Seaweeds, a natural source of bioactive peptides, shown to improve heart health
(
05/03/2012)
The American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry recently published an interesting article in which
researchers analyze over 100 scientific studies to conclude that
proteins found in seaweed rival both milk protein and hypertension
medication in their ability to support heart...
(NaturalNews) The American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural
and Food Chemistry recently published an interesting article in which
researchers analyze over 100 scientific studies to conclude that
proteins found in seaweed rival both milk protein and hypertension
medication in their ability to support heart health.
The term
'seaweed' is used to describe several types of macroalgae, such as red
algae, green algae and brown algae. They are usually appreciated in
Hawaiian and Japanese cuisine due to their high nutrient content and
exotic flavor. For the Inuit people, seaweed is one of the few green
vegetable food sources available, and it is thus a staple in their diet.
According
to Maria Hayes and her colleagues, Ciaran Fitzgerald and Eimear
Gallagher, who have collected and compared precious data in their
review, macroalgae can do more for Western people than just provide a
natural, vegan source of protein.
"Seaweeds are a rich but
neglected alternative source," the research team believes. Due to their
abundant content of heart-healthy bioactive peptides, they can replace
ACE inhibitor medication and actively work to lower blood pressure.
Naturally occurring substances that have ACE inhibiting properties have
been found in cultured milk, although the role of milk in lowering blood
pressure is still under dispute.
Just how do these powerful
ingredients in seaweed work? Bioactive peptides are amino acid sequences
that make the primary structure of natural proteins. They remain
inactive as long as they are confined within the structure of the parent
protein, and they can only be released if the protein is acted upon by a
specific enzyme. Once they are released, they can be readily used by
the human body, and they have a variety of therapeutic qualities,
including in the management of chronic heart disease.
Synthetic
drugs containing bioactive peptides are currently prescribed against
hypertension; however, these drugs can be quite damaging to health and,
on many occasions, completely ineffective. ACE inhibitor drugs are known
to have a high toxicity and to cause unwanted aftereffects (such as dry
cough and angioedema) and are not recommended during pregnancy.
Consequently, an increased interest in finding natural and safe sources
of bioactive peptides has enabled the scientific community to turn to
algae as a plentiful resource of beneficial substances. "The variety of
macroalgae species and the environments in which they are found and
their ease of cultivation make macroalgae a relatively untapped source
of new bioactive compounds, and more efforts are needed to fully exploit
their potential for use and delivery to consumers in food products",
Hayes claims.
In support of an ancient Hippocratic belief, this
study suggests that food can not only provide nutrition, but that it can
also have a medicinal effect on the body, assisting with the treatment
and prevention of heart disease. As opposed to prescription medication,
bioactive peptides from natural sources have no contraindications, pose
no health risks, and can be consumed in any quantity.
