Tag: health benefits of seaweed

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Biosea Health Gut Microbiome

Seaweed changes Microbiome

seaweed changes microbiome Eat Pacific Sea Moss

We know seaweed changes gut Microbiome. There are more than 10 times more bacteria in the gut (microbiome) than cells in human body!

Moreover, there are more than 150 time total genome of microbiota than the human body. Mounting evidence suggested that gut microbiota plays an important role in the development of disease in the brain. And there is a bidirectional relationship between the brain, gut, and the microbiota within the gut, which is referred as the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Seaweed Changes Gut Microibiome in Animal Studies

In a 2017 study Dr Sunil Panchal and Prof Brown[1] put rats onto a obesity inducing diet. They had 3 groups of 10 rats each.

  • Group 1 had normal rat diet.
  • Group 2 had a Junk food diet.
  • Group 3 had the Junk food diet plus some seaweed (Kappaphycus sp) and in human terms that was about 13 gm per day.

At the end of  the 8 week trial they looked at the gut microbiota.  Find the full details in the references, but this graph stands out.

There are 4 families of bacteria.  The black lines is from the feces of the normal food rat. The Red lines are from those Supersize diet, and the Green is from the Supersize plus seaweed.

Bacteriodes species – 3 times more. This is a strong marker for obesity so it helps explain why the seaweed reversed obesity. Seaweed has over 30% sulfated polysaccharide (carrageenan) and it is a good food source to the bacteria A recent study has shown that Bacteroides sp. are able to digest carrageenan
producing oligosaccharides which possess lipid-lowering properties.

In the s24-7 type seaweed increased the counts back to above the normal.

In the Clostridiacea and the Osciallspira back to normal

Microbiota in Alzheimer Disease

While improved microbiome helps in diseases such as blood pressure, obesity, there is also a growing body of evidence that microbiome is important in Alzheimer’s Disease.

Here is 1 figure between 40 patients with AD compared with “normal” patients.  Read more in Dr Zhung’s paper.

Changes in gut microbiota in Alzheimer disease

The Microbiota–Gut–Brain (MGB) Axis

The concept of the MGB axis is well established. The neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems, in addition to the sympathetic and parasympathetic arms of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the ENS, are key pathways in gut–brain communication. Although the exact mechanisms mediating gut–brain interactions are not fully understood, they were suggested to involve endocrine, immune, and neural pathways (vagus nerve and enteric nervous system), leading to possible alteration in AD patients or aggravating inflammation.

The concept has now expanded and has become a quickly evolving area of research that led to convergence of research efforts in the fields of neuroscience, psychiatry, gastroenterology, and microbiology—disciplines that were previously considered to have distinct and separate research objectives and focuses.

Further, depending on the diet that the Microbiota is living on has a cascade effect on compounds made, adsorbed and therefore the makeup of that microbiota.

No longer.  It is clearly integrated, and treating them as a whole system is now essential.

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REFERENCES

[1] Wanyonyi, S, du Preez S et al 2017 Kappaphycus alvarezii as a Food Supplement Prevents Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats. Nutrients 9 (11)  DOI:10.3390/nu9111261 (Pubmed)

[2] Li, M.; Shang, Q.; Li, G.; Wang, X.; Yu, G. Degradation of marine algae-derived carbohydrates by Bacteroidetes isolated from human gut microbiota. Mar. Drugs 2017, 15, 92

[3] Dinan, T Cryan, J 2017 Gut instincts: microbiota as a key regulator of brain development, ageing and neurodegeneration  Journal of Physiology 595 (2) 489-503 https://doi.org/10.1113/JP273106

[4] Zhuang ZQ, Shen LL et al. 2018 Gut Microbiome is Altered in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (2018) Journal of Alzheimer’s disease: JAD 63(4):1-10 ·  https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-180176

[5] Vo Van Giau OrcID, Si Ying Wu 2017 Gut Microbiota and Their Neuroinflammatory Implications in Alzheimer’s Disease Nutrients 2018, 10(11), 1765; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10111765

