Tag: seaweed as food

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Biosea Health Health Benefits

Make Seaweed a Habit for Better Health.

make seaweed a habit eat Pacific Sea Moss

If you make seaweed a habit, then the great thing about functional foods is they have benefits without any nasty side effects. Just like medicines, they work best when consumed often enough that the active molecules stay at the optimum level in your body. That’s why we bring you Pacific Seamoss, a functional food, in an easy to take capsule. Let’s be honest, for those of us accustomed to a western diet, it is much easier to take a few capsules than consume a full bowl of seaweed every day. And every day is the key to getting the full benefits.

Our functional food is just food, with benefits.  Unlike many foods that call themselves functional foods but they are just manufactured foods with some compounds added. Think margarine with added sterols.  Nothing is added to Pacific Seamoss.  Its what is in the food itself.

So how do you make Pacific Seamoss a daily habit?

Habit is a wonderful way to make our lives easier. The science shows that having habits reduce stress and free up brain power for other more difficult tasks. Aristotle knew that excellence comes from daily habit but forming those habits can be tricky in the beginning. Here are some tips from the experts to help you along your Pacific Seamoss journey.

1 Set up a reminder.

When learning a new habit consistency is the key. Reminders may be what your busy brain needs to keep that focus in the beginning. They can be as complicated as an electronic calendar entry or as simple as a post-it note on the bathroom mirror. Think about how you use reminders in your everyday life now and apply the same principle to taking your Pacific Seamoss.

2 Context is important.

Creating a place or situation that reminds you of taking your Pacific Seamoss capsules can make the habit rock solid. Perhaps keep Pacific Seamoss near the kettle so your morning cuppa is the reminder. Or in full view on your bedside table so you remember to take them morning and night. Think of a place or activity you do every day and incorporate your Pacific Seamoss into this context.

3 Timing can seal the deal.

Our bodies are chemically designed to make us creatures of habit. We have natural circadian rhythms that release hormones and neurotransmitters throughout the day, triggering time based behaviours. It’s easy to program our bodies to expect things to happen at a particular time. By taking Pacific Seamoss at the same time every day, you will trick your body and brain into sending you an internal reminder every day. Like an internal alarm clock.

4 Link to an established habit.

This is an easy way for quick habit forming. Because Pacific Seamoss is already in capsule form, adding it to your daily medications or vitamins is the easy choice of habit to link to.

5 Choose what works for you.

Look at the habits you already have in your daily routine and decide what makes these habits work. Perhaps one of the above points is the key. Use this knowledge to incorporate Pacific Seamoss into your daily schedule in a way that works for you.
When it comes to getting the full long-term benefits from seaweed, consistency is the key.

THE HABIT QUADRANT

Make Pacific Seamoss a habit – Tips

The four stages of habit are best described as a feedback loop. They form an endless cycle that is running every moment you are alive.

This “habit loop” is continually scanning the environment, predicting what will happen next, trying out different responses, and learning from the results.

Charles Duhigg and Nir Eyal deserve special recognition for their influence on this image. This representation of the habit loop is a combination of language that was popularized by Duhigg’s book, The Power of Habit, and a design that was popularized by Eyal’s book, Hooked.

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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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Reviews

Carrageenan Friend or Foe?

Carrageenan friend or foe

Two forms of carrageenan plus one that is entirely different. What are they and how are they unique?

Carrageenan is Safe and Healthy

Carrageenan is a polysaccharide that naturally occurs in edible red seaweed

Carrageenan extract is commonly used as a food additive or thickening agent in items such as ice-cream and cheese. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved the additive for use.

Polysaccharides are naturally occurring carbohydrates or sugars that are cheap, non-toxic and readily available. Carrageenan is mostly used in the food industry as a gelling or thickening agent as well as in the field of pharmaceuticals to test for anti-inflammatory agents. There are many studies that have been conducted on the health effects and the safety of carrageenan. Many of these studies are based what sometimes called “degraded carrageenan”, which is in fact an entirely different molecule called Poligeenan.

  1. Natural carrageenan is found in whole, unprocessed seaweed such as Pacific Sea Moss which has been termed a super food. Seaweed has been the food of our ancestors for millennia.
  2. Food grade carageenan such as that used in the thickening of ice cream is readily extracted from red seaweed, and is processed with alkaline substances. It is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and also the European regulators.
  3. So-called denatured carrageenan is significantly altered at the molecular level with heat and acid. It is more accurately referred to as poligeenan. Poligeenan is not a food product, and only used in the lab. It is known to  present considerable health risks. 

Confusion between poligeenan and carrageenan

So called denatured carrageenan is in fact a different molecule which is correctly named poligeenan. Poligeenan has been extensively researched on animals and has been shown to cause ulcers and gut tumors, and even cause colon cancer in animals such as rats and mice. Few studies have been extended to humans due to these adverse effects. Poligeenan is not a food substance, it does not occur in nature, rather is is a potent chemical used in industry.

A detailed review of about 45 studies on carrageenan on animals revealed that most of these studies were based on poligeenan, which is derived from but not a form of carageenan. Poligeenan has been found to have harmful health effects. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between these different molecules.

Poligeenan is quite different to carrageenan From [1]

Naturally occurring Carrageenan is good for our health

Natural carrageenan is found in Pacific Sea Moss, which is whole seaweed food and is safe for human consumption. There have been several peer-reviewed studies that support statement. In a study on mice fed on carrageenan extracted from seaweeds, inhibitory activity of tumour growth in mice was detected. In another study on male rats, there was neither detected changes in their body weights nor any change in their health. Carrageenan extracted from red marine algae is a strong anti-inflammatory agent in rodents such as mice. In yet another study, carrageenan from marine algae has shown signs of inducing cells to detect and destroy pathogens found in the body of rats. Another peer-reviewed study used a set of five rats and fed them with carrageenan extracted from red seaweed. After 10 days of observation, there was similar weight gain and fecal excretion in all the rats that were studied. There was no carrageenan detected in the liver or intestines of these rats and the carrageenan excreted in the faeces had similar gel filtration distribution pattern as that of the carrageenan that had been administered.

These studies indicate that the native carrageenan extracted from Pacific Sea Moss is entirely safe and has no negative effects. They are not degraded in the gut and therefore are not toxic. Obviously, if the good carrageenan found in Pacific Sea Moss were to be degraded in the body, it would have been detected in the numerous studies and should have resulted in significant ulceration and tumor growth.

References

[1] Re‐evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a) as food additives European Food Safety Commission

“Seaweed is – all the weed you will ever need.”

You might like these articles:

  1. The Many Uses of Seaweed
  2. How Is Seaweed Linked to Weight loss
  3. Health Benefits of Seaweed. 8 Things You Should Know
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Health Benefits Seaweed for Humanity

Seaweed And The Environment

Seaweed benefits enviroment - find out how Pacific Sea Moss benefits

Seaweed and the Environment

Watch these 2 videos from Prof Tim Flannery – passionate about climate change and believes a pathway forward is to grow seaweed on a large scale

  • For Food
  • For Biofuel
  • For packaging
  • For human health
  • For animal health

PROF TIM FLANNERY TALKS SEAWEED AND ENVIRONMENT

CAN SEAWEED SAVE THE WORLD ABC 2017

Seaweed – the smart organic medicinal food for boosting your immunity

PURCHASE NOW
 

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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.

biosea health one bottle

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.