The seaweed floating on the waves or rolled up high along the shore, we count as a useless weed littering our beaches. Yet it is truly a glorious algae and man should be humbled for his ignorance because health is in the freshness of its taste, and for all its inconvenience it has a wealth of uses.

Kelp is a rich source of protein, amino acids, enzymes, beta-carotene, chlorophyll and dietary fiber. Although it’s probably best known as a source of iodine, kelp contains a wealth of other minerals, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium. It is a weapon against Diabetes, helps protect the liver, reduces cholesterol, and helps eliminate toxins, it is an anti-inflammatory and has other medicinal properties.

Let this be a lesson to your soul, that you reckon nothing worthless because you heed not its use, nor know the virtues of it. So, from now on, when you walk by the sea, let weeds be a type and promise of the stored and uncounted riches lying hid in all creatures of God. Martin Tupper.

I added the original quote in Old English for those that enjoy it. 

The sea-wort floating on the waves, or rolled up 

    high along the shore,

Ye counted useless and vile, heaping on it names of 

    contempt:

Yet hath it gloriously triumphed, and man been 

    humbled in his ignorance, 

For health is in the freshness of its savor, and it 

    cumbereth the beach with wealth; 

Comforting the tossings of pain with its 

    violet-tinctured essence,

And by its humbler ashes enriching many proud. 

Be this, then, a lesson to thy soul, that thou reckon 

    nothing worthless, 

Because thou heedest not its use, nor knowest the 

    virtues thereof. 

And herein, as thou walkest by the sea, shall weeds 

    be a type and an earnest

Of the stored and uncounted riches lying hid in all

    Creatures of God.