That Chinese article a PP linked is completely wrong -- it claims that children who eat too much iodine are at risk for goitre -- it's exactly the opposite, with 90% of goitres being due to iodine DEFICIENCY. I know because my grandmother had a goitre, thanks to lack of access to iodine (seafood) in her youth.

DH is Asian and DD love seaweed and would eat as much as you give her. We tend to serve it with rice (mini rice balls) or pasta (wafu pasta) so that she gets some additional calories, since it's so low-cal but surprisingly filling.

Anonymous wrote:does it really count as a green vegetable though?

It is a sea vegetable, and it is green.

Interesting, I'm one of the pps who eats a lot of seaweed. I went and looked at some additional information, and it does seem like reputable health professionals say people should be careful of consuming excess seaweed because of the dangers of excess iodine. I will be more cautious with my daughter (some seaweed but not a ton). But based on those articles, it seems like I should have severe iodine poisoning. I ate one of those huge packs of roasted seaweed snacks from Costco in two weeks, and I've previously eaten a pound of minimally processed dulse (and that is A LOT of seaweed), seemingly with no ill effects. Back in the day, my people were from coastal Ireland, and it's my understanding that seaweed is a traditional snack there and people eat a lot of it-without widespread iodine poisoning. Curious.

does it really count as a green vegetable though?

DD eats it periodically and when she does, she easily eats a package. If that's what he likes, great.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the comments. I'm not worried about the sodium. It's less than 50 mg per package/serving. This is what concerns me about the iodine:

http://www.scmp.com/article/258985/too-much-roast-seaweed-health-risk-children

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/21/superfood-seaweed-health-benefits_n_3786076.html

I really wouldn't take my health information from a Chinese paper discussing Chinese products.

DS and I love it, but don't eat it that often.

We've backed off of those little sealed packs, out of salt concern. You can buy the flat sheets (like at the sushi bar) at the grocery store. They still have salt, but less of it. Still yummy.

OP here. Thanks for the comments. I'm not worried about the sodium. It's less than 50 mg per package/serving. This is what concerns me about the iodine:

http://www.scmp.com/article/258985/too-much-roast-seaweed-health-risk-children

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/21/superfood-seaweed-health-benefits_n_3786076.html

My DD and I love it. Like other things, we eat it in moderation.

Anonymous wrote:It is one of the few green veggies dc (age 5) will eat. I buy the snack packs of salted & roasted nori made w/olive oil. He will eat an entire package. I'm concerned about the excessive iodine content and the possibility of this causing thyroid problems. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks.

I'd be more concerned about the sodium

My 11 year old loves it, and so do I!

I love that stuff! I wouldn't worry about the iodine, because as the pps said, once you get the package open it isn't that much seaweed, but I would watch the salt content. I really like the dulse seaweed from the maine sea vegetable company, and when I was pregnant I did limit myself to a small amount each day because I didn't want to overdo it with the iodine, but I wouldn't worry about a little nori.

Seaweed is very good for you. I wouldn't worry about the iodine. In this country, iodine was added to salt b/c so many people had thyroid issues, e.g., goiters. These snacks have a lot of salt, so I'd be more concerned about sodium intake.

Well, my son eats these up as well. I don't think the iodine is much of an issue in moderation, and I think you would probably have to eat a ridiculous amount of the stuff to have a problem, but I'm not a doctor. Thos packs are actually opretty little once you account for all the air and packaging.

It is one of the few green veggies dc (age 5) will eat. I buy the snack packs of salted & roasted nori made w/olive oil. He will eat an entire package. I'm concerned about the excessive iodine content and the possibility of this causing thyroid problems. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks.