People have known about the benefits of sea and river algae for a long time. Back in the 18th century, for example, iodine was extracted from fucus seaweed for medicinal purposes, and the Irish added them to food, knowing about the nutrients they contained. Depending on where they live and what kind of aquatic plants, their use varies. Some use them as sources of vitamins, others use them to fight excess weight and cellulite.
Algae species
Sea plants can consist of just one cell, or they can form entire colonies. They do not have roots and leaves, like terrestrial ones, and are a photosynthetic layer full of vitamins and nutrients.
Thanks to algae, which evolved from the first single-celled organisms billions of years ago, the planet has an atmosphere. It was they who, absorbing solar energy and releasing carbon dioxide, participated in the formation of the Earth's air shell.
Today, there are 11 species of marine plants, which are united by the presenceone feature - chlorophyll. Otherwise, they differ primarily in color and size. So among them you can meet brown, green, blue and blue-green representatives. Moreover, it is green algae that scientists call the ancestors of forests and fields.
Some of them can grow on the bottom of the sea, others can float freely on the water surface, carried by the wind or current in different directions, and others grow on coastal rocks.
Multicellular marine plants have a thallus that consists of:
- rhizoid, with which they cling to the ground or stone;
- stem, which has a different size for each type of algae;
- plate that can be dissected into fibers and look like a strap or ribbon.
The size of the thallus can vary from a couple of centimeters to several meters in length.
Algae habitats and composition
If you study the places where algae live, then these will be any bodies of water where the sun's rays fall, which they need for photosynthesis. It can be very s alty water, such as in the Red Sea, whose waters are colored by microscopic Thishodesmium plants.
It can be fresh water with stagnant water or with a fast current, and often they become inhabitants of the land, for example, the walls of houses, where there is high humidity and there is access to sunlight.
Even at the bottom of the sea, where the rays of the daylight fall in the form of scattered light, there are benthic algae, whichrequires a solid base to secure.
In addition to growing on their own, these marine plants thrive in symbiosis with other organisms, such as corals or some types of marine animals.
The value of sea and freshwater algae is that they contain vitamins such as A, B1, C, B2, D and E necessary for the human body. Components such as iodine, fucoxanthin and sulfoamino acids are no less important.
Some of them, such as kelp hijiki and wakame, whose main property is burning fat, are used in Asian cuisine. They also make dietary supplements for obese people. Others have a great effect on the epidermis, retaining moisture, or regenerating its cells.
Today, not only in folk medicine, but also in official medicine, their medicinal properties are recognized, regardless of where algae live.
Fucus - description and properties
The most famous and massively consumed aquatic "grass" is kelp, which gourmets know as "seaweed". And fucus algae are the most popular in medicine, homeopathy and cosmetology, thanks to their rich vitamin composition.
They belong to the family of brown algae and are ribbon-like branches, on which air bubbles are located in pairs. Usually they form real plantations along the coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as along the western coasts of the B altic.
Because they grow in shallow water, they are harvested either by hand or with nets. It is important that the fucus is immediatelydelivered to dry, otherwise it will lose its medicinal properties.
Composed of fucus algae:
- alginic acid (25%) - a viscous polysaccharide that lowers blood pressure, is an antioxidant;
- iodine (0.9%);
- Phosphate lime is a mineral substance that has a positive effect on the strength of the skeletal system, in the prevention and treatment of cancer;
- sodium bromide;
- iron;
- fucoidan (60%) is a unique polysaccharide that not only cleanses and rejuvenates the body, but also successfully treats cancer;
- vitamins C, E, B.
Given such a "cocktail" of useful substances, it is not surprising that scientists, following traditional healers, began to use the properties of this algae (you can see its photo in the article) for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Cosmetic companies did not lag behind them, having determined the properties of rejuvenating the skin in the named aquatic plant.
Medical applications
Drugs containing this genus of brown algae have been made in Eastern and Western medicine for a long time. The range of applications is quite extensive:
- diseases of the genitourinary and cardiovascular system;
- problems in the respiratory system and nervous system;
- disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract and thyroid gland;
- asthma, allergies and diabetes;
- diseases of the skin and joints;
- avitaminosis and thrombosis.
