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by Dr. D. P. Atukorale

The term seaweeds (also called sea vegetables) refers to marine algae that grow almost exclusively in the shallow waters at the edge of the world's oceans. They provide home and food for many different sea animals, lend beauty to the under-water landscape and are directly valuable to man as a food and as industrial raw material.

Seaweeds are plants because they use the sun's energy to produce carbohydrate from carbon dioxide and water (photosynthesis).

They absorb the nutrients they require from the surrounding water and have no need for roots or complex conducting tissues.

Some large seaweeds like the kelps have root-like parts called holdfasts which only serve to attach them to the rock.

Most seaweeds have to attach to something for them to survive while only a few will grow while drifting loose in the sea.

Three groups of seaweeds are recognized according to their pigments that absorb light of particular wave lengths and give them the characteristic colours of green, brown or red. Because they need light to survive, seaweeds are found only in relatively shallow parts of the shores.

Here they occur in variety of shapes and sizes, from the large kelps (certain brown seaweeds) that form forests on temperature coasts to the hard "encrusting corallines" that are important in building and cementing coral reefs in the tropics.

Some seaweeds especially the larger reds are attractive while others may be small and inconspicuous. Of the 5 to 6 thousand seaweed species that occur worldwide, about 720 have been recorded on the coast of South Africa.

Chemical composition

Oceanic herbs or sea vegetables contain more of the essential elements of life required for the normal body processes of animals including humans than any other plant or herb that grows on land. Therefore the sea vegetable dulse and Irish moss when taken as part of a macrobiotic diet are extremely nutritious food stuff essential for healthy vitalized metabolism. Irish moss contains vitamins A, C, D, E, B1, B2 and one of the few vegetarian sources of vitamin B12. Irish moss also contains high content of iodine, calcium, manganese, zinc, bromine, iron and protein and appreciable amounts of magnesium and sodium phosphates. Irish moss is low in fat with few calories and therefore ideal for body builders or those who are dieting.

Uses

To call these marine plants "weeds" is incorrect because they are essential in nature and directly valuable to man. Seaweeds form the basis of food chain in the sea. The myriad small animals that feed on seaweeds are in turn are eaten by larger animals and so on through to fish.

Health giving benefits

For thousands of years, Chinese have realized that sea-vegetables contribute to overall general health. Sea vegetables or marine algae grown in all the oceans of the world have hundreds of millions of years. Sea vegetables absorb and concentrate the rich minerals and nutrients that abound the ocean into their cells.

Due to the low position, these herbs exist in the food chain, sea vegetables are safer to eat than any other food stuff encountered in the human diet. The enzyme content of sea vegetables assist the body's ability to eliminate the chemical wastes we absorb daily as a consequence of environment we inhabit in this modern world.

Irish moss has long been recognized for its ability to cure and abate the symptoms of colds and flu. Thus eating of Irish moss forms an effective barrier to the ills of winter. Irish moss contains potassium chloride which helps to dissolve cathars which are responsible for congestion associated with chesty coughs.

Therefore Irish moss provides a healthy natural alternative to the man-made over-the-counter pharmaceutical cough and flu remedies.

Irish moss contains several anti-microbial and anti-viral agents which not only prevent colds and flu but Irish moss is reported to eradicate a wide range of infections on sufferers reducing valuable time lost to the ills we all encounter every day. Irish moss has been reported to alleviate sore throats, bronchitis and pneumonia.

Irish moss contains significant amounts of iodine. Thyroid gland needs iodine for its proper gland function. Iodine plays an important role in our ability to fight disease. Due to the strong alkaline nature of the Irish moss, this sea vegetable has been used in the relief and cure of bunions.

Irish moss and dulse have been used to relieve the rigors day after excessive alcohol consumption i.e. hangover. It replaces much of the ion-content that is leaked from the body as a consequence of dehydrative effect attributed to the consumption of alcohol. Calcium phosphate and the phosphates of sodium and magnesium are required by the cells of the brain, liver, muscles and bones. Calcium phosphate salts form major insoluble inorganic component of the bone; so intake of this salt can aid bone integrity and keep teeth strong and healthy.

Other ailments Irish moss is reported to be effective are cancer, and radiation poisoning. It is an anti-tussive, and effective against halitosis, the formation of varicose veins, against dysentery and Irish moss has been applied as an emollient.

As a gelatinous substance Irish moss has been used to treat peptic and duodenal ulcers and to inhibit arteriosclerosis and therefore hypertension. It protects against fat and cholesterol build up. Irish moss has a well documented anticoagulant effect on the blood. Irish moss is truly a treasure of the sea and is commonly used for the preparation of vegetarian gelatin. It is common knowledge that majority of gelatin preparations in the market contain beef products unlike gelatin prepared using seaweeds which is hundred per cent vegetarian.

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