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Algae:
unleashed secrets from the sea
Algae to the rescue!
Since the beginning of time, the therapeutic value of the sea has been
recognized. The sea has been referred to as the "soup of life" and interestingly,
seawater contains each of the nutrients found in blood plasma…nutrients,
however, at an amazing 10,000 times the concentration. Algae are also
rich in mineral salts, which are quite often lacking in our diets…Magnesium,
Potassium and Calcium.
In the year 1750 Englishman
Richard Russell, who said "It is necessary to drink seawater and to bathe
and eat all things from the sea where seawater virtues may be concentrated",
endorsed seawater officially in print.
Seawater contains
minerals, mineral salts, and trace elements that are vital and essential
for the body’s biological processes to function properly. The body does
not produce these elements, but come from outside sources either by food
or tropical means. They are catalysts for chemical reactions necessary
for physical wellness. They aid in the synthesis of enzymes, vitamins,
and hormones more efficiently in the body.
Seaweeds are nature’s
most complete and balanced nutrients. When used externally on the body,
they increase circulation, add even skin tone, stimulate the body’s lymphatic
system (the body’s waste system), eliminating trapped toxins and speed
up metabolism aiding in the breakdown of fatty tissue.
Seaweed is absorbed
through the skin very easily due to the similarities between seawater
and human blood plasma. The small molecular size of the seaweed also makes
absorption easier. Another way the body absorbs seaweeds vital nutrients
is through osmosis (the tendency of a fluid to pass through a semi-permeable
membrane into solution where its concentration is lower thus equalizing
the conditions on either side of the membrane.)
As a nutritional supplement,
seaweed contains nutrients, minerals, trace elements and amino acids that
are essential to the human body. Internally, seaweed acts as a natural
bowel cleanser and blood purifier. Natural iodine speeds up metabolism,
assists in weight loss, as well as stimulates thyroxin production, which
strengthens the body’s immune system.
What is algae: Seaweed
Algae: refers to all
water plants without a vascular stem (root, stems, etc.) They are categorized
by size and color.
Plankton: These are
one-cell microscopic plants that float or drift in huge numbers. More
than 25,00 species have been identified and they are the base of the food
chain in the ocean. Some examples include:
Chlorella:
The first life form in our oceans.
Spirulina:
Found in alkaline waters in Africa and Mexico; a rich source of proteins.
Algae supply the planet
with 75% of the oxygen in the atmosphere.
Seaweeds:
These are multi-cellular plants that range in size from a few inches
in length to the giant Macrocystic Pyrifera that grow to a amazing length
of 180 feet. Also known to many as kelp, there are some 3000 species
that thrive along the coastal waters and continents. Some examples of
seaweeds are:
Laminaria Digitata:
long leafy seaweed rich in minerals, trace elements and beta-carotenes.
Lithothamnium
Calcareum: A white corollaceous algae that grows in its own shell
and is rich in calcium and magnesium.
Fucus Vesiculosos:
A brown algae found in the inter-tidal pools that is rich in iodine
and prized by pharmacists for its metabolic properties.
Brittany:
Blessed by nature The western most peninsula in France, Brittany is
endowed with one of the richest concentrations of marine vegetation
in the world. More than 800 species of seaweed prospers in the pollution
free waters.
Seaweeds flourish
in cold waters. Arctic currents and the Gulf Stream that bring a wealth
of nutrients bath Brittany. The tides are among the highest in the world
(38 feet) and assure a constant interchange of fresh, clean seawater.
Pollution Free
There have never been industrial factories with run-offs of toxic
chemicals and wastes to pollute the coastal waters. Nor are there major
rivers that empty their pollutants. Brittany is well favored by nature
and untouched by industrial pollution – an ideal world for one of the
world’s richest reserves of sea vegetation.
How Seaweed is
harvested
A great deal of care should go into harvesting and selection of seaweeds.
A good selection is from "food grade" plants, which are healthy living
plants that dwell along the rocky seafloor of the continental shelf.
Testing the Waters
The harvesting of seaweed is strictly controlled by regulatory agencies
of the European Economic Community and the French government. Water
samples are taken by the University of Brest each week to test for purity.
Harvest time is set by three regulatory agencies to ensure that the natural
resources never become depleted and that the harvest conforms to the highest
standards.
Laminarias
The most prized seaweed for its nutritional wealth that us suited for
spa therapies are Laminarias. These noble plants reign in the deep waters
(30-40 feet) off the north coast of Brittany.
The Laminarias are 8-12 feet in length from the brown algae family and
are rich in beta-carotenes.
Patented processing
Micronization Marine biologists have long known the amazing nutritive
and healing properties of seaweed. Yet, a tough cellulose wall locked
in a substantial portion of this rich treasure of nutrients. This posed
a mystery. The mystery was solved in the early 1960’s, when a team of
marine biochemists discovered how to break through the thick cellulose
barrier.
What this meant was
simple. Seaweeds contain a wealth of micronutrients essential to healthy
living. Through a process called micronization the cellulose barrier can
be broken leaving all of its vital nutrients intact.
This is the process
whereby wholly fresh seaweeds are vacuum-packed into large sterile turbines.
The seaweeds are then spun at high speeds and at cold temperatures. The
intense centrifugal temperatures cause a micro bursting of the cellular
walls, while special micro-blades pulverize the seaweed into the finest
powder available in the world.
Properties of Seaweeds
Circulation
Poor circulation is the bane of heavy legs and skin lacking tone. Seaweed
applications and masks do the following:
Vaso-dilate capillaries
in the skin tissues bringing much-needed nutrients and oxygen.
Speed up metabolism
and allow the bodies own lipolytic (fat burning) enzymes to have better
access to stubborn cellulitic tissues.
Flush out toxins
and stimulate lymphatic to drain trapped toxins and water that damage
the connective tissues and bring on the "orange peel" look.
Nutritional Equation
Harvested in pure seawater, seaweeds can be considered as nature/’s most
complete and balanced nutrient. All of its minerals, trace elements, vitamins,
amino acids, enzymes and hormones are found in abundance. The key points
to remember are:
Balance:
The essential nutrients are chelated naturally in perfect proportion
for the human body. This allows for ease of assimilation into the bloodstream.
Metabolism:
Natural iodine helps speed up metabolism for those looking to lose weight.
Beta-carotenes work on liver functions that equally impact metabolism.
Fortifies Immunity:
Iodine stimulates thyroxin production to regulate the thymus, the master
gland of immunity.
Fight Stress:
Magnesium salts fight off the effects of stress while potassium levels
improve neutral functions.
Nutrition
Besides its many properties as a perfect nutrient, seaweed plays an equally
important role in its purifying properties.
Alginic Acid:
Internally, these nutrients line the villi of the colon. There they
chelate with toxin metals, radioactive strontium and other harmful wastes.
These impurities circulating in the bloodstream are drawn out of the
porous capillaries through osmosis, and safely eliminated in the stools.
Organic Iodine:
Has been found to leech out inorganic iodine products that are considered
harmful allergens
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