"Knowledge of the oceans is more important than just a matter of curiosity. Our very survival may hinge upon it." President John Kennedy, 1961
What is the preventative health value of sea plants or vegetables, as exemplified by Limu Moui? What do you know about this wonder plant considered to be the 3000 year old health secret of the South Pacific? To best value and respect Limu, it's important to relate it to a wider "concept-map" in the context of 10 reasons, each reason comprising major fields of studies but which are only mentioned here.
ONE: THE RICHEST COMPLEX BIOME ON EARTH...THE OCEAN.
Physically and chemically, it covers ¾ of the Earth's surface and houses 15,000 plants and 210,000 known marine life forms. The nutrient profile, developed through eons, which nurtures these living forms are estimated between 60 and 100 different elements. Scientists have yet to manufacture in a lab a bottle of sea water and if they could, it would probably cost thousands of dollars. Most interesting, the elements that circulate in the ocean are similar to what is found in human plasma. Our body is 70% salt water with blood containing all the minerals and trace elements found in the ocean.
TWO: MARINE MACROALGAE
...or seaweed. These range from forests of 212 foot kelp to microscopic plankton. Three kinds of seaweed are brown, red and green, at least 50 varieties of which are used as food. Seaweed lack true stems, leaves or roots but have strong anchoring supports from which to absorb ocean nutrients through their plant tissue. It is the food chain for all marine animal life such as fish which is still the major source of protein for millions of people. Seaweed agricultural industry is growing to supply alginates especially for food, pharmaceutical and industrial uses.
THREE: BROWN ALGAE CALLED ANGEL HAIR SEAWEED or LIMU MOUI.
It grows along shorelines and in vast fields as masses of filaments that grow 1 to 2 feet a day to lengths of 20 feet. Limu is considered one of the most nutrient dense foods, easier to process and more bioavailable than larger broad leaved forms of brown algae with a lot of fiber. One of the best wild sources of Limu Moui comes from the archipelago of Tonga, arguably the most pristine uncontaminated area consisting of 170 islands, few which are inhabited. The Tongan people routinely consume Limu and have long been known for their superior longevity, disease resistance and overall body strength.
FOUR: SPECTACULAR NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF SEA PLANTS (ex. Limu)
They've been prized for dietary and medicinal food properties for millennia; and science can now validate them as rich sources of proteins, enzymes, amino and fatty acids, vitamins and anti-oxidants, glyconutrients, polyphenols, and alginates. For example, briefly consider the mineral riches of ocean plants that can re-mineralize our bodies. The major minerals are found: calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and sulfur. A wealth of trace minerals are also absorbed: boron, chlorides, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, gallium, germanium, gold, iodine, iron, lanthanum, lithium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silica, silver, sodium, zinc, tin, vanadium plus at least 40 more. Moreover, these minerals are in natural colloidal and organic or chelated forms(combined with amino acids) and easily absorbed through cell walls unlike metallic minerals that can accumulate in body tissues. Most enzymatic functions depend on minute amounts of bioavailable trace minerals; one key to maintain health is keeping the mineral levels in balance in every tissue, fluid, cell and organ. Without minerals for transport, vitamins are ineffective. As soils become minerally depleted, the seas are looked upon as more minerally enriched.
FIVE: THE OCEAN'S GIFT...AN ESSENTIAL BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUND CALLED FUCOIDAN.
This unique molecule is found only in the cell walls of certain brown sea plants (even some echinoderms). However, Tongan Limu has one of the highest Fucoidan concentrations. In nutritional chemical terms, Fucoidan is described as a sulfated polysaccharide molecule made up several different polymers and "decorated" with sulphate groups. Research shows that the higher the count of sulphate groups in a plant, the higher its unique therapeutic value. In layman's terms, it is the Fucoidan that gives Limu its slippery texture...a moisture protection barrier that allows the algae to survive in harsh environments. What if Limu and Fucoidan may just be the extra nutritional fuel we need to better cope with an increasingly toxic environment?
SIX: ONE OF THE MOST ANALYZED and VALIDATED SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES OF OUR TIME... FUCOIDAN
Most bionutritional research is relatively new and exciting (seconds old on a 24 hour medical timeline). The synergy of hundreds of phytonutrients or natural biochemicals found in individual plants reveal a wide array of beneficial biological benefits for cellular health. For example, in the last 8 years, nearly 400 more studies have been added to the previous 300 on Fucoidan as the medical community has wondered how it appears to address some major health concerns, including many that seem to confound modern medicine.
SEVEN: EMPOWER YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
"Whether or not a person contracts any disease or illness has less to do with their exposure to that disease and much more with how effectively their immune system is functioning at the time they are exposed...(World Health organization.) Our own first-line defense is our innate immune system programmed to protect against chronic health problems and premature aging. More ongoing research is aimed at multi-targeted therapies to better understand how the body can naturally recuperate, protect or heal itself when given total nutrients and healthy immune system (versus monotherapies or using one substance to treat a single symptom.) The health benefits of Fucoidan, particularly, in supporting the immune system such as stimulating natural killer cells and B-Cells are well discussed in independent, third party, peer reviewed studies.
EIGHT: SCIENCE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
No medicinal claims are allowed with natural plants so it's important that you challenge yourself to be your own serious health detective. One can't assume to have all the answers to better health while walking away from this unprecedented research. Three best references are:
---Limu Moui by Rita Elkins (call 800 777 2665 Woodland Publishing)
---Breakthroughs in Health (Wellness Success Media Oct.2006)
---The National Library of Medicine (government's database) http://www.pubmed.org
Enter fucoidan in the search box. Then enter specific conditions and note the number of studies. Example: Fucoidan anti-inflammatory (22 studies) viral (10) blood (274) liver (31) digestive system (40) bacteria (79) cancer (53) stem cells (24) heart (11) brain (30) kidneys (11) skin (16)
NINE: CHOICE OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENT
This choice is one of your most important health decisions which must verify three things: from where it's sourced, how the contents are manufactured and what scientific studies endorse it. Current market trends are embracing whole food extracts as synergistic, non synthetic, non-fractionated super food supplements. Sometimes it's hard to trust a plethora of labels and advertisements, but you can trust what Nature has composed without laboratories and private enterprises. In its natural edible form, Limu offers remarkable nutritive, immune-building and disease-fighting properties. As an extract, it promises an even wider variety of therapeutic applications.
TEN: RETURN TO NATURE'S BASICS.
What would you prefer as you grow older...a vibrant healthy lifestyle or a hopeless daily struggle against aches and pains? Health is a lifelong process of prevention and commitment to wellness. Believe the good news that your body's programmed to be healthy...sickness is an unnatural state. Feed every cell a full spectrum of nutrients daily. Respect Nature's biology, ecology and immemorial wisdom and how you are an essential part of it.