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Alzheimer's Disease Biosea Health Gut Microbiome Health Benefits Reviews

Seaweed Reduces Alzheimers?

seaweed reduces alzheimers disease Pacific Sea Moss

Seaweed reduces Alzheimers in animal studies and work is underway with dietary Sargassum fusiforme as it has demonstrated improvement of memory and moreover reduces amyloid plaque load in an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model. The research was presented by Dr Monique Mulder at the Seagriculture 2019 Workshop in Ostende Belgium in September 2019. Dr Mulder is from Erasmus University Rotterdam and working with colleagues globally.

Seaweed Reduces Alzheimer’s Disease – Background

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), also referred to simply as Alzheimer’s, is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and gradually worsens over time. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events.

Seaweed reduces alzheimers disease
Aging Memory Decline

An ever-increasing reduction in memory occurs in patients. Language proficiency, the ability to solve problems and other cognitive functions also decrease. The disease is not yet treatable. 44 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. The costs involved are $ 1,000 billion. Due to the aging population, these numbers will increase drastically in the coming years. Over the past 20 years AD research has focused on either:

  • Early detection. Catch early and stop progression.
  • Drugs to stop the disease and the symptoms.

AD disease progression is complex.

  • Brain shrinkage. As neurons are injured and die throughout the brain, connections between networks of neurons may break down, and many brain regions begin to shrink. By the final stages of Alzheimer’s, this process—called brain atrophy—is widespread, causing significant loss of brain volume.
  • Beta amyloid.  There is an abnormal build up of a protein called beta amyloid, which forms “plaques” outside the brain cells.
  • Tangles. Inside the brain cells, another protein called tau builds up into “tangles”

Seaweed Reduces Alzheimers in Mouse Memory

Dr Mulder has been working for the past 15 years on dietary and genetic approaches to Alzheimer disease in animal models. Dr Mulder explains that “I ended up in the seaweed by accident. I have always been interested in the relationship between nutrition and health. We were looking for a certain substance (the plant sterol Saringosterol) and found in the scientific literature that this substance had been detected in seaweed. Then it appeared that mice that we had fed with seaweed performed better in the field of cognition (information processing in the brain). That was the trigger for further research.”.

Seaweed Reduced Brain Atrophy

The brain atrophy is due to lack of cholesterol.  The brain cannot get cholesterol from the body as cholesterol cannot move across the Blood Brain barrier.  Dr Mulder’s previous work showed that the memory of mice with Alzheimer’s disease improves if the transport of cholesterol in the brain is activated with synthetic substances that stimulate certain receptors (LXR α and β). Unfortunately, serious side effects occur, such as fatty liver and accumulation of fatty substances in the blood, so that ruled out the synthetics.

But with in Sargassum, a natural substance was (Saringosterol) did work. It activated fat transport in the brain via LXR β. In mice with Alzheimer’s disease, she saw an improvement in memory and fewer brain abnormalities when they let them eat seaweed. Moreover, no adverse side effects occurred.

Reduction of brain with Alzheimer diseaser

Dr Mulder presented that the key issue is that the brain has to synthesis its own cholesterol – there is no blood to brain transfer. Defective synthesis in the brain causes brain disease. The regulation is with compounds called LXR. Brain sterols also play a part.

Details of the Research

In previous published work, when they increased the cholesterol turnover by LXR activation with compounds at about 0.015% w/w then mice improved their object recognition and object location tasks. (Did not affect mice without AD).

It turns out that common plant sterols (such as those from Sargassum) can enter the brain, and they are very similar to cholesterol but the ones they have tried previously do not change the LXR levels.

It is not simple, as the compounds have to turn on / turn off genes.  These compounds have to “agonist”. An agonist is a chemical that binds to a receptor and activates the receptor to produce a biological response.

A few years the research discovered that a sterol from Sargassum fusiforme is a novel selective LXR. The work at Erasmuwas done in collaboration with Shulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

Sargassum is very active anti oxidant

The researchers compared a range of plants and compounds including Azadirachta indica (neem oil) which has reputed health benefits.  You can see the much larger response from Sargassum

Sargassum fusiforme activates LXRb

This figure shows that the Sargassum stopped the folding of the brain which is associated with brain atrophy and tangles. There was no sign of fatty liver from the eating of the sterols, and that is consistent with research with research with the seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii where it was protective.

Sargassum activates LXR target genes in the brainThis figure shows that Sargassum actually affected 3 of the genes that regulate the LXR target genes.

The microbiome: A target for Alzheimer disease?

All the evidence from this work, and from others such as Lin 2019 shows that the getting the gut from a leaky gut to a healthy gut is subtle but very important. The Toll Like Receptors (TLRs) play a huge part in the regulation. The Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) is very important as well. Normally nothing gets into the brain except glucose.

Microbiota Gut Brain Axis

From Lin Fig. 1. Potential implications of TLRs and gut-brain-axis for AD. In healthy subjects, the gut epithelium is guaranteed by tight junctions between the cells. TLRs are expressed on macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), and intestinal epithelial cells, serving as sentinels to monitor the pathogens in gut. Vagus nerve appears to modulate communication between the gut and the brain. The whole microenvironment maintains in homeostasis. During aging, the tight junction of intestinal and BBB become permeable. In AD patients, the diversity of gut microbiota decreased, while the population of pro-inflammation bacteria increased. Bacteria and their excretions could cross the leaky gut and then activate the TLRs in epithelium, IECs and macrophages, leading to production of pro-inflammation cytokines. These cytokines make their way through circulation or vague nerves to the brain, enlarge the neuro-inflammatory responses, and promote neuro-degeneration in CNS.

Findings from the Current Research

Seaweed improved memory in mice.  There are multiple reasons.

  • Sargassum seaweed is much more effective than other compounds or “anti-oxidants”
  • Sargassum increased cholesterol levels and that shows promise that brains won’t shrink.
  • Sargassum activates LXR-targets genes in the brain and there is half as much brain folding (i.e. degradation) and there has been reduction in beta amyloid and less tangles.
  • There is no downside.  Sargassum did not induce fatty liver or other side effects.

Will this Work in Humans?

In over 400 animal studies since 2002, the failure of drug development has been over 99% when the drugs trials were transitioned from animal studies to human studies. These studies by Mulder and her teams are different in that the Sargassum appears to be affecting all 3 of the causes of dementia.

  1. Plant sterols cross the blood-brain barrier to give a supply of cholesterol like plant sterols that are used in brain regeneration.
  2. One of the compounds works on the LXRb gene expression process
  3. There is less amyloid plaque deposited

So this is very promising work.  Would you consume seaweed now to prevent AD?

References

Are some animal models more equal than others? A case study on the translational value of animal models of efficacy for Alzheimer’s disease. Veening-Griffioen et al Eur J Pharmacol. 2019 Sep 15;859:172524. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.172524.

Lin C, Zhao, S et al 2019 Microbiota-gut-brain axis and toll-like receptors in Alzheimer’s disease 2019 Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal Volume 17, 2019, Pages 1309-1317
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csbj.2019.09.008

24(S)-Saringosterol from edible marine seaweed Sargassum fusiforme is a novel selective LXRβ agonist. Chen et al J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Jul 2;62(26):6130-7. doi: 10.1021/jf500083r.

Good Catch! https://amazingerasmusmc.nl/actueel/goeie-vangst/

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Biosea Health Gut Microbiome Health Benefits

The Ultimate Sea Vegetable

The ultimate sea vegetable is Pacific Sea Moss

Could Pacific SeaMoss be the ultimate Sea vegetable?

