For seaweed class students and enthusiasts alike, I have compiled a list of resources for where to buy seaweed, seaweed books, studies, radiation and more. Please check these out!

Seaweed Education with Kristy Bredin

Marine Herbalism substack subscription: for as little as $5/month receive access to in-depth articles all things seaweed!

Upcoming field and online Seaweed Classes

Marine Herbalism Class Recording

Top 10 Ways to Make Seaweeds a Part of Your Life Class 10.15.2024

Seaweed Products

Mermaid Botanicals

Rising Tide Sea Vegetables (CA coast)

Nature Spirit Herbs: wild harvested seaweeds (and some info), herbs, and mushrooms (based in OR)

BC Kelp: Seaweeds harvested off the the remote Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) in BC

Mountain Rose Herbs: A variety of certified organic seaweeds; good source for seaweed flakes and powders.

Salish Sea Greens: Lummi Island farmed seaweeds

Canadian Kelp Seaweeds from Barkley Sound BC. Louis D. Dreuhl’s, author of Pacific Seaweeds, company

Algal Aid: Product using red seaweed gel for topical viral outbreak application. This product seems to no longer be available.

Maine Coast Sea Vegetables: One of the primary reputable seaweed harvesters in Maine. Seaweeds for sale and lots of great learning as well. They also have a large array of seaweed topical products without a lot of additives: https://seaveg.com/collections/bath-body

Romi Apothecary’s beautiful Reishi Tide serum made with Mermaid Botanicals Gigartina/Mastocarpus spp. seaweed

Landsea Gomasio: Bullwhip kelp-based gomasio condiment made on Orcas Island, WA.

Barnacle Foods: They have kelp pickles and their hot sauce is pretty great too!

Seaweed Fiber Yarn (About Seacell

Nutrient Content in Seaweeds

Circuncisão, AR, MD Catarino, SM Cardoso, and AMS Silva. 2018. “Minerals From Macroalgae Origin: Health Benefits and Risks for Consumers.” Mar Drugs 16 (11): 400.

https://seaveg.com/pages/seaweed-nutrition-facts

Flores, Shireen RL, Joannie Dobbs, and Michael A Dunn. 2015. “Mineral Nutrient Content and Iron Bioavailability in Common and Hawaiian Seaweeds Assessed By an in Vitro Digestion/caco-2 Cell Model.” Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 43: 185–93.

Peñalver, R, JM Lorenzo, G Ros, R Amarowicz, M Pateiro, and G Nieto. 2020. “Seaweeds as a Functional Ingredient for a Healthy Diet.” Mar Drugs 18 (6): 301.

Desideri, D, C Cantaluppi, F Ceccotto, MA Meli, C Roselli, and L Feduzi. 2016. “Essential and Toxic Elements in Seaweeds for Human Consumption.” J Toxicol Environ Health A 79 (3): 112–22.

Rosell, Karl-Gunnar, and Lalit M. Srivastava. 1984. “Seasonal Variation in the Chemical Constituents of the Brown Algae Macrocystis Integrifolia and Nereocystis Luetkeana.” Canadian Journal of Botany 62 (11): 2229–36.

Seaweeds and Health

Ryan Drum: In-depth articles on seaweeds as food and medicine.

Ryan Drum’s story on healing knee cartilage with bladderwack: http://www.ryandrum.com/radiationprotectionusingseaweeds.htm (scroll down to “Jean’s Knees” under External Uses of Seaweeds)

Old Man and the Seaweed, a documentary on Ryan Drum by David Kaufman

Benefits of Thalasso Therapy

O’Sullivan, Laurie, Brian Murphy, Peter McLoughlin, Patrick Duggan, Peadar G. Lawlor, Helen Hughes, and Gillian E. Gardiner. 2010. “Prebiotics From Marine Macroalgae for Human and Animal Health Applications.” Marine Drugs 8 (7): 2038–64.

Can Red Marine Algae Help with Shingles, Eczema or cold Sores?

Cherry, P, S Yadav, CR Strain, PJ Allsopp, EM McSorley, RP Ross, and C Stanton. 2019. “Prebiotics From Seaweeds: An Ocean of Opportunity?” Mar Drugs 17 (6): 327.

