Kale is everywhere. Kale salads, kale slaw, fresh-pressed kale juices—the options are endless. Don’t get us wrong. We love kale as much as the next person.
But the leafy green vegetable, which is chock-full of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, may have had its 15 minutes of fame. In its place: seaweed.
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Seaweed, which has long been used in sushi, like kale, is loaded with nutrients and skin care benefits. While seaweed has been used for years in the beauty industry—you can find it in products like Bumble and bumble Seaweed Shampoo ($24), Clarins Advanced Extra-Firming Neck Cream ($88) and Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day UV Sun Fluid Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($34)—you can expect to see it more in salads, soups and grain bowls, and even snacks like chips.
“Seaweed is one of nature’s most amazing superfoods and contains more vitamin C than oranges. It has high levels of iodine, calcium, magnesium and iron, all of which are essential for healthy skin, hair and body function, healthy hormones and energy levels and maintaining a good weight. It’s also anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal,” says wellness expert Nicole Graanto.
Another plus to the sea plant: “It’s extremely high in protein, making it a good option for those who eat little or no meat,” she says. “And compared to kale, it’s gentler on the stomach.”
