Today sees the launch of the highly anticipated National Food Strategy for the UK. Sky News approached Doctor Seaweed (aka Dr Craig Rose) to discuss how seaweed plays an important role in our future food and essential nutrition.
The Pledge
The UK government commissioned a report to develop a National Food Strategy, which has been delivered by businessman Henry Dimbleby. Amongst the various recommendations around sugar taxes, prescribing fruit and veg, and extending provisions of free school meals, the report focuses on plant-based alternatives and sustainable farming practices. Dimbleby states the report and possible taxes are part of a plan to create a food system that is good for us and good for the planet.[1] The strategy is supported by many health charities, chefs and food industry leaders. Jamie Oliver, an advocate in the past for seaweed as a source of nutrition, praises this report as an “opportunity to create a much fairer and more sustainable food system for all families.”[2]
The report pledges to reduce the carbon emissions of industrial farming by diminishing methane produced by cattle; specifically highlighting seaweed used in cattle feed.
How Seaweed Can Help?
The benefits of seaweed also extend to people of course - with seaweed’s plethora of nutritional support. The report encourages the government to invest £50m into the future development of sustainable food alternatives, particularly proteins through lab-grown meats and plant-based foods. With an increase in plant-based diets and a reduction in fish and dairy, key nutrients could be excluded from the diet – particularly iodine.
The UK is already considered iodine deficient according to various research studies, and this is increasing as our dietary intakes change. Seaweed is the only natural plant-based rich source of essential iodine which is critical in supporting normal thyroid health, cognitive function, metabolism, skin health, development in children and the nervous system.
It is clear that seaweed can provide a huge array of health and wellness benefits, and that it has its part to play in our future diets and lifestyles. This is why Doctor Seaweed’s Weed & Wonderful has developed a range of nutritional supplements to address these key health needs in an easy-to-use format to suit your lifestyle.
We’re proud to be part of this sustainable seaweed revolution, putting environmental consideration and sustainability at the forefront of our seaweed products. Our natural organic Hebridean Ascophyllum seaweed is sustainably wild harvested around the remote islands of the Scottish Outer Hebrides ensuring quality and retention of key natural health benefits. These pristine waters are carefully monitored and managed, with exclusive harvesting rights from the Crown Estate.
This all helps to add to our vision of delivering health and wellness to the masses through the production of sustainable seaweed.