Seaweed has been identified as a key food supplement that can be consumed conveniently in capsule form. Due to increased awareness about the nutritional and health benefits of seaweed, there has been a growing market for seaweed products in Europe. Seaweed is a good source of Vitamin (A, C, E, and K), and many minerals such as potassium, magnesium, copper, calcium, iron, and manganese that are often lacking in modern diets. Furthermore, food products made from seaweed are low in saturated fats and cholesterol. Seaweed contains iodine that helps in the proper functioning of the thyroid glands and normal energy-yielding metabolism.

Consumer demand for seaweed products in Europe

Utilisation of seaweed in Europe is still at its infancy, however, consumers are gradually seeking new sources of healthy and nutritious products and in effect looking towards seaweed. Demand from Europe is expected to increase due to increased consumer awareness on the health benefits of seaweed. In Europe seaweed could well become the next superfood and it is slowly being incorporated in very many different food and drink products. With the anticipated increase in seaweed for health, many leading health companies are now appreciating the potential impact of seaweed as a key ingredient in the manufacture of healthy food products. Food and beverage manufacturers are also looking into ways of incorporating seaweed ingredients into their products. 

Consumers of food supplements search for products that help them maintain a healthy lifestyle and are extremely conscious about their health. These consumers have a preference for natural and organic products, and as a result, they purchase the organic seaweed food supplements. Therefore, the demand for seaweed is growing because it is recognized as a certified organic product. In Europe, in 2016 the market for certified organic products grew by 11.4% to over €33.5 billion. Countries that have great demand for organic products in Europe include Switzerland, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.

Companies that produce organic seaweed food supplements ensure that they maintain high-quality standards and have to always monitor the production process to avoid detoxification.

What is driving the demand for seaweed in Europe?

According to the World Health Organization, about 70% of European adults are overweight or obese, which has increased demand for food and diet supplements for weight loss. There is growing consumer awareness about the use of seaweed in pharmaceuticals as more and more people are preferring to use natural products for their health. Also, there is a growing popularity for Asian foods in Europe, and this is expected to support the growth of the target market. Seaweed food supplements have also been used to improve immunity and improved immunity is linked to preventive health. This opens up opportunities for seaweed supplements. Seaweed has fiber and sugars that can be used as food sources for good bacteria to nourish your gut. Seaweed is thought to help in preventing chronic diseases such as cancer and also aid in the prevention of high blood pressure in humans.

Maybe the ultimate sea vegetable is Pacific Sea Moss

Clean. Green, Sustainable. Good Food. Food for Health

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Biosea Health Health Benefits

Many Uses of Seaweed

Many Uses for Seaweed

There are many uses of seaweed. Most recognise food, but since ancient times are important to humanity for many other reasons.

In South America, Australasia, The Middle East and of course Japan, China and Korea Seaweed has long been an important source of nutrition. Presently, however, due to the unique properties of seaweeds, they are increasingly being used for a variety of advanced applications globally. 

Nutritional components of seaweeds

Seaweeds are rich sources of vitamins and minerals and  widely used as health supplements.

  • Potassium. 98% of Americans are deficient in K. 
  • Calcium
  • Iron
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Magnesium
  • Phosphorous
  • Iodine plays an important role in the functioning of the thyroid and helps in the prevention of goitre.
  • Low in calories
  • High in dietary fibers that are highly beneficial for the human gut system by promoting the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria.
  • Contain several beneficial compounds such as fucoxanthin, antioxidants, and polysaccharides. These are being studied for their potential as antibiotics, anti-tumour, laxatives, anticoagulants, anti-cancerous drugs, and medication.

One of the many uses of seaweed is health

Polysaccharides from seaweeds can be used to reduce or replace added fats in foods in order to manufacture foods with reduced total fat content such as low-fat versions of meat-based and vegetable-based products. Additionally, fucoxanthin found in seaweeds has been found to help in the burning of fatty tissue and thus aiding in weight management. Some biologically active compounds found in seaweeds such as carotenoids and peptides have been shown to play a significant role in preventing chronic degenerative diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and arthritis. Other seaweed extracts can be used to improve the skin moisture retention properties of cosmetic products.

