This was copied from The Urban Monk - one of the human gut health forums.

Let’s consider a few things about seaweed…

First of all, it’s a form of algae. It grows on rocky shorelines and is most commonly eaten in Asian cuisine. However, you’ll notice that it’s not piled onto dishes the way we include kale, lettuce, and other greens here in the west.

That’s because it’s incredibly nutrient-dense. A little of it makes a huge difference. That’s why it’s often used to wrap sushi, in ramen, in smoothies, and as salad toppings.

Specifically as it relates to the gut, seawood’s dry weight is made up of 25-75% fiber. That’s much more than the average vegetable. In fact, 100 grams of seaweed (3.5 ounces) provides between 14 and 35% of your recommended daily intake of fiber.

We know that fiber is a powerful tool in regulating gut health. Since fiber cannot be broken down in the body, it serves to keep bowel movements operating with regularity as well as to feed beneficial bacteria in the gut.

But that’s not the only reason seaweed is a boon for gut health. Seaweed contains sulphated polysaccharides, which are a special kind of sugar.

These sugars help populations beneficial bacteria grow, while also aiding in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that support the health of intestinal lining cells.

Finally, seaweed (nori, in particular) contains a carbohydrate called porphyran. For those unused to porphyran, it’s almost impossible to absorb – our microbiomes just don’t know how to. However, a new study from Stanford shows that simply including more porphyran-rich seaweed in our diets trains the microbiome to absorb and digest those nutrients.

At just 16 years of age Mahony rides 2 homebred horses, Disco Donut and Inca VI. 18 months ago Disco Donut was destined for a low level career due to some soundness issues that the vets were unable to provide an answer for. Fortunately, he responded well to his treatments and with excellent care he has been able to become Mahony’s star horse.

She has had a brilliant season so far with both horses, with Inca winning the u18 Novice at Solihull in the spring. More recently, Mahony contested the main 2*L class at Bishop Burton International Youth Championships with Disco Donut producing a fantastic double clear to finish 5th.

Many competitors where challenged with the tough XC track in the other 2*L class, but Inca VI took it all in her stride to finish 3rd.

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