Fucuses (seaweed) inin the form of a powder, extract or as part of pharmacological preparations, they give good results in the treatment of immunodeficiency, restoration of metabolism, obesity and skin aging.
Pharmacological properties
The substances that make up this marine plant have numerous pharmacological properties that give a positive result:
- for tumor diseases of the mammary glands and genital organs;
- for hormonal disorders;
- with slagging of the body;
- if necessary, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and their elasticity.
Fucoidan, which is part of the fucus algae, has antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antiviral properties, it is a powerful antitumor substance that stops the formation of blood vessels that feed cancer cells. Alginates purify the blood from heavy metals and radionuclides, and the walls of blood vessels - from cholesterol plaques.
Laminarin prevents the development of thrombosis, supplies the brain and heart with blood, promotes sound sleep. The iodine contained in fucus normalizes lipid metabolism and eliminates cellulite.
Preparations with this plant have wound healing, bactericidal, sedative, diuretic and choleretic properties.
Use in traditional medicine
Fucus brown algae has long been used by healers for disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, during recovery after surgery or a long illness, to restore immunity and cleanse the body.
The people are goodthe ability of this marine plant to have a positive effect on the thyroid gland is known. It is used for arthritis and iodine deficiency. But it has received the greatest popularity among obese people. Adding this algae to the diet removed metabolic problems, cleansed the intestines and supplied the patient's body with dietary fiber necessary for recovery.
The use of fucus in cosmetology
Cosmetologists have long known about the amazing property of this algae (the photo in the article shows the process of applying the mask) to cleanse the skin of accumulated toxins. Another indispensable action that mature skin especially needs is its regeneration, anti-aging effect and prevention of dryness.
In pharmacies and specialized stores you can buy this algae in powder form, which beauties add to soaps, creams, therapeutic and anti-cellulite baths at home.
Recipes for weight loss
The most effective for solving problems with being overweight is powder from fucus, collected off the coast of Japan or the White Sea. It has a s alty taste, brown color and a bright iodine "marine" aroma. For weight loss, it is taken 20-30 minutes before meals 1 tsp. with a glass of water.
No less effect will be if you add fucus to salads, soups or cereals, but not more than 3 tsp. per day. Since the seaweed is brackish, it may well replace s alt.
For those who find it difficult to take fucus powder before each meal, a decoction with it is suitable. At night, you need to pour 1 tbsp.l. 200 g of boiling water and insist in a thermos. Half an hour before breakfast, drink the entire infusion and avoid fatty foods all day.
As an addition to the anti-cellulite program, it is useful to use hot sea baths, for which you need to dissolve 0.5 kg of sea s alt and 200 g of fucus powder in water at a temperature of +40 degrees.
Duration of the procedure is 15 minutes, and a lasting anti-cellulite effect will give 15 baths taken every other day. A side effect will be tightened and elastic skin.
Vitamin Balm
Some people have dry algae powder in their kitchen along with spices, as much is said and written about their medicinal properties. Someone replaces s alt with them, and someone takes them to prevent diseases before eating.
To add fucus to food without losing its beneficial properties, you can prepare a vitamin balm:
- 50 g seaweed powder pour into a 0.5 l jar;
- Grate half a head of garlic and a small onion and add to the fucus;
- add 1 tsp. seasonings for Korean carrots and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of apple cider vinegar.
Pour the ingredients with water until half of the mixture. When it's absorbed, add more. After the algae absorbs all the water and swells, 2 tbsp is added to the balm. tablespoons of vegetable oil and mix well. Add 2 tsp to salads
Fucus Contraindications
The effect that people get when taking fucus (reviews confirm this) is so obvious that this simple and inexpensive wayprevention and treatment of many diseases is becoming increasingly popular. Algae is perfectly absorbed by the human body, but it still has contraindications:
- high levels of iodine in the body and allergic to it;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- incompatibility with thyroid medication.
You may be allergic to the substances that make up the fucus, so it is advisable to consult a doctor.
