Seaweeds May Help Manage Hypertension, Finds Study

Modern lifestyle comes with the humdrum of sprightly and tiresome everyday routines. Amid all the running around against time and taking care of societal and family responsibilities, our health takes a backseat. Of all the lifestyle related diseases, hypertension, depression and anxiety are becoming increasingly common these days due to living a more stressed life. Hypertension shows in the form of high blood pressure when blood applies a greater force on the walls of the blood vessels. The dysfunction of blood vessels poses the danger of suffering from heart ailments like heart attack or heart stroke. Hypertension can be curtailed by making lifestyle changes and amending one's diet but still it is a rather difficult problem to get rid of fast and permanently. 

Thankfully, a recent scientific breakthrough has come with a probable solution for combating hypertension. The city-headquartered Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) discovered that seaweeds can be used to make a nutraceutical product - Cadalmin Antihypertensive extract (Cadalmin AHe) - that can be administered orally to treat hypertension. The drug was released by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). 

(Also Read: 5 Summer Fruits To Manage High Blood Pressure)

^{Seaweed is a kind of algae that is mostly found in the Indian coastal waters}

Kajal Chakraborty, Senior Scientist at the CMFRI revealed, "The extract contains 100 per cent natural marine bioactive ingredients from selected seaweeds by a patented technology, and would be made available in 400 mg capsules. This nutraceutical does not have any side effects as established by detailed pre-clinical trials."

Seaweed is a kind of algae that is mostly found in the Indian coastal waters. It is also known as sea vegetable and is commonly eaten in Asian countries in foods like sushi, soup and salad. It is said to contain remarkable medicinal and health-giving properties.

(Also Read: Add These Spices To Your Diet To Treat Hypertension)

^{Seaweed is a common food product used in Asian cuisine}

ICAR-CMFRI Director A. Gopalakrishnan said, "The institute is in the process of developing more health products from the underutilised seaweeds. Efforts are on for standardising and promoting seaweed farming all along the Indian coasts as a livelihood option for the coastal communities. This is expected to compensate for the dip in income for the fishermen during lean seasons."

Earlier, the institute developed natural products for many common problems like diabetes, arthritis, cholesterol and hypothyroidism.
 

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