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Red seaweeds like Gigartina contain small amounts of a range of nutrients: iodine, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and B complex, as well as Essential Fatty Acid content, and trace nutrients zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and chromium. Each contains several antioxidant constituents, including antioxidant pigments phycocyanin and phycoerythrin, and its own unique carrageenan profile, as noted below.
Red seaweeds containing carrageenan have also been traditionally used as lung tonics and to treat lung ailments by many cultures throughout the world. These seaweeds contain many other bioactive compounds, including other medicinal polysaccharides, a diverse array of antioxidant pigments, and other antioxidant constituents, as well as diverse vitamin and mineral profiles and generally mid-range iodine content. Red seaweeds have some of the highest manganese content among seaweeds.
Gigartina is another red seaweed valued for its high carrageenan content. Carrageenan is a sulfated polysaccharide, which has been studied for its substantial antiviral activity (ability to prevent viral cell attachment), immunomodulatory activity, and antioxidant capacity, among many other properties. Gigartinaspecies tested have generally shown higher carrageenan content than other red seaweeds (40-60% dry weight). The carrageenan content of this species is predominantly lambda carrageenan, which has been shown to be more biologically active than other carrageenan forms. Gigartina species also contain kappa and iota carrageenans. This carrageenan complex creates a thick, fluid gel that does not set but can be used to make a tonic drink or thicken liquids.
Also generally containing a moderate amount of vitamins A, C, K, and B complex, Gigartina species tested have been shown to contain magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium, as well as some iron, phosphorus, zinc, and copper. It has a low to mid-range iodine content compared to other seaweeds, and it contains the antioxidant pigments phycocyanin and phycoerythrin.
Check out red seaweed gel recipe here!
Seaweeds can naturally contain significant levels of iodine. While cooking seaweeds can substantially reduce iodine content, individuals with thyroid conditions, iodine sensitivity or deficiency, or elders should integrate seaweeds into their diet gradually and thoughtfully. Professional guidance in these cases is recommended.
Seaweeds provided by Nature Spirit Herbs, BC Kelp, and/or Maine Coast Sea Vegetables.
Our seaweeds are wild harvested from coastal environments where they naturally thrive—often in areas of strong current, wave action, and elemental exposure. Dynamic intertidal conditions—shifting tides, sunlight, wave energy, and environmental variability—influence the development of many compounds for which seaweeds are traditionally valued, creating phytochemical profiles that differ from farmed seaweeds grown in more controlled settings.
We partner with harvesters working in high-energy coastal environments where seaweeds are exposed to conditions that support robust growth, diverse bioactive compounds, and contribute to the overall health and diversity of seaweed communities. Our harvesters are committed to the long-term health of wild seaweed communities, using sustainable practices that support regeneration and resilience.
Red seaweeds like Gigartina contain small amounts of a range of nutrients: iodine, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and B complex, as well as Essential Fatty Acid content, and trace nutrients zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and chromium. Each contains several antioxidant constituents, including antioxidant pigments phycocyanin and phycoerythrin, and its own unique carrageenan profile, as noted below.
Red seaweeds containing carrageenan have also been traditionally used as lung tonics and to treat lung ailments by many cultures throughout the world. These seaweeds contain many other bioactive compounds, including other medicinal polysaccharides, a diverse array of antioxidant pigments, and other antioxidant constituents, as well as diverse vitamin and mineral profiles and generally mid-range iodine content. Red seaweeds have some of the highest manganese content among seaweeds.
Gigartina is another red seaweed valued for its high carrageenan content. Carrageenan is a sulfated polysaccharide, which has been studied for its substantial antiviral activity (ability to prevent viral cell attachment), immunomodulatory activity, and antioxidant capacity, among many other properties. Gigartinaspecies tested have generally shown higher carrageenan content than other red seaweeds (40-60% dry weight). The carrageenan content of this species is predominantly lambda carrageenan, which has been shown to be more biologically active than other carrageenan forms. Gigartina species also contain kappa and iota carrageenans. This carrageenan complex creates a thick, fluid gel that does not set but can be used to make a tonic drink or thicken liquids.
Also generally containing a moderate amount of vitamins A, C, K, and B complex, Gigartina species tested have been shown to contain magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium, as well as some iron, phosphorus, zinc, and copper. It has a low to mid-range iodine content compared to other seaweeds, and it contains the antioxidant pigments phycocyanin and phycoerythrin.
Check out red seaweed gel recipe here!
Seaweeds can naturally contain significant levels of iodine. While cooking seaweeds can substantially reduce iodine content, individuals with thyroid conditions, iodine sensitivity or deficiency, or elders should integrate seaweeds into their diet gradually and thoughtfully. Professional guidance in these cases is recommended.
Seaweeds provided by Nature Spirit Herbs, BC Kelp, and/or Maine Coast Sea Vegetables.
Our seaweeds are wild harvested from coastal environments where they naturally thrive—often in areas of strong current, wave action, and elemental exposure. Dynamic intertidal conditions—shifting tides, sunlight, wave energy, and environmental variability—influence the development of many compounds for which seaweeds are traditionally valued, creating phytochemical profiles that differ from farmed seaweeds grown in more controlled settings.
We partner with harvesters working in high-energy coastal environments where seaweeds are exposed to conditions that support robust growth, diverse bioactive compounds, and contribute to the overall health and diversity of seaweed communities. Our harvesters are committed to the long-term health of wild seaweed communities, using sustainable practices that support regeneration and resilience.