Categories
Biosea Health FAQ

Is Seaweed Vegan

Seaweed is generally thought to be vegan, but the encapsulation means that the Pacific Seamoss gel capsules are not, whereas the Pacific Seamoss Powder is vegan and is in the process to formally certified organic and halal.

We will have a product available as a compressed tablet in 2021 to enable the capsule to be both vegan and halal.

If you are vegan then we suggest Pacific Seamoss powder is the solution fo you. The amount to take daily is 1/2 to1 teaspoon per day or about 3 grams of dry seaweed. The powder is vegan / organic – harvested from the sea, dried, milled, and packaged for freshness.

Overcoming the Taste of Seaweed

Dark Chocolate Treat

Some of our customers do not use capsules but Pacific Seamoss Powder. Add powder at 20% to dark chocolate. So it becomes a treat – bit like salted caramel. The chocolate recipe is here. (Chocolate).

Sourdough

Alternatively customers like sourdough and the recipe is here. They substitute the salt with Pacific Seamoss Powder. (Sourdough Recipe)

Au Natural

We have some customers that just apply the powder to their cereal or mashed spuds and say it is fine.
My cofounder says 2 of his kids are fine with fruit smoothies, but one notices and says its a bit gritty.

Is Seaweed Vegan?

Seaweed are technically not plants, but a type of algae. Algae are photosynthetic creatures, but are neither plant, animal or fungi. Being photosynthetic, algae, in the form of chlorella or spirulina, are widely accepted as suitable for supplementation in a vegan diet.

However, there is controversy in plant-based vegan communities regarding the composition of nori. Nori is a red algae genus Pyropia, including P. yezoensis and P. tenera, and Pacific Seamoss is also a red seaweed. Nori is often used to make sushi. The nets used in the harvesting process of nori are believed to scoop up small fish. Following this, seaweed, shrimp, crabs, snails, barnacles and small fish are ground together and made into nori sheets. The industry is so large that it often does not take the time to remove the sea animals.

In our harvesting methods, we grow seaweed on ropes, and in harvesting remove all visible sea creatures, but there will be small crustacea potentially in the dried product. Hence why we say do not consume seaweed if you have seafood allergies. The risk is small. For details see this blog on allergies.

Summary of Is Seaweed Vegan

Yes. For all practicable purposes.

Categories
Antiviral

3 Ways Seaweed Boosts Immunity

With the rise of coronavirus, it’s a more important time than ever to make sure our immune systems are working, healthy and ready to fight! So, you might go to a chemist and buy all of your vitamins and mineral supplements. But, they’re probably expensive and packed with sugar and chemicals.

Boost Immunity with Seaweed

Alternatively, seaweed contains an incredible amount of vitamins and minerals. All-natural. It helps your body function without artificial or synthetic vitamins that you don’t process naturally.

Here are 3 vitamins and minerals already present in seaweed that get your immune system functioning at its best!

seaweed contains an incredible amount of vitamins and minerals. All natural. Helps your body function without artificial or synthetic vitamins that you don’t process naturally.

3 ways to boost immunity

  • Vitamin C – increases white blood cells
  • Zinc fights viruses
  • Iodine and Amino Acids Support thyroid function

Vitamin C

Many people turn to eating large amounts of orange juice when they’re sick because it’s high in Vitamin C. Also known as ascorbic acid, this vitamin is well known for boosting immunity and helping fight colds and flu.

The science says Vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells in the body – these are what fight off invaders such as viruses.

Our bodies can’t make our own Vitamin C, so it has to be found in our diets or through supplements. That’s where seaweed comes in! With its high Vitamin C levels, it boosts your immune system greatly. There is 25% of your daily requirements in seaweed.

Zinc

Zinc is a known inhibitor of coronavirus replication. Clinical trials of zinc lozenges in the common cold have demonstrated modest reductions in the duration and or severity of symptoms.1  Zinc assists your immune system by preventing viruses from binding to your RNA. When SARS-1 was studied, scientists found that zinc significantly helped the immune system fight the virus. By extension, this readily available nontoxic therapy should be deployed at the first signs of COVID-19.2  Zinc lozenges can be administered 5 times a day for up to 5 days and extended if needed if symptoms persist. The amount of elemental zinc lozenges is <25% of that in a single 220-mg zinc sulfate daily tablet. This dose of zinc sulfate has been effectively used in combination with antimalarials in early treatment of high-risk outpatients with COVID-19.3

Seaweed has 7 times the amount of zinc as oranges, so it only makes sense to use it for preventing sickness.

Iodine

Iodine supports your thyroid gland, an important organ for repairing damaged cells in your body.

Seaweed contains both iodine and the amino acid tyrosine. Together, they create the hormones that support the thyroid gland and help you fight viruses. Pacific Seamoss provides about 25% of your daily requirements but don’t go and eat this much kelp powder as it may have 3 times more of your RDA

These 3 ways to boost immunity also increases your energy levels and overall health!

References

[1] AS Prasad, JT Fitzgerald, B Bao, FW Beck, PH Chandrasekar Duration of symptoms and plasma cytokine levels in patients with the common cold treated with zinc acetate. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial Ann Intern Med, 133 (4) (2000), pp. 245-252, 10.7326/0003-4819-133-4-200008150-00006

[2] Rahman MT, Idid SZ. Can Zn Be a Critical Element in COVID-19 Treatment? [published online ahead of print, 2020 May 26]. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2020;1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02194-9

[3] Zelenko V. Clinical dx protocol. Available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pjgHlqI-ZuKOziN3txQsN5zz62v3K043pR3DdhEmcos/edit. Accessed Sept 2, 2020.Google Scholar