Dulse Powder - Natures Superfood
Dulse Powder is a superfood. It’s nutritional and medicinal benefits have long been used by Irelands west coast communities through to our current times, increasing life expectancies, preventing illnesses, treating ailments, creating delicious, nutritious meals and improving health-related quality of life.
Dulse Powder is for everyone. From young to old, the taste, versatility and health benefits of edible seaweed appeal to all. And, when it is sustainably harvested using sustainable methods, you know you’re getting a quality product that maintains its goodness with the richest nutrient properties.
Our family hand harvests natural, certified dulse seaweed and other seaweeds from the pristine clean waters of the Aran Islands and Connemara. We are pleased to bring you the benefits of this healthy organic sea vegetable that is sustainably harvested right here at home.
Health Benefits of Dulse Powder
Dulse Powder was a medieval superfood in Ireland for hundreds of years and is once again being sourced for its nutrition. Dulse Powder is ground down from the red seaweed Dulse or Palmaria palmata in the world of science. Dulse by nature is a tuff sea vegetable to break down. The many benefits of Dulse Powder are still being researched, however may great discoveries have been made such as the identification of natural iodine from dulse along with other great minerals and vitamins such as Zinc, Vitamin B12, Iron, Manganese and Omegas also. Dulse powder is like or equivalent to a multi-vitamin. Today Dulse Powder is being used as one of the major ingredients for the famous Medicinal Mediums – Heavy Metal Detox! Yes, Dulse Powder or Dulse Flakes are one of the main ingredients of the smoothie. Dulse Powder is an easy food to prepare and use as a functional food ingredient. The everyday goodness that Dulse Powder can assist is that it can deliver very important antioxidants that only come from sea vegetables. Dulse seaweed is one of the most protein rich seaweeds there is. Dulse powder can also help fight inflammation and swelling as it contains anti-inflammatory components such as chlorophyll.
Dulse Powder – The all new healthy and nutritious protein and heavy metal shake ingredient!
Along with it being a healthy source of protein, eating certified organic seaweed as a replacement for wheat and soybeans allows you to avoid the allergies commonly experienced by these land-based protein sources. Analysis has shown that Irish dulse powder can contain a protein content ranging from 12% – 21% per 1 gram of dried seaweed. Normally dulse contains the highest protein content of any dried seaweed per gram of dried algae weight. Further to protein, dulse also contains essential amino acids and good amounts of iodine that can help with many bodily functions such as cognitive development, digestion and helping power your body by producing energy.
Studies from the French Institut de Phytonutrition have shown that there is more iron contained in 8g of dry dulse than in a 100g piece of sirloin steak. It is important for vegetarians and vegans alike to consume plant sources of vitamin B12 and more.
When talking about vitamin B sources of food, people generally look towards animal sources for this vitamin. However, our Dulse powder is one of the few sea vegetables that contain Vitamin B12 and B6 in good amounts among other complex b-vitamins. B12 vitamins help with the nervous system; it also assists your body in creating red blood cells and also contributes to bone health. Vitamin B12 has also been shown to help improve our mood whereas if you are deficient in this vitamin it can potentially bring on risks of depression.
Dulse Powder & The Aran Islands
Pronounced ‘Creathnach’ in Irish
Scientific Name: Palmaria palmata
Provenance
Dulse sea vegetables have been harvested on the Aran Islands for generations. It is a common site during summer months to observe dulse naturally drying in fields or in the front garden of houses on a hot sunny day. Island Seaweed has improved on the old process and today our purpose built drying facility utilises the latest in dehumidification technology to ensure a premium product packed with nutrients. We harvest, dry and pack our dulse powder products in less than 24 hours. Science has now confirmed that the quicker you dry the seaweed, and at increased drying temperatures will guarantee a premium nutritional food product.
Biology & Harvesting of Dulse Powder
Dulse is a red seaweed algae that is generally found at the intertidal zone and can also be found growing further up the shore line too. Palmaria Palmata is the botanical name for this type of red algae and can be found from the northern end of Ireland all the way down to the south of Ireland in big rock pools or among other seaweeds in the marine environment. It grows in the cold waters and can be found on both sides of the north Atlantic.
Some Uses of Dulse Powder
Taste and Uses
Dulse seaweed has been described as the bacon of the sea. It has a mild spicy flavour and it’s not as salty as other seaweeds. My grandfather always had a bag of dulse flakes in his pocket when working in the garden or when he was away from the home for an extended period of time. My mother used dulse powder in our dinner dishes with potatoes, soups and even as a salty wholefood snack all on its own. Dulse powder today is more commonly being used in homes to replace salt as a seasoning for food dishes and a popular use is to sprinkle dulse flakes into salads. If you are on the go a spoonful of island seaweeds powder dulse pack can be easily and quickly added to a morning smoothie to get your burst of natures goodness to help kick start your day.
Typical Nutritional Analysis of Dulse Powder
- Protein 12-21 %
- Fat 0.7-3 %
- Carbohydrates 46-50 %
- Vitamin C 150-280 ppm
- Carotene 663 i.u.
- Vitamin B1 7 ppm
- Vitamin B2 2-5 ppm
- Vitamin B3 2-19 ppm
- Zinc 3 ppm
- Vitamin B6 9 ppm
- Vitamin B12 6.6 ppb
- Vitamin E 1.71 ppm
- Calcium 2000-8000 ppm
- Iodine 150-550 ppm
- Iron 56-350 ppm
- Magnesium 0.2-0.5%
- Manganese 10-155 ppm
- Sodium 0.8-3%
