Red seaweed Ahnfeltia setacea can be found everywhere in the White Sea, but it doesn’t have as much of a share in the total number of seaweed. For example, its quantity is 50 times less than the quantity of laminaria. The life expectancy of ahnfeltia is 6–8 years, it grows only from April to November and gains only a few centimeters of length per year.
Seaweed is a significant source for agar production. The content of agar in ahnfeltia varies depending on the place of collection: from 12.6 to 32.6% on the dry weight.
Where are the agars and carrageenan contained in this red seaweed used? The area is quite wide: food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, as well as biotechnology.
In the food industry, agar is used as a thickener, stabilizer, and gelling agent. Thanks to this component, the production of vegetarian gummies has become possible. Carrageenan shapes and thickens dairy products and pastries. It is also used as a moisture-retaining agent, mainly in meat products.
Agar and carrageenan are indicated as E406 and E407, but they do not carry any threat to health.
In the cosmetic industry, agar is used in the manufacturing of many beloved hydrogel patches and masks. Not only does it give products the desired texture, but also enriches their composition, easily reaches the deep layers of skin, concentrating moisture, as well as gives skin a toned look. This extract also contains pyruvic acid, which cleans the pores. Moreover, agar is used as additional raw material in manufacturing of skin creams.
In pharmaceuticals, agar is used as a stabilizer in tablet and pill production. Mixed with glycerine, it can be used as a base to produce ointments. Agar also softens the unpleasant taste of medicinal substances. Besides, it improves metabolic processes in the body, stimulates the digestive system, and removes toxins from the intestine. Therefore, medicines based on it are taken as laxatives.
Dietary supplements with agar are used as probiotics that create a great foundation for bifidobacteria and lactobacilli reproduction, which, in turn, "feed" the intestinal microflora, thereby forming a strong immune system.
Of course, these are not all spheres where ahnfeltia is used, but even this is enough to understand how unique and useful the main character of this story is!
Ancient China doctors gave laminaria to new mothers. This made their milk more nutritious for babies. Modern Japanese people also revere this seaweed, preparing hundreds of dishes with it – from soups to desserts. Laminaria is valued by Asians for a reason. This brown seaweed has a rich composition: it contains 70 elements of the periodic table, which are important for the body. What is laminaria? How does it affect our health? Read more in the article!
Fucus is a brown seaweed that has been valued since ancient times for its useful properties. It contains a great number of useful substances, which makes it an irreplaceable food supplement. Fucus is also able to normalize metabolism and is an excellent helper for weight loss. It strengthens the immune system and removes harmful substances from the body. Fucus prevents thyroid gland diseases, as well as helps calm down and cope with stress. The use of fucus in cosmetology also should not be forgotten. It has proved itself to be an excellent active substance in skincare products. This particular seaweed can make our skin beautiful, healthy-looking and tighten it up. Are you interested? Then let's find out a little more about fucus!
