Many diet pills contain synthetic compounds that are not always safe or healthy, causing many people to shy away from them. But what if there were a natural and healthy way to lose weight using diet pills? Seaweed contains several compounds that can increase your metabolism and fat-burning power. For this reason, seaweed pills might be a natural way to lose weight fast.
Metabolism
Fucoxanthin is a secondary pigment that gives brown seaweed its color and is a regular component of seaweed pills. Dr. Stephen Holt explains that the pigment can have a thermogenic --heat producing-- effect on your metabolism, helping you to reduce excess fat stores throughout your body. Recent studies have shown that fucoxanthin might have a stimulatory effect on proteins that promote the oxidation of fat, says Holt. In particular, it appears that fucoxanthin works to increase belly fat oxidation, helping to reduce fat around your midsection.
Thyroid Function
Dr. Holt states that the iodine contained in seaweed, the most popular dietary forms of which are often included in seaweed pills, is a necessary element for healthy thyroid function. When your thyroid is functioning normally, it promotes healthy levels of lean body mass, says Holt. When it is malfunctioning, Holt states that it can promote excess weight gain. For this reason, the iodine contained in seaweed pills might promote a reduction in unhealthy body fat.
Fat Absorption
According to Dr. Kent Sasse, founder of the International Metabolic Institute, a substance in seaweed and seaweed pills called alginate has been found to bind dietary fats before they are able to absorb into your system. Most diet pills that block fat absorption can result in bloating because the fats are shunted to your intestines. Seaweed pills containing alginate, however, work to bind up to 75 percent of the fat you eat before it ever enters your system, eliminating this problem, says Dr. Sasse.
Calorie Restriction
One particular seaweed pill, called Appesat, works to decrease the number of overall calories you consume, according to Mail Online, a British online newspaper. Once you swallow an Appesat pill, it begins to swell in your stomach, mimicking the gastric balloon that some bariatric patients have surgically implanted into their stomachs, says Mail Online. The pill takes up space in your stomach, limiting the amount of food you are able to consume, helping you to slim down.
Contraindications
As with any weight-loss plan, consult your doctor before you chose to take seaweed pills. Some people might have an adverse reaction to thermogenic compounds, such as fucoxanthine. Also, it is important to note that over-ingestion of iodine is equally as detrimental as under-ingestion of iodine, so make sure that you are not doubling up on the element when you begin taking a seaweed pill. While it is important to avoid over-intake of fats in your diet, keep in mind that they are a necessary part of normal body function, so anti-fat pills can cause problems if you take them while you are on a reduced-fat diet. Finally, if you experience any serious reactions to seaweed pills, stop taking them and consult a physician.
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