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	Search Quick Order Form» Departments Vitamins Minerals Supplements Herbs Home & Grocery Diet & Fitness Body & Bath More Ways to Shop Brands A-Z Natural Remedies Children & Infants Women's Health Men's Health Seniors Newsletter Sign Up Weekly health news, sale announcements and coupons!		Library Home > Food Guide > Kelp KELP Introduction Buying and storing Preparation tips Nutritional highlights Health benefits and concerns References View Our Related Product Sections: Kelp Kelp can be used in soups and stews, stir-fried with vegetables, or cooked with beans or grains. Kelp plants can grow to a length of nearly 200 feet (about 61 meters), making this the largest variety of sea vegetable. It is light brown to dark green in color and is similar to kombu, although it is thinner and more tender. It is found chiefly on the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts of North America. Varieties The predominantly available variety of kelp is the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). Buying and storing tips Dehydrated kelp should be stored in an airtight container in a dark, dry place. Cooked kelp should be kept under refrigeration. Availability Kelp is sold dehydrated, and in flake and powder forms for use as a condiment. Preparation, uses, and tips Like kombu, kelp is used in soups and stews, stir-fried with vegetables, or cooked with beans or grains. It cooks quickly and dissolves in longer-cooking dishes. It contains a natural glutamic acid, a tenderizer that helps beans cook quickly and makes them more digestible. It also contains alginic acid, a substance used as a thickening and stabilizing agent in food production. Kelp can be pre-soaked or added dry to foods with liquids. Kelp absorbs up to five times its weight in liquid. Nutritional Highlights Kelp (raw, seaweed), 1/8 cup (2 Tbsp) Calories: 4.3 Protein: 0.17g Carbohydrate: 0.96g Total Fat: 0.05g Fiber: 0.13g Health benefits and concerns Health benefits and concerns for vegetables Many health benefits and concerns associated with this food are applicable to other vegetables. Read about health benefits and concerns for vegetables for a full description.

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