Spergularia marina is a saline and saline plant that feeds on salt from the tidal flats, and it grows wild in Jindo and Sinan, Jeollanam-do. The leaves are 10-20 cm long, thin, and pointed at the tip. It is said that the name Spergularia marina was given due to the characteristic of this shape. Spergularia marina, characterized by a fresh sea scent and crunchy, popping texture, absorbs salt from the tidal flats, so it has a salty taste without seasoning. After digging up the root and washing it clean, it is eaten as a vegetable, or it is often used as an ingredient in dishes such as miso soup. In addition, Spergularia marina is rich in chlorophyll, beta-carotene, vitamin C, dietary fiber, calcium, and other nutrients, which are well known to have various beneficial effects on the body. In the past, people living near mudflats in early spring lacked food and ate them after blanching them, and they were usually treated as weeds that interfere with rice farming and salt production. However, as the health effects of the various nutrients contained in trifolium became known, recently, it has been recognized as a healthy food that improves various adult diseases. Now, let’s take a look at the effects of Spergularia marina one by one.
Spergularia marina main benefits
1. Antioxidant action
Spergularia marina is rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, and chlorophyll, which are known as excellent antioxidants. These abundant antioxidants are produced in excess and act to lower the concentration of free radicals that attack normal cells, thereby helping to stabilize the immune system that protects our body.
In addition, free radicals cause damage to normal cells, so they have an effect on accelerating the rate of aging. It is said that by the complex action of various antioxidants in Spergularia marina, it has a beneficial effect on the anti-aging effect through the removal of free radicals, which act as the cause of accelerated aging.
2. Vascular health
Antioxidants in Spergularia marina, such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and chlorophyll, are said to have a good effect in protecting blood vessels from oxidative stress caused by free radicals and preventing the formation of inflammation in blood vessels. In addition, Spergularia marina contains a large amount of linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid, which lowers blood cholesterol and purifies the blood, which is said to help promote vascular health and prevent various cardiovascular diseases.
3. Diabetes improvement
Spergularia marina is known to help prevent and improve diabetes through its antidiabetic action. According to the data studied by the Korea Food Research Institute, Spergularia marina extract acts to increase the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) from intestinal secretory cells. In addition, the secretion of GLP-1 increases the secretion of insulin and is involved in the action of regulating blood sugar, thereby helping to prevent diabetes and alleviate symptoms.
4. Weight Control
GLP-1 secreted by Spergularia marina extract also acts on the central nervous system, and with this effect, it helps suppress appetite, suppresses food intake, and can help prevent obesity and control body weight. In addition, Spergularia marina is not only low in calories, but also rich in dietary fiber, which helps to keep you full for as long as possible. In addition, it is said that it is beneficial to reduce the nutritional imbalance that tends to occur during diet by supplying a balanced nutrition of various essential nutrients such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C, which are abundantly contained in Spergularia marina.
5. Bone Health
Spergularia marina is also rich in calcium, a mineral that plays an essential role in maintaining and creating bones. It is said that the amount is about 6.4 times that of pumpkin and 20 times that of spinach. It is said that this rich calcium helps to increase bone density and helps to improve bone health by making bones strong.
Spergularia marina also works by activating receptors for bile acids. It is also known that bile acid receptors inhibit the proliferation of osteoclasts that destroy bone, so it is said to have a beneficial effect in the prevention of bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis.
other effects
The action of Spergularia marina extract activating bile acid receptors is known to help treat various liver diseases and suppress inflammation. In addition, the rich dietary fiber and chlorophyll of Spergularia marina promote intestinal peristalsis, and it is said that it is effective in removing sukbyeon and preventing constipation.
