The
sea
is a promising
source for
products of the future a well as a
source of traditional products are used throughout the world for food,
medicine and cosmetics.
Seaweed is part of the cuisine of Asia, Scandinavia, Hawaii and the British Isles. Seaweed is an unaccustomed food in North America but it is appearing in restaurants as an exotic addition to soups and casseroles. Besides being a nutritious food, modern research suggests that seaweed may straddle the line between food and medicine. Studies hint that compounds in seaweed may lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of cancer and soothe inflammation. Seaweed can nourish plants as well as humans and animals and it is an ingredient in some organic fertilizers.
DISCLAIMER: THIS DATA IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. IT IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS MEDICAL ADVICE
In the cosmetics industry, muds from the dead sea are used in facial masks. Alginates from seaweed are used in creams and moisturizers. Seaweed may provide constituents for sunscreens because it also produces substances that help it resist sun damage.
The pharmaceutical industry also hopes to find new compounds from the sea. A biochemical found in a snail promises to relieve pain more effectively than morphine without the addictive potential. Researchers are particularly interested in marine invertebrates that lack hard shells and that are sessile for at leastpart of their life-cycle. These creatures depend on elaborate chemical defenses rather than armoring and mobility. Researchers are investigating sponges, corals and tunicates for anti-cancer agents, analgesics and anti-inflammatories. Already, coral is used as a matrix in bone grafts.
It should be a priority to protect the oceans from pollution and preserve biodiversity for the future if we wish to continue to benefit from sea based products. Since the seas are a source of food and medicine for human consumption it is important to avoid contamination.