Join us as we dive into the world of Ulva and discover how this seaweed can help us all get and stay healthy while improving the sustainability of the food system.
As we make our way through 2023, we’re more aware than ever that what we eat matters. It impacts not only our physical, mental and emotional health, but also the environment as a whole. In 2015, an estimated 34% of all greenhouse gas emissions came from the various components of the food system. We know that we each have a personal responsibility to eat mindfully, and that’s why we are committed to including eco-friendly ingredients in each and every one of our meals. Enter Ulva, or sea lettuce! We use Ulva in some of our tastiest dishes, and we can’t wait to share how Ulva supports our company’s mission: help people get and stay healthy while improving the sustainability of the food system.
All About Ulva and its Benefits for the Environment
Ulva is a type of green macroalgae commonly found in marine and freshwater environments. It is also known as sea lettuce due to its physical resemblance to lettuce leaves. Ulva is a significant organism in aquatic ecosystems as it provides food and shelter for a variety of marine creatures. Additionally, it has numerous applications in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture, food and medicine. Ulva is an eco-friendly choice for multiple reasons. Here are a few of our favorites!
- Ulva is incredibly sustainable to cultivate. Unlike many land-based crops that require a lot of water, fertilizer, and pesticides, Ulva grows naturally in the ocean!
- Ulva is an excellent option for individuals looking to reduce their carbon footprint, as it does not require extensive processing or transportation to reach consumers. Thistle partners with a producer of Ulva called Blue Evolution; Blue Evolution uses only seawater to grow Ulva, which is supportive of drought climates. Once the seawater is used, it is actually sent back into the ocean cleaner than before!
Nutritional Powerhouse
Ulva is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to nutrition! According to the Marine Coast Sea Vegetable cite, sea vegetables generally are known to contain most, if not all vitamins and minerals, as well as a high protein to calorie ratio. To expand on the latter part of this, around 33% of the total calorie content Ulva provides comes from protein calories, making it an excellent addition to a plant-forward diet! In terms of vitamins and minerals, Ulva is notable for its high B vitamin, vitamin C, iron, calcium, iodine and potassium content. It also contains large amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber! Can you “sea” why we’re fascinated with sea lettuce??
But wait - there’s more! Ulva continues to impress us with its health-promoting benefits with its high micronutrient content. “Lettuce” tell you more!
- Ulva has been shown to counteract free radical formation in the body by increasing the production of healthful compounds called Glutathione and Chlorophyll. Free radicals promote inflammation, which is a necessary pathway for instances like illness or injury, but can be tough on the body if chronically present. Ulva may also help prevent age-related illnesses by helping the body recycle and replace older, damaged cells.
- Due to its high calcium content, Ulva helps keep bones strong and healthy; 1 gram of Ulva contains an impressive 30 micrograms of calcium. For reference, 1 gram of skim milk contains 1 microgram of calcium.
- Sea lettuce is also supportive of thyroid health due to its iodine content; iodine is an essential nutrient the body cannot produce on its own, and is imperative for thyroid hormone production.
- Ulva contains decent amounts of iron and fiber, which support the body’s immune system, digestive processes and blood sugar control.
Incorporating Ulva Into Your Diet
We’re sure you’re just as eager to include sea lettuce in your diet as we are, and we’d love to share some suggestions on how best to incorporate the product into meals and snacks. Ulva can be consumed as a whole leaf, or dried into flakes or powder. It may be easiest to first try Ulva in its powdered form in either smoothies or shakes! A serving can be as small as a few teaspoons to reap the benefits. Other delicious recipes we can’t wait to try include this sea lettuce pesto (for a vegan version, omit the cheese and include some nutritional yeast!), this plant-based dark chocolate and seaweed ice cream, and this hummus recipe. Yum!
Thistle is “ulva” the moon (see what we did there?) to include such an earth-friendly plant in our meals. You’ll find Ulva in our Lemongrass Lettuce Cups and our Coriander Quinoa Stir Fry, both of which include a vegan take on a fish sauce; we find that the combination of Ulva and dried shiitake mushrooms work well together to mimic the umami taste attributed to a genuine fish sauce!
Until We Sea You Again
We all recognize the importance of making small, sustainable changes to the way we connect with the earth; some choices, including the food choices we make, have a disproportionately large impact on greenhouse gas emission and the degradation of the ozone layer. Simple changes, like including more eco-friendly plants like Ulva are an excellent (and delicious) place to start! Get your apron on, and we’ll “sea” you in the kitchen!
