Does Seaweed Consumption Affects Evolution Of Human? It Contained Essential Nutrients For Human Brain Development Says Study

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Mar 01, 2017 06:08 AM EST

Researchers of a new study had a debate about seaweed consumption, which might contribute to the human brain development. Eating seaweed possibly provided ancient human ancestors the needed nutrients that enabled Homo sapiens to evolve.

The process of Homo sapiens' development from the earliest hominoid family tree millions of years ago was still a mystery, Daily Mail reported. However, different nutrients such as magnesium and zinc might supply essential requirements for more complex brain maturation.

The human brain took the most important development in the last 2.5-2 million years. The various kinds of seaweeds might contribute a big effect on the process, which potentially affecting individual's organ today, researchers claimed.

Human antecedents depended on energy-rich foods for survival, and vital nutrients were essential in stimulating brain buildup progression. The current brain cannot function without these nutrients, including zinc and magnesium.

"Nutrients needed for this transition from a primitive ancestor to modern Homo sapiens were and still available in seaweeds," Professor Ole G Mouritsen from the University of Southern Denmark said. "Seaweeds could be found and harvested in abundance on shores, and for a foraging lifestyle, a rich coastal environment would be a significant source of consistent supply of these nutrients," he added.

Mouritsen is a co-author of the newly presented review in Journal of Applied Phycology.
The research emphasized the probable significance of the variety of seaweeds' consumption in the human brain's well-being containing benefits to primitive Homo sapiens.

The researchers stated that the human ancestry was likely branched from chimpanzees. They are human's nearest living relative approximately 5-7 million years ago, Science Daily reported.

Coastal places may highly charm early hominoids in the hunting of food. The human ancestors probably hunt fish, crustaceans, snails, seaweeds, bird eggs, and even deceased marine vertebrates as they walk the coast as per the researchers. "Seaweed is just as healthy and nutritious for humans today as it was millions of years ago," Professor Ole G. Mouritsen said. Read Next: Human Brain Could Transform Glucose Into Deadly Fructose

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