AHD extends seaweed focus in functional push
AHD International says that its brown seaweed-derived fucoidan product offers a sulphated polysaccharide for functional foods that has a number of well researched potential health benefits.
Fucoidans are naturally occurring components of certain edible seaweeds and echinoderms that are large sugar polymers made up primarily of the sugar fucose.
Scientific history
As the an ingredient derived from sea weed, AHD president John Alkire says fucoidan is backed by a long history of scientific research behind its reported health benefits.
“Historically, diets high in fucoidan-rich seaweed, such as those found in Okinawa and Tonga, lead to longer life expectancy rates,” he stated.
Alkire added that AHD was well equipped to harvest and process the extract to ensure it retains functionality during the distribution cycle.
"Our commitment to delivering excellent seaweed extract products begins with our manufacturing partners that have harvested, researched and developed seaweed products for four decades,” he stated. “This ensures a keen understanding of how to process seaweed without compromising active properties.”
Harvesting
As part of this process, AHD claims that all of its fucoidan supplies are hand-harvested and then naturally dried at an organically certified manufacturing facility. The extract is then processed to ensure that no contamination, solvents or artificial treatments then come into contact with it.
The products are then tested on a batch basis for traces of microbials, heavy metals and FCC inorganic arsenic at three independent laboratories.
The company says that the launch follows the recent launch of another brown seaweed extract in its operations, a 50 per cent grade fucoxanthin designed to aid weight management.