Join us as we dive into the world of Ulva and discover how this seaweed can help us all get and stay healthy while improving the sustainability of the food system.
As we make our way through 2023, we’re more aware than ever that what we eat matters. It impacts not only our physical, mental and emotional health, but also the environment as a whole. In 2015, an estimated 34% of all greenhouse gas emissions came from the various components of the food system. We know that we each have a personal responsibility to eat mindfully, and that’s why we are committed to including eco-friendly ingredients in each and every one of our meals. Enter Ulva, or sea lettuce! We use Ulva in some of our tastiest dishes, and we can’t wait to share how Ulva supports our company’s mission: help people get and stay healthy while improving the sustainability of the food system.
All About Ulva and its Benefits for the Environment
Ulva is a type of green macroalgae commonly found in marine and freshwater environments. It is also known as sea lettuce due to its physical resemblance to lettuce leaves. Ulva is a significant organism in aquatic ecosystems as it provides food and shelter for a variety of marine creatures. Additionally, it has numerous applications in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture, food and medicine. Ulva is an eco-friendly choice for multiple reasons. Here are a few of our favorites!
- Ulva is incredibly sustainable to cultivate. Unlike many land-based crops that require a lot of water, fertilizer, and pesticides, Ulva grows naturally in the ocean!
- Ulva is an excellent option for individuals looking to reduce their carbon footprint, as it does not require extensive processing or transportation to reach consumers. Thistle partners with a producer of Ulva called Blue Evolution; Blue Evolution uses only seawater to grow Ulva, which is supportive of drought climates. Once the seawater is used, it is actually sent back into the ocean cleaner than before!
Nutritional Powerhouse
Ulva is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to nutrition! According to the Marine Coast Sea Vegetable cite, sea vegetables generally are known to contain most, if not all vitamins and minerals, as well as a high protein to calorie ratio. To expand on the latter part of this, around 33% of the total calorie content Ulva provides comes from protein calories, making it an excellent addition to a plant-forward diet! In terms of vitamins and minerals, Ulva is notable for its high B vitamin, vitamin C, iron, calcium, iodine and potassium content. It also contains large amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber! Can you “sea” why we’re fascinated with sea lettuce??
But wait - there’s more! Ulva continues to impress us with its health-promoting benefits with its high micronutrient content. “Lettuce” tell you more!
- Ulva has been shown to counteract free radical formation in the body by increasing the production of healthful compounds called Glutathione and Chlorophyll. Free radicals promote inflammation, which is a necessary pathway for instances like illness or injury, but can be tough on the body if chronically present. Ulva may also help prevent age-related illnesses by helping the body recycle and replace older, damaged cells.
- Due to its high calcium content, Ulva helps keep bones strong and healthy; 1 gram of Ulva contains an impressive 30 micrograms of calcium. For reference, 1 gram of skim milk contains 1 microgram of calcium.
- Sea lettuce is also supportive of thyroid health due to its iodine content; iodine is an essential nutrient the body cannot produce on its own, and is imperative for thyroid hormone production.
- Ulva contains decent amounts of iron and fiber, which support the body’s immune system, digestive processes and blood sugar control.
Incorporating Ulva Into Your Diet
We’re sure you’re just as eager to include sea lettuce in your diet as we are, and we’d love to share some suggestions on how best to incorporate the product into meals and snacks. Ulva can be consumed as a whole leaf, or dried into flakes or powder. It may be easiest to first try Ulva in its powdered form in either smoothies or shakes! A serving can be as small as a few teaspoons to reap the benefits. Other delicious recipes we can’t wait to try include this sea lettuce pesto (for a vegan version, omit the cheese and include some nutritional yeast!), this plant-based dark chocolate and seaweed ice cream, and this hummus recipe. Yum!
Thistle is “ulva” the moon (see what we did there?) to include such an earth-friendly plant in our meals. You’ll find Ulva in our Lemongrass Lettuce Cups and our Coriander Quinoa Stir Fry, both of which include a vegan take on a fish sauce; we find that the combination of Ulva and dried shiitake mushrooms work well together to mimic the umami taste attributed to a genuine fish sauce!
Until We Sea You Again
We all recognize the importance of making small, sustainable changes to the way we connect with the earth; some choices, including the food choices we make, have a disproportionately large impact on greenhouse gas emission and the degradation of the ozone layer. Simple changes, like including more eco-friendly plants like Ulva are an excellent (and delicious) place to start! Get your apron on, and we’ll “sea” you in the kitchen!