Improve the quality of food products

The addition of seaweeds extracts to some food products helps in eliminating or reducing the needs of artificial chemical preservatives. The bioactive compounds found in seaweeds are often referred to as functional ingredients due to their many beneficial health properties and prospective uses from food processing to and formulation of meat products. Due to the thickening properties of some polysaccharides found in seaweeds, they are used to thicken commercial foods such as sweets, sauces, and condiments. Other seaweed polysaccharides are used in the food industry to modify the texture of foods due to their gelling properties. 

Seaweed extracts used as food additives

Seaweeds have for years been used in Asian countries as additives in salads and soups. The extracts from seaweeds have been used in Japan to prepare and preserve fish and meat. Powdered seaweed can be used to improve the human digestion of beans and as a flavour-enhancer since it is a natural source of glutamic acid. Other water-soluble polysaccharides from seaweeds have been used to stabilize some food products such as ice cream where they help the ice cream maintain a smooth texture by inhibiting the formation of large ice crystals. 

Improving the shelf-life of Food

Seaweeds contains natural antioxidants that have been found to inhibit the lipid oxidation of fatty acids, which is a major problem in quality preservation of foods and can otherwise cause unpleasant smells in food products. In conducted studies, seaweeds have been identified to improve the shelf-life of bread by two days. Seaweed extracts have replaced chemical preservatives in the preservation of tilapia fish with no change of odour or taste of the tilapia. More importantly, the fish remained preserved with the same quality standard used for the chemical preservatives.

You might like these articles too:

  1. Cancer Fighting Properties in Seaweeds
  2. How Is Seaweed Linked To Weightloss
  3. Seaweed and Motor Neurone Disease

We make no medical claims. But we all understand seaweed is healthy. What you may not know is that peer reviewed scientific papers have shown in countless studies on humans, animals and in test tubes that seaweed is healthy. Biosea Health provides Pacific Seamoss© as a simple way to consume food. Simply good healthy food.

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Biosea Health Health Benefits

Seaweed and Motor Neurone Disease

motor neurone disease may be improved with seaweed Pacific Sea Moss

Motor neuron disease has no cure. Seaweed slows progression, repairs brain damage, and reduces decline.

What is Motor Neurone Disease?

Motor neurone disease is also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Approximately 1400 people in Australia are living with this disease. MND typically affects people in their mid-50s and survival is approximately 2-5 years from the onset of symptoms. Although there is currently no cure for MND, an anti-glutamatergic medication is available and slows the progression of the disease.. It is a devastating neurogenerative disorder that affects and destroys the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons are nerve cells that control essential voluntary muscle activities such as walking, speaking, swallowing, and breathing.

When motor neurons are destroyed, the messages they send out to the muscles start to stop reaching the tissues progressively. Muscles stiffen, weaken, and eventually waste away. As the disease progresses, the affected person starts to lose their ability to do necessary muscular activities such as talking, walking, breathing, and eating. 

Presently, there is no cure or standard treatment for motor neurone disease. People suffering from motor neurone disease are provided with supportive treatment to make them more comfortable while maintaining their quality of life. Other forms of treatment are symptomatic, whereby the therapy focuses on visible symptoms such as respiratory therapy to aid in breathing, and physical therapy to help in limb movement.

What causes motor neuron disease?

About 10 percent of all cases of motor neurone disease is inherited. In contrast, the remaining 90 percent of motor neurone disease cases are thought to be caused by toxic, environmental, viral, or genetic factors. 

What are the symptoms of motor neuron disease?

During the early stages of motor neuron disease, the symptoms of the disease may be similar to those of other conditions, which may complicate diagnosis. However, typical symptoms of this disease mostly start in the mouth, arms, and legs, as well as the respiratory system. Some of the identified symptoms include a weakened grip that makes it challenging for a person to pick up and hold things. Muscle cramps, muscle pains, and twitches, fatigue, trouble breathing, or shortness of breath may also be present. Slurred speech, difficulty swallowing add to the challenges — odd emotional responses like laughing or crying, and weight loss due to muscle wasting.

biosea health 300 tablets

What are the neuro-protective effects of seaweed?

