Healthy digestion, reducing body weight, benefiting the bones, boosting energy levels and helping with blood circulation are some of the benefits of wakame in child’s diet.
What is wakame?
Wakame is a sea vegetable that is widely used in the Asian cuisines. Wakame can be added fresh as well as dried and can be served in a number of ways like to create a salad, as an addition to the staple, miso soup etc. Being a rich source of essential vitamins and minerals, there are many benefits of wakame which is why it should be added to your child’s diet.
Nutritional facts (Per 100 grams)
- Calories – 45
- Total fat – 0.6 g
- Sodium – 872 mg
- Potassium – 50 mg
- Total carbohydrate – 9 g
- Protein – 3 g
Vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamins A – 7%
- Calcium – 0.15
- Vitamin C – 5%
- Iron – 12%
- Magnesium – 26%
Wakame for kids: 11 Health Benefits
Boosts energy levels
The presence of magnesium and iron in wakame helps to increase the body energy levels. Magnesium helps with improving metabolism, regulating enzyme production and also helps in balancing the body hormones. Whereas iron helps in the production of red blood cells and haemoglobin which contributes in increasing the energy levels.
Beneficial for the bones
Wakame consists of good amounts of calcium that helps with the growth and repairment of bones. Adding wakame in your child’s diet will also make your child less susceptible to ailments like osteoporosis and osteopenia.
Helps with blood circulation
Being rich in iron, wakame leads to the production of red blood cells. In fact, it also facilitates blood circulation and helps with circulating the oxygenated blood to all the essential parts of the body. In return, this leads to increased energy levels, healing of the tissues and organs and overall, improved skin health.
Read More: 11 Tips to Make Your Baby Skin Fair
Hair and skin care
The antioxidants present in wakame help with the rejuvenating, moisturizing and smoothening the skin. Apart from that, it also helps in making the hair thick by contributing to keratin formation.
Read More: 8 Must Know Causes for Hair Loss in Children
Omega-3 fatty acid
Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial in a number of ways, including lower cholesterol, depression, anxiety, inflammation and arthritis. In addition to this, it also helps you with your hair, nails and facilitating athletic recovery.
Reduces body weight
In case your little one is overweight, then adding wakame can be of help to you. Wakame consists of fucoxanthin which prevents the accumulation of fats and facilitates fat oxidation. Being excessively low on fats, cholesterol and calories, adding this to your child’s diet can majorly help with his/her problem of overweight.
Read More: 11 Amazing Tips To Help Your Child Lose Weight
Healthy digestion
Being a rich source of fiber, wakame protects the gastrointestinal tract free of diseases. Thus, ensuring that the body absorbs all the nutrients and is able to break down the fats and carbohydrates easily. It also prevents the body from diseases like diarrhea.
Good for infants
The presence of good amounts of folate in wakame helps in ensuring that the infant is healthy and strong. This is because it reduces the chances of neural tube defects in infants. It also helps with the production of new cells and supports nerve and immune function.
Lowers cholesterol levels
Wakame helps in stimulating the production of DHA, which is a fatty acid that helps to lower the levels of bad cholesterol. It also helps in reducing the accumulation of fatty acids, which is all because of fucoxanthin. This further reduces the risk of any heart related diseases and atherosclerosis.
Reduces bloating
Excess water retention in the body is the main cause of bloating. However, eating wakame on a regular basis can be a lot beneficial in order to keep bloating away.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Wakame has shown significant signs of being anti-inflammatory. There are a number of conditions that take place due to inflammation in the body. Thus, wakame can help with the inflammations on the skin, joints and reducing heartburns. It is also used to treat fever in a number of cases.
Other benefits of wakame seaweed for kids
Listed below are a few more benefits of seaweed for children apart from the ones listed above. These are as given:
- Dental health
- Natural source of iodine
- Good eyesight
- Improves memory
- Clear skin
- Keeps the heart vessels healthy
Wakame salad recipe
- Put the seaweed in a bowl and let it sink in a little amount of water for at least 5 minutes.
- Add other ingredients to the bowl except the sesame seeds.
- After squeezing the excess water of the seaweed, chop it and then add to the bowl.
- Toss it.
- You can add sesame seeds, if you want.
Conclusion
As discussed above, wakame is high in vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium etc. With all the benefits listed above, this sea vegetable is a must add to your child’s diet. You can introduce your child to wakame slowly by adding it in their sauces, stews and soups or any of their favourite foods. Although, it may take some time but they will eventually begin to eat it on their own over a period of time.
