COVID-19

Remdesivir (also known as its brand name Veklury) is an anti-viral drug. It is currently being used as a form of treatment for COVID-19. It has been authorised for use in treatment in various countries such as the US, India, and Japan for severe cases. It was given the go-ahead in the UK in May. However, due to limited availability, its uses were going to have to be prioritised for the worst cases.There is now evidence from a recent study, that demonstrates that various extracts from edible seaweeds outperformed Remdesivir. These two extracts are known as heparin and fucoidans. These compounds are long chains of sugar molecules known as sulphated polysaccharides. They are effective because they are a similar shape molecule found on human skin that the virus attaches itself to. Once it attaches, it effectively injects its DNA into the human cell where it hijacks it and makes it create more copies of itself. However, by using the seaweed extracts that are a similar shape. That means they can be implemented as a decoy which can help to block the virus, contain it, and destroy it. They stated that that currently it is thought that COVID-19 primarily enters the body through the nose. As a result, they believe these extracts could be used within a nasal spray to block the virus from entering the body.

Lower Methane Production

Seaweed is now also emerging as a powerhouse in the fight against climate change. A large proportion of emissions come from the farming industry and that’s predominately from cattle. Cows produce a lot of methane which is produced as a result of microbes in their digestive system. However, preliminary research is looking promising. It has indicted that adding only a small amount of seaweed to cattle feed could reduce methane emissions by as much as 99 per cent. The study was led by Professor Ermias Kebreab from the University of California. He was quoted saying “We have much more research to do to determine if seaweed supplements could provide a viable, long-term solution, but we are very encouraged by these early results.” It is estimated that methane emissions from cattle make up a third of all emissions from the agricultural sector. This has led California to introduce regulations into the farming industry in an attempt to reduce the amount that is produced. The target is a 40% reduction which is maybe more than doable if seaweed works as well as it suggests it will in the lab. California alone is estimated to contain 1.7 million cows. The use of seaweed is effective because compounds in certain species disrupts the enzyme activity of various microbes. It is these organisms that are involved in the digestion of grass found within the cow’s stomachs.

Biofuel

Another way in which seaweed can be used is as a biofuel. As awareness of global warming increases, scientists are looking for viable alternatives to fossil fuels. Recently scientists have ran tests on a car powered by seaweed and managed to achieve speeds of up to 80 mph. Dr Jaap van Hal, who is leading the study, said that there will be the use of seaweed as a biofuel in the future for private cars however there is also a potential for use within aviation and shipping too. To top it off, seaweed has various advantages over more traditional fuels because cultivation doesn’t require arable land, fresh water, or fertilisers to grow. The project is being ran by a company called MacroFuels. They also state that biofuels will create new jobs across the whole supply chain. They have estimated that, in order to achieve the EU’s target of 2.5% of all transport energy to be derived from advanced biofuels, they would require 5,000km² of cultivated seaweed. This amount of production would create in the region of about 15,000 new jobs.

Skin Care

Seaweed is naturally abundant in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. These properties make it ideal within skincare – another example of the uses of seaweed! One company that is well aware of this is Ishga. They produce a wide range of skin care products with seaweed as the main ingredient – Ascophyllum nodosum no less (the same species that is used within our products too). Seaweed is high in polyphenols and these are responsible for combating free radicals which cause oxidative stress and contribute towards ageing, cellular damage, and mutations. Seaweed baths are also a popular way to nourish your body. This is because seaweed is also good for skin, hair, and nail health when it is consumed and this is backup through EFSA EU approved health claims. This is due to the mineral iodine, something which seaweed is naturally rich in. Joshua Zeichner, MD, is the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. In an interview with Health, he stated that “Seaweed, algae, and kelp are rich in antioxidants, amino acids, and vitamin C, meaning they hydrate, minimise fine lines, promote collagen production, boost radiance, and help treat hyper-pigmentation in skin.”

Nutrition

Above all, seaweed is very nutritious. Despite its recent trendy, superfood status, it has been consumed all over the world for thousands of years. Even today, seaweed is a staple within Asia – particularly in Japan, Korea, and China. There are thought to be over 10,000 different species of macroalgae (as seaweed is also known). Seaweed is naturally low in calories and fat but high in vitamins and minerals. Carolyn Brown, a Registered Dietician, states “seaweed is a vitamin and mineral jackpot, full of vitamins A and E, B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron, and iodine.” On top of that, seaweed also contains omega-3s and polyphenols and is a good source of protein and fibre. For us, the species of seaweed we work with is called Ascophyllum nodosum and is sourced from the pristine Outer Hebrides in Scotland. Seaweed is unique in the sense that it is the only vegan source of iodine. The iodine content actually allows for the use of 6 EFSA EU approved health claims of supporting normal thyroid health; metabolism; skin; cognitive function; nervous system; and development of children. Here at Seaweed & Co. we appreciate that eating seaweed is a new concept to some people but we know that seaweed isn’t weird…It’s wonderful and that’s why we’ve created our Doctor Seaweed’s Weed & Wonderful Organic Scottish Seaweed supplements. By consuming just one to two of our capsules daily would be enough to ensure that you achieve your recommended daily amount of iodine.

Buy yours here today! Enter the code TRYME20 to get 20% your first order!