There is significant evidence that oxidative stress has a considerable impact on the role in the progression of motor neurone disease. Oxidative stress is defined as the imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body’s ability to detoxify their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants. Oxidative stress is known to impair the architecture and function of cells, which may lead to various chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as motor neuron disease.

Seaweeds possess antioxidant polysaccharides. These have been found to slow down damage to the motor neurons, improve cognitive and motor functions, and reduce cognitive and motor decline in a range of neurodegenerative disorders. The polysaccharides found in seaweeds have been reported to have potent reducing power and can scavenge on the free radicals. Seaweeds also contain fucoxanthin, which is a carotenoid that is considered as a powerful antioxidant and is thought to play a significant role in brain injury. Research has shown that taking foods rich in antioxidant ingredients such as seaweeds has excellent potential in preventing conditions related to oxidative stress. 

You might also like these articles:

1. Health Benefits of Seaweed. 8 Things You Should Know
2. Improve Heart Health
3.Cancer Fighting Properties in Seaweed

For more questions visit FAQ

References

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4026683
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28968365
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28003344
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28003344
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25299277
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Arthritis Biosea Health Health Benefits

Seaweed reduces Arthritis

seaweed reduces arthritis Pacific Seamoss

SEAWEED REDUCES ARTHRITIS EVIDENCE

The evidence that seaweed reduces arthritis has been demonstrated by a reduction in degeneration of cartilage through potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflamatory and anti-immunogenic actions. Arthritis is one of the most common causes of pain and disability in our aging population and current treatments only address the symptoms of joint disease.  While there are over 100 different types of arthritis, the underlying causes for arthritis are oxidative stress and inflammation in cartilage and in the surrounding tissue. Rheumatoid and osteo arthritis may be caused by different reasons.

Some promising work by  Kerschenmeyer and team in 2017 published promising “in vitro” work with the carrageenan in our Pacific Sea Moss©. While the paper is technical the information is really encouraging. What they said was

“Here we show that the natural polysaccharide alginate and particularly its sulfated derivatives have potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-immunogenic properties in vitro. We found that these polymers exert a free radical scavenging activity in a sulfation-dependent manner. In particular, the sulfation degree of substitution of alginate directly correlated with its ability to scavenge superoxide radicals and to chelate metal ions.”

What Conclusions About Seaweed Reduces Arthritis did the Authors Conclude

The data from that paper shows chemical assays performed with alginate (●), and sulfated alginates with DS 0.1 (•), 0.21 (x), 0.48 (■), 0.74 (✮) and 0.98 (▲). Each figure is a different assay. Figure A) Superoxide radical scavenging assay. B) Hydroxyl radical scavenging assay. C) Metal chelating assay. D) Reducing power assay. Dotted line indicates absorbance of the negative control. Results were obtained from three replicates and are shown as mean +/- SD.

There will have to be more in vitro or field trials but the evidence in the lab follows what many have been saying that seaweed reduces arthritis.

REFERENCES

[1] Treating arthritis with algae. A new weapon in the fight against arthritis? Science Direct

[2] Anne Kerschenmeyer, Øystein Arlov, Vera Malheiro, Matthias Steinwachs, Markus Rottmar, Katharina Maniura-Weber, Gemma Palazzoloae and Marcy Zenobi-Wong 2017 Anti-oxidant and immune-modulatory properties of sulfated alginate derivatives on human chondrocytes and macrophages. Biomater. Sci., 2017,5, 1756-1765  DOI:10.1039/C7BM00341B

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Biosea Health Health Benefits Seaweed for Humanity

Health Benefits of Seaweed. 8 things you should know.