Pinteus, S, MFL Lemos, J Silva, C Alves, A Neugebauer, R Freitas, A Duarte, and R Pedrosa. 2017. “An Insight Into Sargassum Muticum Cytoprotective Mechanisms Against Oxidative Stress on a Human Cell in Vitro Model.” Mar Drugs 15 (11): 353.

Maine Coast Sea Vegetables Blog

Iodine & Thyroid

Goitrogenic Foods

Yeh, Tai Sheng, Nu Hui Hung, and Tzu Chun Lin. 2014. “Analysis of Iodine Content in Seaweed By Gc-Ecd and Estimation of Iodine Intake.” Journal of Food and Drug Analysis 22 (2): 189–96.

Hou, Xiaolin, Xiaojun Yan, and Chifang Chai. 2000. “Chemical Species of Iodine in Some Seaweeds Ii. Iodine-Bound Biological Macromolecules.” Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 245 (3): 461–67.

The Iodine Crisis, Lynne Farrow

Dr. Izabella Wentz Hashimoto’s Protocol

Kiferle, Claudia, Marco Martinelli, Anna Maria Salzano, Silvia Gonzali, Sara Beltrami, Piero Antonio Salvadori, Katja Hora, Harmen Tjalling Holwerda, Andrea Scaloni, and Pierdomenico Perata. 2021. “Evidences for a Nutritional Role of Iodine in Plants.” Frontiers in Plant Science 12: 45.

Lipiec, E., Warowicka, O., Ruzik, L. et al. Investigation of iodine bioavailability from chicken eggs versus iodized kitchen salt with in vitro method. Eur Food Res Technol 234, 913–919 (2012).

Aakre, I, L Tveito Evensen, M Kjellevold, L Dahl, S Henjum, J Alexander, L Madsen, and MW Markhus. 2020. “Iodine Status and Thyroid Function in a Group of Seaweed Consumers in Norway.” Nutrients 12 (11): 3483.https://napiers.net/blogs/health-information/how-much-iodine-is-there-in-seaweed

http://www.ryandrum.com/thyroidpart2.htm

Seaweeds and Covid 19

Figueroa, Juan Manuel, et. al. 2021. “Efficacy of a Nasal Spray Containing Iota-Carrageenan in the Postexposure Prophylaxis of Covid-19 in Hospital Personnel Dedicated to Patients Care With Covid-19 Disease.” International Journal of General Medicine Volume 14: 6277–86.

Tamama, Kenichi. 2021. “Potential Benefits of Dietary Seaweeds as Protection Against Covid-19.” Nutrition Reviews 79 (7): 814–23.

Seaweed ID, Cooking, and more!

algaebase.org

seaweedsofpnw.com

https://www.nhbs.com/blog/guide-uk-seaweed-identification

Seaweeds of the Pacific Coast, Jennifer Mondragon

Pacific Seaweeds, Louis Druehl

Common Seaweeds, Robert Waaland

The Sea Vegetable Book, Judith Cooper Madlener

North Pacific Seaweeds, Rita M. O’Clair and Sandra Lindstrom

Field Guide to Seaweeds of Alaska, Mandy R. Lindeberg

Keys to the Seaweeds and Seagrasses of Southeast Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon

Common Edible Seaweeds in the Gulf of Alaska, Dolly Garza

Prannie Rhatigan, Irish Seaweed Kitchen

Shep Erhart and Leslie Carrier, Sea Vegetable Celebration

Valerie Cooksley, Seaweed

Seaweed Foraging Information, Ireland

Seaweeds of Britain

https://www.seaweedandco.com/the-benefits-of-dulse-are-making-waves/

https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b84-303

https://seaveg.com/pages/faq

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6266857/

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10811-013-0014-7

seaweed commons.org

Kitchen Alchemy Blog/Modernist Pantry: a lot of awesome blog entries and videos about working with hydrocolloids (carrageenan, alginate, agar) to create gels. They work with isolated mucopolysaccharides, but some of this information can be applied to whole-form seaweed gel extraction and use. Search blog for “carrageenan” and a lot of great videos and recipes will come up!

