten to twenty times the minerals of land plants… In addition to a wealth of minerals, vitamins and amino acids, seaweeds are especially excellent sources of iodine, calcium and iron.” They assist in detoxifying and alkalizing the blood.
Another great read, The Thrive Diet by Brendan Brazier, further sold me on this group of superfoods, especially when I read that they contain “10 times the calcium of cow’s milk and several times more iron than red meat” not to mention that they are the “richest source of naturally occuring electrolytes.”
Why Do I Eat Dulse?
Having struggled off and on with iron-deficient anemia since high-school, the information about the iron and mineral content of seaweed was important to me, especially because I’d stopped eating meat. And moreso because I am a runner. Runners have a higher tendency toward anemia due to the destruction of red blood cells each time their feet make impact while running, often known as footstrike anemia. Typically when I end up at the doctor’s office feeling really fatigued and low, it’s due to the anemia and it’s almost always around spring when the weather turns nice and I’m out a lot more often for runs on concrete and pavement. Now that I’ve been through this ‘cycle’ a few times, I know to really boost my intake of foods with naturally occuring iron in them whenever my running mileage increases.
I also liked the idea that sea vegetables are rich in calcium, since cow’s milk dairy is something I don’t typically consume anymore either. Additionally it has a great potassium:sodium ratio. Take a look at the nutrition facts from the package:
Dulse Nutrition Facts (sorry for the blur!)
Dulse happened to be one that I found at the local health food store and thought I’d start with it first . I like this one so much that I haven’t tried others yet. But I should because there are so MANY from which to choose!
How Do I Eat Dulse?
Currently, the main way I eat my dulse is as an add-in for my salads. I’ll pull a palmful from the bag and tear the strips into bite-size pieces. When you see photos of my big “Shari Salads” that dark purple stuff you see is the dulse.
The package says you can bake it into chips, but I didn’t care for it that way and ended up using what I’d baked as a crumbled topping on my salads. Dulse gives a great ‘salty’ flavor to your salads without the need for adding any extra salt. You can add it to stir-fries, to soups or broths, or sandwich fillings. Pretty much anywhere you’d use another leafy green. The book I referenced earlier, Healing with Whole Foods, even has a recipe for Sauerkraut with Dulse. Not sure how soon I’ll try this one, but if/when I do, I’ll let you know!
I hope this dulse info interests you enough that you’ll try some in your next salad! It’s inexpensive, about $5.00 for the size bag I buy – but it lasts me quite a while. I’d say that’s a bargain for the amount of nutritional punch packed into such a tiny food.
Today’s questions: Have you tried dulse or some other version of sea veggie? What made you try it initially? If you don’t currently eat seaweed, do you think you might now?
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All this talk of seaweed, green smoothies and Lärabars has made me hungry! I’m off for some pre-run fuel and then hopefully out the door! Have a SUPERB Saturday! See you next time!
– Shari B. =)
#1 by Recca on March 13, 2012 - 7:57 pm
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I really appreciate your article. It was really a great one. It looks very delicious and healthy recipe, hope I can make some of it.
#2 by Alex Pablate on September 9, 2010 - 4:38 pm
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Shari B, your “How Do I Eat Dulse?” having seen it, water started to come in my mouth.
Very unique recipes you have discussed and are very tasteful for us!
Overall, it is nice post, I used to search for this kind of stuff, keep it up!
Thanks
#3 by Roger OBrian on July 26, 2010 - 3:43 pm
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What do green superfoods provide? They supply essential nutrients to your current diet, add on years to your life span, and also combat the signs of aging. There are many different superfoods but 3 of them are the most important green superfoods in terms of anti aging. What are they? Wheatgrass, Spirulina, and Chlorella.
There are many factors that cause cell damage in our body chemistry including outdoor pollution, environmental toxins, food preservatives, and even a majority of toxins. When our cells become damaged it can affect us both mentally and physically. This is because our body is not always able to completely remove the harmful toxins therefore the free radicals begin their destruction on the cells. You are probably aware that our skin is the biggest organ in our body but it’s also the very first to display any signs of aging including wrinkles and lines.
Chlorella
What is Chlorella? Chlorella is actually an amazing anti aging supplement that has been called ‘nature’s fountain of youth.’ Chlorella supplies a large amount of chlorophyll, an impressive antioxidant that applies itself to weighty metals and rids them from the body. Chlorella will help you feel and look younger but it will also enhance your memory and decrease brain damage. Chlorella is by far one of the best anti aging foods in the world.
Spirulina
What is Spirulina? It is blue-green algae that offers health benefits that aid in the anti aging process. Spirulina also provides a variety of nutrients found in the sun, water, and also plants.
