South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-08
Seaweeds and MuSseLs
BY WOODS HUTCHINSON, NJ. D.

For some curious reason, man.
though 4 land dweller OF the land
jewellers for millions OF years past.
still bears unmistakable traces OF his
sea origin in the fact that the prin-
cipal salt in his makeup is soda,
like the seaweeds; instead OF potash
like the land plants, from which he
draws two-thirds TO three-fourths OF
his nourishment. Ia fact the blood
in his veins is almost pure sea wa
ter. even 20 the trace Of iodine with
a lot OF corpuscles mixed up in il.
We are walking aquariums filed
with sea water. and all our body
cells are marine animals
This is one OF the reasons why We
have such u craving for common
salt, which is chlorine or sodium.
III we have a reasonable amount OF
animal food OF meat. which like our
own tissues is rich in sodium We
can get a sufficient supply from that
source. But il we are chiefly vege-
tarianS and get almost nothing but
potash, we develop a strong craving
for salt. So that seaweedS ought 10
be q useful addition 70 our diet when
we are limiting the use OF meats as
much as possible. Any animal
product however, eggs. milk. fish.
will supply our demand FOR sodium.
If we are content 10 regard sea-
weeds as salads and appetizers. they
may play "A useful part among our
foods But If we attempt 10 use
them as serious sources Of nourish-
ment or energy. we are on doubtful
ground at once. The principal sub
stance OF possible food value. which
they contain is gelatin and in the
beginning we were not unnaturally
inclined 70 take it FOR granted that
this was just as capable or digestion
and utilization IN our stomachs as
ordinary animal gelatin
About 10 years ago. however. "A
very careful study was made OF the
actual utilization OF seaweed gela-
tin IN the human stomach by some
OF the japanese chemists and physi-
ologists. because seaweeds were
quite extensively used as an article
OF diet by the poorer class OF Jap
anese Rather 20 their surprise ana
much 10 everyone's disappointment.
seaweeds were found 10 be almost
incapable of digestion in the human
stomach. and TO pass through the
body practically unchanged. over 90
per cent OF their gelatin being re-
covered from the excreta
These findings were 20 unexpected
that they attracted immediate at
tention and new tests were made in
several European laboratories with
practically the same results So
that the wisdom or our ancestors in
dropping seaweed from their diet as
soon as they could get adequate sup
plies OF real food from the land was
based upon sound common sense and
good scientific reason.
So little I'm fact Is seaweed di-
gested or absorbed in the body that
one tropical Seaweed. known as
agar-agar which was introduced
Z into our laboratories because II
makes such a convenient culture
BED for bacteria 20 grow upon. is
now used In large doses as a laXa-
I tive, simply because Ii passes
through the aiimentary canal almost
/ unchanged and by lis bulk stimulates
/ the muscles Of its walls. Incident
/ ally IL may be remarked that the
/ fre 10 70 per cent Of seaweed gela
. tin which disappears in the human
alImentary canal is probably de-
/ stroyed hy the bacteria which in
/ Ia Dit il. and does not contribute in
any way 10 the nourishment OF the
BODY itself. However. as a source
! OF iodine and % soda seaweed NAV
be a useful addition 20 our bills OF
fare. and II FIVE or 10 per cent OF
its gelatine can be utilized. so much
the better. But 81 can hardly be
/ counted a. solid o. real food