Seaweed is colloquial term for the red, brown and green algae. They are used as food, medicines. fertilizer and in industry.

Seaweeds are consumed by coastal people, particularly in East Asia, seaweeds are mixed with milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla to make a common beverage.

Seaweeds are also harvested or cultivated for the extraction of certain gelatinous substances, which have attained commercial significance as food additives.

The food industry exploits their gelling, water-retention, emulsifying and other physical properties. Agar is used in foods such as confectionery, meat and poultry products, desserts and beverages and molded foods.

Carrageenan is used in salad dressings and sauces, dietetic foods, and as a preservative in meat and fish products, dairy items and baked goods. Alginates are used in wound dressings, and production of dental moulds. In microbiology,agar is extensively used as culture medium.

Seaweed is a source of Iodine necessary for Thyroid function and to prevent goiter.Tuberculosis, Influenza, Arthritis are cured by sea weed preparations.

Seaweed extract is used in some diet pills.Other seaweed pills exploit the same effect by expanding in the stomach to make the body feel more full.

Other uses

Other seaweeds may be used as fertilizer. Seaweed is currently under consideration as a potential source of bio-ethanol.Seaweed is an ingredient in toothpaste, cosmetics and paints.

Alginates enjoy many of the same uses as carrageenan, and are used in industrial products such as paper coatings, adhesives, dyes, gels, explosives and in processes such as paper sizing, textile printing, hydro-mulching and drilling.