The blue-green algae, Spirulina, is related to a vast range of both health and nutritional benefits. Spirulina comes in different forms such as pills, flakes, powders, and tablets. You can find it in practically any health food store. It is a very powerful antioxidant that helps decrease both mental and physical signs that accompany age. It is also one of the utmost important green superfoods.
At one time few had ever heard of Spirulina but nowadays many people are talking about it. That’s because it’s a great supplement when you want anti-aging results. You will start to see a younger you but also feel younger and find that you have more energy.
Wheatgrass
You might be familiar with wheatgrass, a baby wheat plant, because it is well known for offering health and anti aging benefits. Wheatgrass comes available in the form of a supplement or juice. You can find wheatgrass in smoothies also but in either form it is just as powerful and effective.
Those are not the only main green superfoods that offer marvelous anti aging benefits but they are three common ones. Many people today do not have diets that include the very important nutrients our bodies we need. This means we are lacking the proper amount of antioxidants our body needs to effectively remove any toxins which is one reason some people may appear to ‘age’ quicker than others.
By incorporating the three mentioned green superfoods; spirulina, wheatgrass, and chlorella, you can begin setting up your defensive line against aging. By doing so you can start looking younger and even feel younger in no time.
NOTE: I’ve dedicated my life to Educating Consumers on Natural, Organic, Supplements, Vitamins, Healthy Living, Natural Healing, Non-Genetically Modified, Non-Chemical Enhanced or anything we consume made from Un-Natural Sources. I’m asking anyone who reads my articles to post articles like it, or my articles on Great Blogs like this one to spread the word and help make people healthier. You can take credit for the articles, you can go to my Facebook Fan page and get information from there if you’d like or you can go to my store by clicking on my name above for information. I don’t mind if you use articles from my websites. The more we work together, the bigger the demand will be to grow more Natural and Organic Foods. We can’t beat big business and stop them from producing products that cause a vast majority of America’s Health problems because they’re after quanity and profits. Until they see the market shift and start losing money, they won’t change. That’s up to us and it’s time we demand better, safer, healthier supplements, vitamins, and food. We can show them, we the consumers are in control. That all starts with education and helping educate people who have not yet learned about these subjects. My Facebook Fan page is located at http:/www.Facebook.com/TreeHuggersOnline
Thanks and I’ll post new articles like this once per week!
#4 by Joan on December 19, 2009 - 12:39 pm
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Shari, thanks so much for all this great info. I’ll definately look for dulse and thanks for tips on how to use it. The only sea greens I get are in my plant based rice protein pwd energizer which has 500mg spirulina per serving. Also the green wrap on sushi when I buy that…is that the nori nori Cindy speaks of? I think that would be nice to lay on soft taco’s/wraps before you add you fillings…yuummm I gotta get to the store!
.-= Joan´s last blog ..Bye Bye Birdie…not! =-.
#5 by Shari B. on December 21, 2009 - 4:46 pm
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Hi Joan!
Sorry that I’m just getting around to replying to comments! Yikes, busy busy! Is it the New Year yet?
i always forget how crazy December feels.
Yes, NORI is the seaweed often used for sushi wraps. That one took me a while to ‘acquire’ the taste for – it’s strong! But I do love it in sushi!
Thanks so much for the great idea for the blog post!
#6 by Cindy on December 19, 2009 - 10:29 am
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Love your article on this and I LOVE what you said about fatigue and anemia….I should maybe pay attention to this…I have been exhausted for weeks AND perhaps this is behind it. I have been CRAVING nutritional yeast too…(b vitamins I am sure)
I have purchased every bag of sea vegetables to try. I am not in love with arame (tastes like ocean) but NORI…NORI I Love. I make wraps out of it, fish or veggie) I could down 2 or 3 wraps in nori sheets.
I also love love the cucumber seaweed salad that Sunsai makes (local japanese place) and I tried to re create it but it wasn’t the same.
I think it’s an aquired taste…and so that means some day I will probably eat it raw out of the bag..haha (like Kale)
I’m off to find some iron for my blood today!
xo
.-= Cindy´s last blog ..On the Mend =-.
#7 by Shari B. on December 21, 2009 - 4:50 pm
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Hi Cindy! Yes, DEFINITELY an acquired taste! I think that’s why I have to camoflauge mine in salads.
I don’t see anytime in my future where I will eat it straight out of the bag!!
Have you ever been diagnosed w/ anemia or had your iron stores checked when you have bloodwork done?
I think this time of year it is natural to have extra fatigue – the days are at their shortest, we’re lacking vitamin D from sunshine and our melatonin probably kicks in super early as soon as the sun goes down. Plus we have a lot more things we HAVE to do to get ready for the holidays. I think all of that combined can lead to fatigue too.
I’m definitely feeling it – this past weekend was a godsend for feeling a little ‘recharged’.