Do sea vegetables contain any special phytonutrients?

In addition to their wonderfully rich mineral profile, sea vegetables also include unique phytonutrients. One category of nutrients for which sea vegetables are well known is sulfated polysaccarides. These carbohydrate-related nutrients, also called fucans, have been studied for their anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers are also investigating their antithrombotic activity (their ability to inhibit blood clots). Additionally, they have been found to have antiviral activity in laboratory studies.

Yet, their phytonutrient offerings do not end there as sea vegetables are also a noted source of lignans, phytonutrients for which flaxseeds have become famous. In the body, lignans are converted into compounds that have weak estrogenic activity, helping to balance estrogen levels.

George Mateljan