Discover the hidden treasures of the sea
We instinctively know that the ocean is good for us. Why else do we flock to the seaside for a dose of R&R? And we’re not just in search of a tan, or we’d be spending our holidays under a UV lamp. There’s something about the vastness of the seascape, the rhythm of the waves, the salty tang of the water. It induces an invigorating tranquility that’s hard to emulate. That doesn’t stop us trying though. The regular wash of ocean waves is a popular choice on sound machines, soothing frantic minds into a harmonious sleep.
It’s not just good for the psyche. The ocean holds a wealth of health-enhancing treasures in its deep blue depths. Take salt for starters. We’ve been warned off excess salt in our food, but when it comes to your skin there’s no such thing as too much. Dead Sea salt in particular has been a beauty must-have for centuries. Cleopatra even nagged Marc Antony to conquer the region so she could get her milk-softened mitts on it. The Dead Sea has ten times the salt of ordinary seawater and is teeming with minerals in extremely high concentrations. Bromide, for example, is a natural sedative. Potassium helps cells absorb nutrients and flush out toxins, and magnesium promotes speedy healing. People flock to the waters with a variety of ailments including arthritis, joint problems and skin disorders, and leave remarkably improved if not cured. No wonder wars have raged over the stuff.
Another of the sea’s riches, algae, doesn’t sound particularly inviting. But that icky green stuff best known for sliming up the fish tank is chock full of skin-enriching goodies. There are more than 25,000 species of algae floating around in the sea, and these miniscule powerhouses are the basis of all marine beauty treatments. They put earth-bound plant life to shame. One mini algae contains a thousand times more iodine and a hundred times more calcium. Plus, it grabs all the richness from the sea, so there’s no worries about fertilizers, pesticides or the uncertain effects of GM foods. However, the main reason to embrace the little greenies is their vital role in the battle against cellulite. By improving circulation, they break down the fatty deposits that cause the dreaded dimpling.
Marine animals are lucky creatures, spending their lives immersed in the potent waters. Not surprisingly, they are also brimming with vitality. Omega 3, one of the essential fatty acids, cannot be manufactured by the body but is abundant is fish. It lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure, controls blood sugar (eliminating pesky chocolate cravings), and reduces inflammation in the joints. It has also been shown to help people with depression. Caviar is another beauty miracle. The prized fish eggs, once the preserve of luxury canapés, are now being used in skin creams. The lavish quantities of proteins, vitamins and minerals contained in these eggs are in a cell format similar to human skin. They speed up the production of collagen, plumping up the skin to eradicate wrinkles. Why waste it on toast? There’s also increasing evidence that the miraculous ocean can do more than make us serene, smooth and beautiful. Marine life is now being researched in the fight against cancer. An alkaloid chemical, extracted from sea squirts, has been heralded as a breakthrough for medical science. The chemical has shown promising results in patients where other treatments have failed, and has enormous potential for treating a range of tumours, including breast cancer. Such is the interest in this development that the EU has put forward funding for extensive trials.
While medical trials are a relatively recent phenomenon, the therapeutic benefits of the ocean were recognised from the beginning. ‘Sea washes the troubles of all humans,’ wrote Euripide in 420 BC and later the Romans invented the first marine mud baths. In 17th Century England, sea bathing became the in-thing, following doctors’ advice that it cures ‘tormenting’. And so it does, in every possible sense, from the soothing rhythm of the waves to the medicinal properties that may solve the menace of the 21st Century.
Marine Essentials