Friday 18 January 2013

SEAWEED U-Fucoidan: Anti-Cancer Substance


SEAWEED
U-Fucoidan: Anti-Cancer Substance

Konbu (Laminaria ssp.) contains a substance that causes cancer cells to self-destruct. It has only been recently discovered in Japan that this substance is U-fucoidan, a complex polysaccharide, one among many polysaccharides found in konbu. In research in Japan, U-fucoidan administered to cancer cells in a laboratory dish were virtually wiped out within 72 hours. The process by which these cells withered away was self-induced, in that the DNA within each of the cancer cells was broken down by digestive enzymes contained in the cells themselves. This process is known by the technical term "apoptosis".

Although U-fucoidan is found in other seaweeds and plants, konbu is particularly rich in this substance. And, very importantly, in order to consume fucoidan in its pure and effective form, one has to eat konbu raw or dried without heating. It is interesting to note that Okinawa, Japan has the lowest cancer mortality rate in Japan where the people eat their konbu mostly, versus other parts of Japan where it is used mostly in cooking.

(Reference: Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd. Biomedical Group, Otsu, Shiga, Japan)

Modifilan contains nothing but the central vein of Laminaria which has been gently dried without heating, and without any chemical sprays or preservatives. Modifilan, unlike plain dried seaweed, contains a much higher percentage of complex polysaccharides or alginates (40%), in which the U-fucoidan is contained.

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