Seaweed Artwork

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y75dmbiGfHE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J3zQsYdUek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbBQrMWw_LA

Mucopolysaccharides

A great blog post by vegan chef Skye explaining the research and dispelling myths behind carrageenan isolate and health concerns.

Cumashi, A, et. al., and Italy Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Bio-Oncologia. 2007. “A Comparative Study of the Anti-Inflammatory, Anticoagulant, Antiangiogenic, and Antiadhesive Activities of Nine Different Fucoidans From Brown Seaweeds.” Glycobiology 17 (5): 541–52.

Cunha, L, and A Grenha. 2016. “Sulfated Seaweed Polysaccharides as Multifunctional Materials in Drug Delivery Applications.” Mar Drugs 14 (3): 42.

Fitton, Janet Helen. 2011. “Therapies From Fucoidan; Multifunctional Marine Polymers.” Marine Drugs 9 (10): 1731–60

Hentati, F, L Tounsi, D Djomdi, G Pierre, C Delattre, AV Ursu, I Fendri, S Abdelkafi, and P Michaud. 2020. “Bioactive Polysaccharides From Seaweeds.” Molecules 25 (14): 3152.

Jiao, G, G Yu, J Zhang, and HS Ewart. 2011. “Chemical Structures and Bioactivities of Sulfated Polysaccharides from Marine Algae.” Mar Drugs 9 (2): 196–223.

Liyanage, N. M., D. P. Nagahawatta, Thilina U. Jayawardena, and You-Jin Jeon. 2023. “The Role of Seaweed Polysaccharides in Gastrointestinal Health: Protective Effect Against Inflammatory Bowel Disease.” Life 13 (4): 1026.

Mišurcová, L, S Škrovánková, D Samek, J Ambrožová, and L Machů. 2012. “Health Benefits of Algal Polysaccharides in Human Nutrition.” Adv Food Nutr Res 66: 75–145.

Teng, QL, et. al. 2023. “A Fucoidan Plant Drink Reduces Helicobacter Pylori Load in the Stomach: A Real-World Study.” Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 8: 34.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3433884/

Jiao, G, G Yu, J Zhang, and HS Ewart. 2011. “Chemical Structures and Bioactivities of Sulfated Polysaccharides From Marine Algae.” Mar Drugs 9 (2): 196–223.

Patel, Seema. 2012. “Therapeutic Importance of Sulfated Polysaccharides From Seaweeds: Updating the Recent Findings.” 3 Biotech 2 (3): 171–85.

Berreman, Katherine. “Determination of Fucoidan and Alginate Concentrations in Edible Seaweeds From the Salish Sea Region.” 

https://seaveg.com/pages/faq

http://www.ryandrum.com/seaweeds.htm

http://www.ryandrum.com/seaxpan1.html

Radiation/Pollutants

Kelp Watch: Study of kelp samples from the west coast of the Pacific Ocean (Alaska-California) for Fukushima-specific radiation.

Our Radioactive Ocean: Post-Fukushima maps and data on radiation levels over time on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean (Alaska-California) since the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Heavy Metals and Living Systems: An Overview

Bioremediation and Tolerance of Humans to Heavy Metals through Microbial Processes: a Potential Role for Probiotics?

Heavy Metal Toxicity

Radiation Health Risks

Heavy Metal Exposures and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

Chemical contaminant levels in edible seaweeds of the Salish Sea and implications for their consumption

Jennifer Hahn’s Chemical Contaminant Levels in Edible Seaweeds of the Salish Sea and Implications for Their Consumption

Jennifer Hahn at WWU

Salish Sea Activism

Puget Sound Restoration Fund: Projects throughout Puget Sound to restore marine resources and create healthy ecosystems. Bullwhip Kelp Restoration Project

Puget Soundkeeper: Initiatives to tackle pollution of Puget Sound waters from a wide range of sources, such as industrial agriculture, sewage, fossil fuel production, and stormwater runoff.

Bullwhip Kelp Story Map: Map of historical kelp beds in the San Juan Islands compiled through Samish Tribe oral tradition.

SeaTrees: Restoring Coastal Ecosystems