Many methods for reaching and maintaining your weight goals are available to you, and some methods may offer short-term results with a high trade-off in health risks. As an alternative, some forms of seaweed may help you curb your appetite and attain your weight management benefits with less associated risk than fad diets or dangerous supplements.
Ineffective
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, reported that alginate, a substance derived from brown seaweed, did not curb appetite, increase or decrease stomach emptying or alter digestive hormone production in a 10-day study. Participants in the study, all overweight or obese adults, took six capsules of alginate 30 minutes before meals. Total calorie intake at the meals, in which volunteers had free choice of foods and quantities of food consumed, was not affected by alginate supplementation. The study was published in the August 2010 issue of the journal "Obesity."
Weight Loss and Improved Liver Function
A commercial preparation containing brown marine algae extract called fucoxanthin and pomegranate seed oil promoted weight loss, reduced body fat and liver fat and improved liver function in obese non-diabetic women, according to a study conducted at the Institute of Immunopathology, Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Moscow. In the 16-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study, volunteers consumed 2.4 mg of the supplement, containing 300 mg each of fucoxanthin and pomegranate seed oil. Results showed an average of 5.5 kg of weight loss. Weight loss occurred sooner in women who had normal liver fat levels at the start of the study. Researchers concluded that the seaweed-containing supplement shows promise for management of obesity. The study was published in the January 2010 issue of the journal "Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism."
Gel Formation
Sodium alginate, a substances the forms a gel when it comes into contact with calcium, reduced calorie intake in a study conducted by the Food and Nutrition Group, Sheffield Hallam University, UK. In the study, participants consumed alginate supplements before meals for seven days. Results showed an average 7 percent reduced calorie intake per day, including significantly decreased carbohydrate, sugar, saturated fat and protein intake. The researchers concluded that the strong gelling effect of the alginate supplement , which causes a feeling of satiety, contributed to the decreased food intake in this study and represents potential for the use of sodium alginate in the treatment of obesity. The study was published in the November 2008 issue of the journal "Appetite."
Diuretic
Spiurlina, a green marine bacteria, may provide appetite suppressant-effects by virtue of its content of the amino acid phenylalanine, according to Deborah Mitchell, author of the book "Natural Medicine for Weght Loss." Phenylalanine contributes to the production of thyroid hormone, which helps maintain healthy energy levels and metabolic rate. Mitchell also recommends the seaweed Fucus vesiculosus for its diuretic properties and ability to curb appetite. Take Fucus vesiculosus as a tea by infusing one teaspoon in 8 oz of hot water for 30 minutes. Drink three or four cups per day an hour before eating.
References
- "Obesity"; Effect of Alginate on Satiation, Appetite, Gastric Function, and Selected Gut Satiety Hormones in Overweight and Obesity; S. Odunsi, et al.; August 2010
- "Diabetes, Obesity and Metbolism"; The Effects of Xanthigen in the Weight Management of Obese Premenopausal Women with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Normal Liver Fat; M. Abidov, et al.; January 2010
- "Appetite"; Daily Ingestion of Alginate Reduces Energy Intake in Free-living Subjects; J.Paxman, et al.; November 2008
- "Natural Medicine for Weght Loss"; Deborah Mitchell; 2009
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