Seaweed Salad

[Brandon Renfrow]

I recently purchased this korean seaweed salad.

http://www.clubtraderjoes.com/2012/09/trader-joes-authentically-korean-seaweed-salad.html

Never mind the dressing... is okay to eat carrageenan if its in a seaweed salad as opposed to being a processed food additive?

Thank you,

[Robin Strathdee]

Brandon: The key here is that it's listed as an ingredient. That means it was processed and is being used as an additive. So it's out. Does that make sense?

[Brandon Renfrow]

Not exactly, its just dried seaweed, I know seaweed carries lots of health benefits: http://whole9life.com/2011/07/steal-this-snack-seasnax-strangely-addictive/ this carries a similar list of ingredients. My curiosity is, if seaweed is good, is there only an exception for carrageenan?

[Tom Denham]

My research suggests there is no seaweed named Carrageenan. Instead, I found a discussion of the common seaweeds from which carrageenan is extracted: http://www.fao.org/d...5e/y4765e09.htm

Whether Carrageenan is included here as the seaweed itself or as a processed extract, you still should not eat it. Just because it is seaweed does not make it safe. Poison ivy is a plant too, but is so poisonous to people that it makes most of us break out in painful rashes from a simple touch. Carrageenan is bad because of its chemical structure and how it interacts with the human body. Here is a snippet from Wikipedia which explains why carrageenan is banned during a Whole30: "Recent research, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, has identified how carrageenan's unique chemical structure may trigger an immune response in the body; this immune response in turn may lead to inflammation of the intestines^."

Seaweed in general is okay to eat during a Whole30, but when it gets specific enough to be identified as carrageenan, it is not okay.

[Derval]

I am guessing from the name that carageenan is derived & bastardised proudcut of carageen moss?

Before I did paleo I had never heard of carageenan, but I had heard of puddings such as this

http://nessasfamilykitchen.blogspot.ie/2012/04/carageen-moss-pudding.html

[Brandon Renfrow]

Thanks Tom, this helps a lot.

[1Maryann]

I am guessing from the name that carageenan is derived & bastardised proudcut of carageen moss?

Before I did paleo I had never heard of carageenan, but I had heard of puddings such as this

http://nessasfamilyk...ss-pudding.html

From the reference Tom quoted:

"The original source of carrageenan was Chondrus crispus, and this is still used to a limited extent."

Chondrus Crispus is the scientific name of Irish moss according to Wikipedia.