Enriched Seaweed Infused With Different Food Supplement Can Help Global Food Crisis

Tel Aviv University and the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute in Haifa have devised an innovative method that allows for the cultivation of "enriched seaweed" packed with nutrients, proteins, dietary fiber, and minerals for human and animal use.

Enriched seaweed

(Photo : Ben Wicks/Unsplash)

The researchers claim that the cutting-edge technology significantly increases the growth rate, protein levels, healthy carbohydrates, and minerals in the seaweed's tissues, transforming the "enriched seaweed" into a natural superfood with exceedingly high levels of nutrients that can be used in the coming years for the wellbeing food industry and to secure an unlimited food source.

Doron Ashkenazi, a Ph.D. student, led the research with the help of Prof. Avigdor Abelson of Tel Aviv University's School of Zoology and Prof. Alvaro Israel of the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute (IOLR) in Tel Shikmona, Haifa.

The research was published in the journal Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies.

According to Doron Ashkenazi, native species of the algae Ulva, Gracilaria, and Hypnea were cultivated in close proximity to fish farming systems under diverse climatic circumstances in the research, as per ScienceDaily.

The unusual conditions allowed the seaweed to thrive and significantly boost their nutritional worth, allowing them to become "enriched seaweed," which is a superfood.

The usage of seaweed as a rich food source that covers all human nutritional demands recalls the biblical manna that sustained the Israelites in the wilderness.

It will also be feasible to apply the enhanced seaweed in other health businesses, such as nutritional supplements or medication, as well as in the cosmetics industry.

According to Ashkenazi, seaweed may be considered a natural superfood since it contains more essential components of the human diet than other food sources.

A farm owner or entrepreneur will be able to plan ahead of time a production line of seaweed rich in substances of interest, which can be used as health foods or nutritional supplements; for example, seaweed with a particularly high level of protein, seaweed rich in minerals such as iron, iodine, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, or seaweed rich in special pigments or anti-oxidants.

The enhanced seaweed can be used to assist people suffering from malnutrition and nutritional inadequacies, such as poor groups worldwide, as well as supplements to a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Read more: Massive Brown Seaweeds May Wash Ashore this Summer, Experts Warn Beachgoers to Stay Cautious

The health benefits of seaweed

The thyroid gland is in charge of producing hormones that regulate our growth, energy, reproduction, and repair, as per BBC Good Food.

To do this, the thyroid requires a variety of substances, including iodine and the amino acid tyrosine.

Both of these nutrients can be present in seaweed in varying amounts depending on the type and how it is stored and processed.

According to a 2011 analysis of 100 research on the advantages of seaweeds published in the American Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, seaweeds may help decrease blood pressure and boost heart health.

These advantages are in part owing to high quantities of soluble fibre as well as heart-healthy substances including omega-3 fatty acids.

Seaweed is high in dietary fiber, accounting for 25-75% of its dry weight. Much of this fibre comes in the form of polysaccharides, which we cannot digest but which the bacteria in our stomach can, so it works as a prebiotic, providing food for our beneficial gut bugs.

It helps to produce a favorable environment in the stomach, fostering bacteria that provide us with additional advantages.

These gut microorganisms, among other things, help influence our immune response by producing helpful substances known as short chain fatty acids.

Some research suggests that seaweed chemicals may lower viral load, maybe shorten the duration of a cold, and minimize the risk of subsequent infection. More recent research has looked into the possibilities of seaweed as a treatment for Covid-19 (SARS-COV- 2).

ACE inhibitory peptides, antioxidants such as fucoxanthin (found in types such as wakame), prebiotic fibers, and vitamin D and B12 supplements are all regarded to be beneficial in this area.

These components have anti-inflammatory and anti-viral capabilities, among other things.

Related article: Seaweed May Replace Plastic as Future Source of Fuel and Food