Seaweed
WLR dietitian Juliette Kellow reports on initial research
which shows fucoxanthin, a compound found in brown seaweed, may
help burn fat.
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Can Seaweed Make Us Slim?
By WLR Dietitian
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This month, the papers reported that fucoxanthin, a compound
found in brown seaweed, may help in the fight against obesity.
Brown seaweed – also known as wakame – is often used in
traditional Asian dishes such as miso soup to add flavour. But
Japanese scientists also believe it could help burn fat.
Sharing
their findings at a scientific conference in San Francisco, the
researchers from Hokkaido University in Japan revealed that when
rats and mice were fed fucoxanthin they lost around 10 percent
fat.
The researchers believe this compound works its magic by
triggering a protein in the body, which burns fat accumulated
around the internal organs.
WLR says:
This is an interesting piece of research but a lot more work
needs to be carried out before any definite conclusions can be
made.
To start with, fucoxanthin may not have the same fat-burning
effects in humans so until studies have been carried out in
adults, it’s impossible to say whether this compound is
effective as a slimming aid.
Meanwhile, eating more seaweed in
the form of miso soup is unlikely to be beneficial as the
researchers say that fucoxanthin is not easily absorbed in its
natural form.
It’s certainly a case of watch this space. But in the
meantime, if you want to burn fat safely and effectively, it’s
better to stick with your diet and exercise programme. |