8 health benefits of seaweed eating Pacific Seamoss

Health Benefits of Seaweed

Seaweed, or “sea vegetables”, are a type of sea algae that can be found growing along shorelines around the world. Generally, seaweed can be classified by color – red, green and brown. Biosea Health grows and harvests Pacific Sea Moss© or Kappaphycus alvarezii in pristine Pacific waters off the SouthEast Coast of the Philippines. Enjoy the health benefits of seaweed.

Heath benefits of seaweed

People are familiar with the dried, processed varieties commonly used in the making of salads, soups and sushi. However, they may not know this aquatic plant has a number of edible species, each with their own nutritional and health benefits.  

Eastern cultures have acknowledged seaweed as a sustainable and nutrient rich food source for thousands of years. Backed by modern science, there is a growing movement to include seaweed in the Western diet in order to take advantage of the many health benefits.  

1. Potential Cancer-Fighting Properties

Seaweed is a natural source of fucoxanthin. A carotenoid, a class of biological pigment that includes beta-carotene. Fucoxanthin is being actively researched for its many health properties. Brown seaweeds have more than red seaweeds but all contain some.

health benefits of seaweed - helping with cancer

Perhaps the most exciting discovery about this compound is its anti-cancerous properties. Cancer is characterized by the growth of abnormal cells and there are more than 100 cancerous diseases. Fucoxanthin can disrupt the development of cancerous cells helping to slow the advance of the disease. 

Many of the studies on fucoxanthin’s effects on cancer, focus on animal subjects. Scientists are excited by the prospect of developing cancer fighting medications from seaweeds for humans. 

2. Improved Heart Health and Blood Pressure Maintenance

According to the World Health Organization more than 1.13 billion people suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension) and less than 1 in 5 have the condition under control. Hypertension forces the cardiovascular system to work harder, creating pressure within the heart and arteries that can reach dangerous levels.

Symptoms of high blood pressure can be easily ignored unless diagnosed by a medical professional. Known as “the silent killer”, it can cause dizziness, headaches, nose bleeds, vision changes, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting depending on the severity of the condition. Left uncontrolled, hypertension can lead to strokes, seizures, heart attacks, irregular heart rhythm, kidney damage, and blocked arteries, all of which can result in death.

3. Full of Essential Minerals

measuring blood pressure with old woman

Seaweed contains a number of essential minerals including potassium, copper, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and sodium. These minerals, as part of a healthy diet help to lower the risk of both high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. The ingestion of seaweed has been shown to improve the physical structure of the heart in rats.

Potassium especially has been recommended as an important element in helping to improve cardiovascular health. There are many ways to ingest the necessary amounts of potassium, however, 18 g of dried seaweed contains approximately the same amount of potassium as 700 g of spinach. More detail is provided in our Trace Elements in Seaweed analysis for Pacific Seamoss

4. Full of Vitamins

The actual level of vitamins has been poorly studied but check out our vitamin Seaweed is Full of Vitaminsanalysis to see that depending on how the seaweed is harvested, and species may be 30% of your daily requirements of Vitamin B’s or Vitamin D’s

5. Improves Liver Function and Structure

Primarily the liver filters blood coming from the digestive tract, metabolizes drugs and detoxifies chemicals. This important organ also produces proteins that aid in blood clotting.

Seaweed Health Benefits

Compromised liver function can result in a buildup of blood impurities. Chemicals, minerals, proteins, and nutrients that would normally be distributed through the body or filtered out as waste, instead of failing to reach their proper destinations. Sadly, many liver disorders and diseases do not present with outward symptoms until they have progressed further. 

The fiber and nutrients contained in seaweed appear to help purify the digestive tract and improve cardiovascular health, which benefits the liver. Fucoxanthin has also been shown to improve the structure of the liver, as well as the heart.

6. A Natural Way to Promote Thyroid Health

Seaweed contains a rich source of iodine which is necessary for thyroid health. The thyroid produces hormones which help to regulate many of the body’s metabolic functions, such as brain development, temperature, heart rate, cholesterol, menstrual cycles, and breathing.

