But its value goes far beyond that.
Lin Yu'an stood up, looked at the clumps of kelp farther away, and added, "In many ancient coastal cultures, it is also an important herb and tool."
"Dried kelp can be used to brew tea, which is said to relieve joint pain. Moreover, it's a natural weather forecaster."
He pointed to the air bladders and explained, "These bladders are very sensitive to air humidity; in dry and sunny weather, they become shriveled and hard."
"But before a storm, when the air humidity increases, they absorb moisture and become soft and elastic."
Of course, it's not entirely without risk.
"The most important thing is the collection site. You must choose tidal pools that are far from human activity and with clear water."
"If it's near a port or dock, they are likely to accumulate heavy metals and pollutants from the water, which would be poison, not a supplement."
