Seaweed and Sea Vegetables on the HCG Diet Protocol

“Can I have seaweed on the HCG Diet?”  This is a question that I hear from my HCG Diet patients a lot this year.  If the seaweed is roasted without the use of oils it is a wonderful addition to phase 2 of the HCG Diet. If the seaweed is roasted with oil it is perfect for phase 3 of the HCG Diet.  With any food, it is always advisable to read labels and be sure it is not highly processed and filled with poor quality ingredients. My favorite form is raw nori sheets which can be found at most health food stores!

Kelp grows like a weed all along the Pacific coast of the United States and North America.  Kelp has an amazing ability to grow up to 12 inches daily.   Other common types of edible seaweeds are dulse, arame, wakame, nori and hijiki.  These types of seaweeds can be found dried at many health food stores.  Check out www.ryandrum.com for an amazing place to purchase seaweed.

Research on Seaweeds for Health

There is great research coming out on the benefits of edible seaweed for cancer prevention.  In general, seaweeds are anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-microbial & anti-fungal.  Seaweeds are packed with a high mineral content and lots of B vitamins.  Kelp is the highest plant source of iodine which is wonderful for the thyroid gland.  Edible seaweeds also help to keep the body alkaline!  Add seaweed to your HCG Diet friendly salad!

Preparing Sea Vegetables on the HCG Diet

Sea vegetables are easily added to any diet.  Sometimes, the fucus I buy can be eaten like a snack.  Salty and crunchy!  Other times, I will soak the seaweed in warm water for a few hours and then add it to soups or salads.  On some days, I love to get a mix of seaweeds and soak them — strain them well, cut them into small pieces and enjoy a nice seaweed salad.

Categories: Eating Well, Food Information, HCG Weight Loss, Weight Loss