The benefits of seaweed have been known in Eastern cultures for some time. In Asia you often find dishes that contain seaweed. The algae contain a lot of proteins and vitamin B12. Other vitamins and antioxidants are also abundantly present. However, it is a specific substance, alginate, that is said to prevent the production of fat.
Healthy food from the sea
Iodine
Iodine is an element that can be found in every body cell, without which we cannot live. Humans only need to take a small amount of iodine. Because it is not found in ingredients of many traditional Western foods, iodine is often added to salt. However, sometimes too little iodine is still consumed. The iodine-rich seaweed is a good alternative. The substance is important for thyroid function and therefore influences the balance of metabolism. It has an antibacterial property and is therefore good to use against infections.
Calcium
Some algae contain up to ten times more calcium than milk. It helps in the development of teeth and bones. It also has a positive effect on nerve cells and muscles.
Vitamins
Seaweed contains the following vitamins:
- a
- B1, B2, B3, B6, B9
- c
- D
- E
- K
Against breast cancer
Breast cancer is five times less common in Japanese than in Americans. There are several potential explanations for this remarkable fact, one of which is their diet. Not least, the high consumption of seaweed could be an explanation because active substances regulate thyroid function and thus influence the production of estrogen and estradiol.
Alginate: substance against fat absorption
Seaweed is full of positive substances for the body, but there is one specific substance that would prevent the absorption of fats, namely alginate. There are three colors of seaweed: red, brown and green. The brown variant in particular is said to contain large amounts of alginate. Alginate is said to reduce fat absorption by 75% . In addition, the alginate forms a kind of gel in the stomach, which makes it feel full. So you will feel satisfied faster. These claims are based on various studies (Japan 2007, US 2010, UK 2014) and cannot simply be written off as nonsense. The last test in 2014 in Newcastle showed that subjects produced up to one third less fat thanks to small intakes of seaweed (processed in bread). The taste of alginate is very specific, so it is not necessarily tasty for everyone. It has a salty sea taste.
Seaweed pills
On the market there are a lot of pills containing concerted extracts of brown seaweed. Be careful when buying these pills and only choose products that you really trust. Due to the extra pollution of the oceans, and certainly due to the Fukushima disaster, there may be very unhealthy pills in circulation. Reliable products are first clinically examined before they can be sold. There are also a lot of seaweed shakes on the market.
Preparing seaweed
You can easily prepare seaweed with some bacon or rice as a snack. You can also add it to vegetable and fruit shakes. It is also regularly added to salads or served in soup.
Lose weight with seaweed
Eating seaweed can help you lose weight due to a combination of four different reasons.
- Alginate ensures that there is up to 75% less fat absorption
- You feel full faster
- Seaweed contains few calories (38 per 100 grams)
- There are many proteins in seaweed, which promotes muscle production. More muscle means you can eat more without gaining weight.
