• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Biomanantial

Slimming, Beauty, Medicinal Plants

Main Navigation

Biomanantial

What would you like to find?
Browse by categories
  • Dietetics
    • Edible seaweed
    • Lose weight
    • Healthy Food
    • Diets
    • Syrup sap diet
    • Dietary
    • Vegetarian
    • Macrobiotic Food
  • Health
    • Pregnancy & Parenting
    • Fitoterapia
    • Herb teas
    • Manual therapy
    • Nature Centers
    • Alternative Therapies
    • Chinese Medicine
  • Beauty
    • Hair Care
    • Facial Care
    • Skin
    • Natural Cosmetics
    • Chest, Legs and Buttocks
  • Personal Development
    • Emotional Intelligence
    • Stress and Anxiety
    • Dating and Love
  • Organic Farming
    • Organic Nutrition
    • Natural Life
    • Environment
    • Transgenics
  • Sports nutrition
    • Burn Fat
    • Supplementation
    • Training and Exercises
  • Recipes & Cooking
    • Food Therapy
    • Seaweed Recipes
    • Soya recipes
    • Fruit recipes
    • Recipes with vegetables
    • Recipes with Grains
    • World Cuisine
  • Biomanantial from A to Z
  • All topics

Seaweed extract, carrageenan and cancer

Seaweed extract, carrageenan and cancer
  • What is Organic Agriculture?
  • Henna Tattoo

Published: 06/11/2008 - Updated: 08/13/2019

Author: Miriam Reyes

Many processed foods we consume contain a number of elements and chemicals to, even though they have been stored for a long time, reach the consumer in perfect condition, and have good texture, good color, and do not lose their appeal.

These chemicals added to most processed food products are quite often gums, among which we highlight now carrageen.

The carrageenan is a rubber that is extracted from red algae of the family Rhodophycaeae, in the genera of Chrondus, Gigartina, Eucheuma, Hypnea e Iridaea. The harvesting of this alga is done at low tide, between spring and autumn, and comes from the coasts of several countries including France, Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Peru among others.

This type of seaweed was used in ancient times because of its unique property of gel milk. Bleached lichen was used to prepare a gel of milk known as "blanc-mange", whose translation would be "white food".

Extraction process for the carrageenan production is based on two of the properties of the alga: its solubility in water and its insolubility in polar organic solvents.

After a process of washing, crushing and filtering, you get a syrup that contains carrageenan solution. This liquid is subjected to another process that ends with a collection of a fine powder granular or, tasteless and odorless, white to beige.

In commercial products, these powders are frequently diluted with sugars for standardization purposes, and mixed with salt for food use of gelling and thickening characteristics.

Carrageenan and Cancer

Several studies have found that this food additive called carrageenan, widely used at present, causes cancer in laboratory animals. And therefore, should be reconsidered use in food for humans.

  • Yerba Mate: Preparation, Properties and more
    MORE IN BIOMANANTIAL
    Yerba Mate: Preparation, Properties and more

Although studies have been conducted only in animals, "there is sufficient evidence on the effects of cancer-causing carrageen to limit the use of food additive," said researcher Joanne K. Tobacman Health Care, University of Iowa in Iowa City.

This food additive, as explained before, is an extract of red algae, and is used in various foods such as dairy products and processed and canned meat in sausages and thickening, stabilizing and texturing. Also found in products like ice cream, whipped cream, pudding and yogurt. The carrageenan is mainly used in meat products because it provides a better bonding effect of water, improves the appearance and the ability to slice, in addition to improving its performance. In its dual role, it allows us to optimize the quality of processed meat and its performance.

Some studies in animals by Tobacman, found that carrageenan is associated with the formation of cancerous tumors and ulcers in the intestine.

Tobacman explained in the October edition of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives: the intestinal cells absorb very easily carrageen, but they cannot metabolize. As the carrageenan accumulates in cells that can be destroyed, and this time the process could lead to ulceration.

  • tepezcohuite-1
    MORE IN BIOMANANTIAL
    tepezcohuite-1

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed to limit the type of carrageenan in food since 1972, but "… there has been no substantive review by the FDA on the carrageenan from the studios that performed for more than 2 decades, " the researcher wrote in his report. " However, there have been more evident in relation to the activity of carrageenan to promote the cancer and subsequent confirmation of the possibility of degrading the carrageen" and adds: "People need to be informed about the potential risks associated with the consumption of carrageenan based on animal studies. "

Moreover, Á Free Trade Area of the Americas stressed in a statement "… the immediate and reciprocal elimination of tariffs on carrageenan, a stabilizing agent in food derived from seaweed…"

However, this still remains a controversial food used in many processed products, as many claim that there is no real evidence that this product causes cancer or tumors. Currently in dairy beverages, pharmaceutical products, diet products, and are now beginning to use to inject seafood. Another application is as a cover agent fruit and there is an even more innovative, the inclusion of carrageenan in the biomedical field, there are several studies that demonstrate its anticoagulant and barrier of some viruses, among others. It is the vision for the next 20 years, an opening of this additive to use a biomedical (food products that protect health).

But as always, you decide…

1 estrella2 estrellas3 estrellas4 estrellas5 estrellas

(5 votes, average: 3.40 out of 5)

Loading...

About the author

By Miriam Reyes

Miriam Reyes is a professional expert in nutrition and dietetics. She has more than 12 years of experience in caring for patients with overweight and eating problems. She studied at the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac (UNIVA), where she obtained a degree in nutrition. Linkedin profile.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie policy

You may also be interested

  • Shiatsu or Japanese Massage Shiatsu or Japanese Massage The act of touching or massaging is instinctive. Faced with a blow rubbed our hands [...]
  • Bulgur Recipes Bulgur Recipes While the bulgur is often regarded as "cracked wheat", it is certainly a more refined [...]
  • Spirulina: How to take, uses and characteristics Spirulina: How to take, uses and characteristics The Spirulina is a unicellular alga that grows and multiplies in natural waters in alkaline [...]

You are here: Biomanantial » Dietetics » Healthy Food » Seaweed extract, carrageenan and cancer

All about Healthy Food

  • Rice: Intestinal Regulatory, Cardiovascular Health, Cancer Prevention and more Rice: Intestinal Regulatory, Cardiovascular Health, Cancer Prevention and more Nutritious and healthy, it is rich in carbohydrates and vitamins of group B. For its [...]
  • The power of Whole Grains The power of Whole Grains Whole grains like brown rice, wheat, oats and rye integral not only taste delicious but [...]
  • Soybean: Textured vegetable protein, Tofu and more Soybean: Textured vegetable protein, Tofu and more Soybean or soy plant is the seed of the leguminous soybean plant. Soybeans and derivatives [...]
  • Kefir: how to do it , conservation and more Kefir: how to do it , conservation and more Originally from Caucasus, kefir is a type of water-alcohol fermentation of milk. The longevity of [...]
  • Cereals Cereals Most of us are aware that we consume more cereal. We are accustomed to seeing [...]

Copyright © 2023 · Biomanantial
   
Disclaimer  About Us  Cookies Policy  Privacy policy  Contact  Topics
RIVAS INTERNET S.L. CIF: ESB86492501 Travesía Fortuny, 2. 28300 Aranjuez. Spain.
The services, content and products on our website are for informational purposes only. Biomanantial does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment