Ascophyllum nodosum

Ascophyllum Nodosum: Who's this?

Ascophyllum nodosum is the ultimate brown algae, an aquatic Phyto Superhero which propagates in the Ocean, and whose nodes, natural life jackets, let her stay afloat. These nodes are real coffers, containing little pieces of Ocean, rich in trace elements. These nodes act as accumulators, and make her able to hold toxins and heavy substances inside them: that's why the ones that put themselves at our cats' and dogs' disposal are strictly organic. This kelp snubs men, keeping them away with her strong smell of sea, but she’s proving much more generous with animals, lending herself to many uses in the livestock and pets' health fields.

Superpowers

Ascophyllum nodosum is a heroic kelp who doesn’t back down from great battles. Her herbal extracts, which are at the core of her superpowers, have been tested as potential inhibitors of cancer cells. Fucoidans - polyphenols capable of combining with proteins - have a strong antithrombotic, anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory activity. So, they fight the development of new blood vessels from other existing vessels, and counteract the formation of blood clots inside them. Ascophyllum nodosum has a high content of dietary fiber, mostly mucilage, oligosaccharides and beta-glucans. And it is her very fibre, insoluble and resolute, that acts as a brush - also thanks to its rich silicon content - cleaning up the gut from harmful bacterial flora, and also leaving in her path mucilages and saccharides that protect the intestinal mucosa, working as an anti-inflammatory, similarly to Psyllium. Thus, Ascophyllum nodosum feeds the good saprophytes and the good intestinal flora. This Phyto Superhero also has a strong anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity, and induces a local immune response, stimulating the immune system against harmful bacteria just like a vaccine would do.

Feats

We at SANYpet – FORZA10 love to call her Ascophyllum nodosum, but over the years she has been called many other names, such as: fucus vesiculosus, Quercus Marina, kelp (common name for most brown algae), knotted wrack, knobbed wrack, sea whistle and egg wrack. The Greek poet Nicander of Colophon wrote to use fucus vesiculosus against snake bites, while Plinio, who noted her similarities with oak trees, identified her beneficial properties for goiter.