Seaweed is swimming its way into the mainstream market.

Waitrose has just announced that it will stock fresh seaweed in its stores, while sales of the green stuff soared by 125 per cent after Jamie Oliver claimed it had helped him lose weight.

“Seaweed is one of this year’s biggest trends in veg which we’re seeing on the menus of some of London’s top and most creative restaurants," says Waitrose product developer, Simona Cohen Vida. "Our customers like to experiment in the kitchen, so we predict that seaweed will be top of the shopping list this spring."

A staple in our diet in ancient times, seaweed has become popular not just because of its delicious flavour, but because of its many health benefits.

Companies such as the The Cornish Seaweed Company and This Is Seaweed in Ireland are harvesting a variety of seaweeds and related products, including dulse, kelp, carrageen, wakame, sea spaghetti, seaweed salt, and so on.

Not sure what to do with it? How about sea spaghetti pasta with basil pesto? Or dulse and quinoa salad?

You can also cut down on your salt intake by using seaweed salt, a mixture small-flaked dulse, nori and sea greens mixed with Maldon Sea Salt. Pinch and sprinkle on any dish.