Hijiki

Other Names : hiziki, ヒジキ, 鹿尾菜, 羊栖菜, Sargassum fusiforme, Hijikia fusiformis
Scientifically known as Sargassum fusiforme, hijiki is a type of brown seaweed that is typically brown or dull green when cultivated or collected in the wild. It grows on the coastlines on Japan, China, and Korea, and has become a staple variety of seaweed in many cultural dishes. Hijiki is often considered one of the most versatile forms of seaweed, as it dries quickly and maintains the majority of its nutrient content, which is impressive. Once the hijiki is dry, it can be exported around the world, added to everything from soups and soy sauces to fish dishes and even stir fries. See also : seaweed
Source of Fucoxanthin

Special Precautions of Hijiki

Despite all of the health benefits, hijiki has an unusually high level of inorganic arsenic, which is technically a toxic and carcinogenic substance. However, it would require a great deal of hijiki to accumulate enough inorganic arsenic to be dangerous, but some countries have issued warnings about consuming this sea vegetable, although no countries have banned it. As with everything, eat hijiki in moderation!

The benefits of Hijiki are

• Hormonal Health: Although we rarely talk about iodine as a part of our diet, it is a crucial part of remaining healthy and keeping our bodily processes on track. Iodine plays a major role in the manipulation and balance of our hormones, as it directly interacts with the thyroid gland, one of the most important aspects of the entire endocrine system. Although excessive iodine can be dangerous, most people don’t get enough, and hijiki is a great place to find some!
• Digestive Health: Seaweed is the ultimate leafy green vegetable, and like so many other veggies, it is packed with dietary fiber, which ensures that your digestive process is smooth and healthy. Dietary fiber stimulates peristaltic motion to move food through the digestive tract, maximizing nutrient intake, and reducing constipation along the way.
• Energy Levels: The iron content of hijiki is unprecedentedly high for a vegetable; some varieties that have been tested have up to 5 times more iron than chicken liver, which is considered one of the most concentrated source for that essential mineral. This means that the prevention of anemia is very easy with hijiki as a part of your weekly diet. Proper levels of iron in your body increase your red blood cell count, which can increase oxygenation to your extremities and boost overall energy levels.
• Bone Health: One of the inevitable parts of getting old is losing our strength and having to be more concerned about the durability of our bones. However, if you have a proper influx of minerals through your diet, than you can significantly prevent the painful and debilitating condition of osteoporosis. Hijiki contains far more calcium than milk, which is often considered one of the best dietary sources. Hijiki can definitely help keep you strong and active for many years.
• Cholesterol and Diabetes: Hijiki is not only a low-calorie food that fills you up, due to the high level of fiber, but that same dietary fiber also eliminates excess cholesterol from the cardiovascular system and helps to balance glucose and insulin levels within the body. Optimizing the digestive system has many unforeseen benefits for the rest of the body, and sea vegetables can be a great place to take advantage of them!
• Sleep Issues: Magnesium has been known as an effective sleep aid for many years, primarily because it stimulates the production of certain hormones that induce relaxation and stress release, naturally lending itself to restful sleep. The high levels of magnesium in hijiki mean that it would be a great late-night snack in case sleep is eluding you. All you need is a magnesium boost!