Is it true that seaweed is bad for digestion? A thorough explanation of the questions surrounding seaweed digestion

Introduction

Nori seaweed is an essential ingredient in the Japanese diet. However, in recent years, rumors have been circulating that "nori seaweed is hard to digest." There are even stories of parents being told by teachers not to let their children eat nori before exams or competitions.

But is this really true? Here we will thoroughly explain all the questions you may have about seaweed digestion.

Why is seaweed said to be difficult to digest?

1. Fiber

The main reason why seaweed is said to be difficult to digest is because it contains a lot of dietary fiber.

Nori is made up of about 36% dietary fiber. The dietary fiber in nori improves bowel movements and helps prevent constipation. Since eating too much of it promotes bowel movements, this is probably why it has been thought of as being bad for digestion and causing stomach upset.

However, in fact, the opposite is true: seaweed is rich in enzymes that aid digestion and support the digestion and absorption of food. It reduces the burden on the digestive organs and is also effective in relieving indigestion and stomach upset.

Of course, overeating can lead to loose stools due to excess fiber intake, but incorporating a moderate amount of seaweed into your meals can help keep you feeling light after a meal and promote comfortable digestive function.

2. Porphyran polysaccharides

In addition, it also comes from a component called porphyran polysaccharide contained in raw seaweed.

Porphyran polysaccharides are polysaccharides that are found in abundance in seaweed, but they cannot be broken down by the digestive enzymes found in humans, and therefore are excreted without being digested in the intestines.

However, in recent years, a French microbiology research team published an article in the scientific journal Nature stating that "only Japanese people have the intestinal bacterium Bacteroides plebeius, which has the enzyme to break down porphyran polysaccharides," and "only Japanese people can digest raw seaweed."

This is thought to have led to the rapid spread of the idea that "only Japanese people can digest seaweed."

3. Is it true that only Japanese people can digest seaweed?

This theory, which suggests that foreigners cannot digest seaweed and that only we Japanese can enjoy it, may come across as a strange sense of superiority, but strictly speaking it is incorrect.

This is because this polysaccharide, known as porphyran polysaccharide, is only contained in the raw material for nori, "raw nori," and most of it is destroyed during the heating process.

In other words, it is only "raw seaweed" that can only be digested by Japanese people, and this does not apply to the types of "seaweed" that are familiar to us, such as roasted seaweed and seasoned seaweed.

This does not mean that foreigners cannot digest seaweed at all, but rather that they are relatively able to digest cooked seaweed.

4. Summary

What did you think? Seaweed, like corn and mushrooms, is high in dietary fiber, so it helps promote bowel movements and relieve constipation.

On the other hand, if you eat a large amount at once without chewing it properly, you will naturally get loose stools.

When eating seaweed, chewing it well and chopping it finely can help digestion. Seaweed is also known to go well with dairy products. Eating it with yogurt or natto improves the intestinal environment and aids digestion.

Nori is an excellent food that is rich in nutrients. Please be careful not to eat too much or too quickly, and incorporate it into your diet wisely.