Seasoned seaweed salad and fresh herbs. Top view. Table setting

A common source of iodine in the Western diet is iodized table salt. For those watching their sodium intake, even small amounts of added salt can be detrimental. Instead, the ingestion of seaweed can provide most, if not all, of the recommended daily intake. However, too much seaweed can lead to an over-saturation of iodine, so moderation is encouraged.

7. Supports Digestive Health and Regularity

In 2008 the recommended daily intake of fiber was 25g for females and 38g for males. As little as 8g of seaweed a day could provide 12.5% of this need. Increased fiber helps the body to flush out toxins and waste, including excess fats. 

Prebiotics are food for the microflora inside the human digestive tract. These foods are often high in fiber, making seaweed an optimal source. Probiotics are foods that contain live microorganisms that maintain or improve microflora. Though research is still exploring the benefits of prebiotics, healthy adults can safely add this natural digestive aid to their diet.

Depending on amount consumed, seaweed is very high in soluble and insoluble fibre. Details are on the label

8. Assists in Controlling Hunger Which Can Aid in Weight Loss

Obesity is a major health concern around the world, especially in industrialized nations. Maintaining a balanced BMI amongst all of life’s other responsibilities can be a challenge for even the most dedicated. 

weight loss

Besides being beneficial to your digestive tract, fiber is a great way to stave off hunger. Fiber lacks calories while also filling the stomach and providing nutrients. Seaweed, already a low-calorie food, is also high in soluble fiber (36.4%) and other nutrients. In addition, the fucoxanthin in seaweed has been shown to aid in weight loss in rats who had been fed a high-calorie diet compared.

Additional Health Benefits of Seaweed

These additional health benefits have been shown in both animal and human studies.

9. Aids in Controlling Blood Sugar and may reduce risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Seaweed’s high fiber composition, nutritional content, and prebiotic properties may promote digestive, liver, thyroid and cardiovascular health. Working in concert, these systems can foster healthy insulin production and blood sugar levels. Enjoy the health benefits of seaweed.

Lifestyle factors, such as diet, exercise and genetic predisposition, can affect any of these systems singularly or collectively. Drug reactions, injury, and physical changes to the body such as pregnancy or cancer can also affect how the body processes glucose and produces insulin.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the cells become resistant to insulin and the pancreas is unable to overcome this resistance. Insulin then needs to be introduced into the body to balance glucose levels in the blood. Lifestyle and diet changes can assist the body in stabilizing glucose to insulin levels.

Research has shown that the fucoxanthin lowered the blood glucose, plasma insulin, and water intake in diabetic mice. One human-trial study reported a decrease in body weight that may have been related to the presence of fucoxanthin. The potential benefits for diabetics is high and could prove to help those not affected by the disease to lessen their susceptibility.

10 Boosts the Immune System and Anti-Aging

The not so humble “sea vegetables” is a nutrient-dense part of the average diet in Japan, Korea and China – nations which have been the focus of many recent health studies. It has long been noted by science and the healthcare community that these cultures have extended longevity and overall health when compared to the West.

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Seaweed is full of antioxidants which may protect cells from internal and external free radicals. The cancer fighting properties of fucoxanthin may also assist the body in fighting signs of aging created by irregular cell development. These products may have also, anti-inflammatory properties. Skin care products and healthcare techniques which use seaweeds can be found throughout Asia and are steadily making their way around the world.

11. Improves brain function

Check out our post on how seaweed is being studied for improved brain function and reduction in dementia.

12. Reduces Hangovers

There is good evidence seaweed assists in reducing hangovers

We make no medical claims.  But we all understand seaweed is healthy.  What you may not know is that peer reviewed scientific papers have shown in countless studies on humans, animals and in test tubes that seaweed is healthy. Biosea Health provides seaweed as a simple way to consume food.  Simply good healthy food.

References

For more reading, check out these links.