Which seaweeds are brown

BioAtlantis provides sustainable technologies from the sea to enhance plant, animal and human health. Wild Irish Seaweed. Clare on the west coast of Ireland. Connemara Organic Seaweed Company provide hand harvested, sustainable, kelp and seaweed products for human consumption through health supplements and edible products. Emerald Isle Organic Irish Seaweed.

Bladderwrack is high in fiber , which can support a healthy gut. Bladderwrack is high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and health-promoting plant compounds known as phytochemicals. Despite many bladderwrack-related health claims, limited evidence supports the use of bladderwrack for weight loss, arthritis, joint pain, fertility, and urinary tract infections.

Most bladderwrack research involves its effects on thyroid and skin health, as well as its anti-inflammatory properties. Bladderwrack contains high levels of iodine , a trace element that supports thyroid health by producing the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine T3 and thyroxine T4.

These hormones help regulate your metabolism and support proper growth and neurological development 6 , 7 , 8. Iodine deficiency can lead to low T3 and T4 levels and may ultimately cause health complications, such as a goiter and hypothyroidism — a condition characterized by symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, dry skin, and increased sensitivity to the cold 9 , Despite being a good dietary source of iodine — a mineral that can support thyroid health — taking bladderwrack supplements or eating large amounts of it may provide excessive amounts of iodine Most healthy individuals can safely tolerate excess iodine.

However, those with thyroid disorders, such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, should exert caution, as it can lead to worsened symptoms, especially if iodine deficiency was not the root cause of the disorder 10 , 11 , Bladderwrack is rich in antioxidants , such as phlorotannins, fucoxanthin, alginic acid, fucoidans, and vitamins A and C 4 , 13 , In particular, phlorotannins and fucoxanthin are known for their high antioxidant activity and ability to scavenge free radicals.

Free radicals are harmful compounds that can damage cells and lead to chronic disease and premature aging 15 , 16 , 17 , Some test-tube and rat studies have shown that brown algae like bladderwrack offer promising anti-inflammatory and may help reduce tumor growth, blood sugar levels, and the risk of heart disease 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , Beyond this study and another one showing minor improvements in blood sugar control, few human trials exist. Though, in theory, bladderwrack may provide anti-inflammatory benefits, more research is needed Bladderwrack has been used as a topical treatment for skin issues, such as cellulite , skin aging, and burns.

Early research has shown that the antioxidants in bladderwrack, namely fucoidan, promote collagen synthesis in the skin, which may help improve the look of cellulite, increase skin healing, and delay premature skin aging. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. July 29, Skibola CF.

The effect of Fucus vesiculosus, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women: a case report. Brown kelp modulates endocrine hormones in female sprague-dawley rats and in human luteinized granulosa cells. J Nutr. PMID: Inhibitory activity of extracts of Hebridean brown seaweeds on lipase activity. J Appl Phycol. Epub May Effects of the brown seaweed Laminaria japonica supplementation on serum concentrations of IgG, triglycerides, and cholesterol, and intestinal microbiota composition in rats.

Front Nutr. Potential bioactive compounds from seaweed for diabetes management. Mar Drugs. Phytother Res. Acute post-prandial cognitive effects of brown seaweed extract in humans. Phycochemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Fucus spp. Choi JS, et al. Effects of seaweed Laminaria japonica extracts on skin moisturizing activity in vivo. J Cosmet Sci. A comparative study of the anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antiangiogenic, and antiadhesive activities of nine different fucoidans from brown seaweeds.

Fujimura T, et al. Treatment of human skin with an extract of Fucus vesiculosus changes its thickness and mechanical properties. Haskell-Ramsay Crystal F, et al. Kim Jae-Young, et al. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. About herbs: Bladder wrack. Myers Stephen P, et al. These polysaccharides help build cell walls and are a major component of the dietary fiber found in sea vegetables.

Their structure and bioactive properties differ between the three color groups of algae. Phaeophytes brown seaweeds are a rich source of fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide widely investigated for having anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Like fucoxanthin, fucoidan has received intense study for its potential to treat diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Alaria, sugar kelp, and fucus are all good sources of fucoidans.

Other important bioactive polysaccharides found in brown seaweeds include alginates and laminarin. Carrageenan and agar are the two predominate polysaccharides found in Rhodophytes red seaweeds. Irish moss has a long history of being used for this purpose. Carrageenan and agar also have bioactive properties. Carrageenan has been shown in lab studies to inhibit sexually transmitted viruses such as herpes simplex, human papillomaviruses which can cause cervical cancer , and HIV. Agar has been shown to decrease blood glucose levels.

Porphyran is another polysaccharide found in red Porphyra species such as laver and nori. Porphyra species have long been used for medicinal purposes in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Recent scientific research shows that some porphyrans are powerful antioxidants. Green sea vegetables from the Ulva and Enteromorpha genera are widely known as sea lettuce, and they contain bioactive polysaccharides known as ulvans.

Ulvans are sulfated like other bioactive seaweed polysaccharides, and as an extract they have anticancer and antioxidant properties in lab studies. This makes ulvans a beneficial dietary fiber, but their bioactive potential may require extracting them from the plant and formulating biologics that can be administered as capsules or along with other medicines. To a varying extent, this may be true of other seaweed bioactive polysaccharides as well. Scientists are investigating ways to develop the full potential of sea vegetable bioactive substances to promote well-being.

Variety is the spice of life, and the same is true of sea vegetables. Quite literally, as it turns out, because like spices, sea vegetables are often used to enhance the flavor of food. Our Sea Seasonings are a line of six shakers of ground sea vegetables and spices, from garlicky to peppery to salty.

Every color group is represented and some contain more than one. Triple Blend , for example, is a colorful mix of red dulse, black laver and green sea lettuce flakes. The zingy flavor of dulse nicely complements the more pungent sea lettuce and nutty laver wild nori. We also usually offer most of our sea vegetables in both milled and leaf forms, with every color group represented.

For example, Alaria , dulse , and sea lettuce can all be purchased as both whole leaf and milled flakes or powder. This creates boundless opportunity to incorporate all three sea vegetable colors into your daily diet. Dulse leaf is excellent eaten straight from the bag as an anytime snack, and the flakes add color and flavor to scrambled eggs at breakfast or salads at lunch and dinner. Our dried sea vegetables have a long shelf life when properly stored because they contain very little available water and they have natural antimicrobial properties.

This makes it easy to keep samples of all three color groups on hand in the larder without fear they will go bad.