Seaweed & Weight Loss

Conflicting information proliferates in the area of weight loss supplements, as we all know. The possible benefits of seaweed as a weight loss tool are no exception. While evidence exists to support that seaweed may assist weight loss, equal evidence suggests that it has no positive impact whatsoever. Seaweed has many beneficial health properties, including antioxidants, according to the "Sunday Times." However, whether or not it promotes weight loss remains inconclusive.

Types

Seaweed goes by many names. There are three principal types of seaweed used primarily in weight loss supplements: brown seaweed, common in many Japanese recipes such as miso soup; nori seaweed, typically found in sushi, and bladderwrack, typically found in alternative medicines. Seaweed also goes by the name of kelp and fucus.

Research

A 2006 study presented by scientists from Hokkaido University in Japan showed that brown seaweed promoted weight loss by lowering fat accumulation in test rats. Brown seaweed contains a compound called fucoxanthin, which seemed to stimulate a five to 10 percent reduction of body fat in animal studies, and appeared to especially target fat around the midsection. Similarly, a 2007 study out of Newcastle University in the U.K. found that an extract from seaweed known as alginate successfully inhibited the lipase enzyme, as do other obesity medications, without the associated gastrointestinal side effects of bloating.

Controversy

In 2005, the Federal Trade Commission banned fraud artists from peddling seaweed patches as weight loss aids in response to consumer complaints. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, initial research suggests that bladderwrack, used in conjunction with lecithin and vitamins, offers no concrete support in the treatment of obesity. For those seeking to lose weight and keep it off, there is insufficient evidence available to legitimately label seaweed as a weight loss tool.

Benefits

Seaweed does support weight loss generally, as it is low in calories and dense in nutrients. According to nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston, seaweed provides a plentiful source of antioxidants, as well as vitamins B1, B2, and B12, which foster healthy muscle tissue, maintain nerve function, and aid in iron absorption. Seaweed also contains iodine, critical to thyroid gland function, and as the thyroid oversees the metabolic rate of the body's cells, a diet low in iodine sometimes affects how efficiently the body burns calories. As such, seaweed can support overall weight management.

Warnings

If you are eating seaweed or taking seaweed supplements for weight loss support, it is important not to ingest too much. According to "The New York Times Health Guide," too much iodine can induce hypothyroidism, wherein the thyroid gland reacts to medication and becomes underactive. Seaweed can also concentrate certain toxic heavy metals found in the ocean, including arsenic, says the National Library of Medicine. Talk to your health provider to determine if seaweed is right for you as a weight loss tool, and in what amount.