Seaweed in the Diet
Can seaweed help to build muscle and shed fat? It has been eaten for centuries in the likes of Japan, Korea, and China. Japan has the oldest living population in the world. Interestingly, in 2018, the Japanese ministry announced that the number of Japanese citizens who were older than 100 had risen to reach 69,785. Of that number, more than 88 percent were women. Seaweed doesn’t have the same reception here in the UK. If you do come across it, it’s probably in sushi. If you’ve had it from your local Chinese takeaway then it is more than likely cabbage. Although, now seaweed is tipped to be the food of the future in the western world due to the research into its health properties.
A Nutrition Powerhouse
Eating seaweed has many benefits. Here at Seaweed & Co., We normally focus on the fact that it is a rich natural source of vegan iodine. However, seaweed is much more than that it. It is packed full of nutrients and our seaweed comes with 6 EU approved health claims. Not only that, but there’s a lot more promising research coming our way. For example, a recent study published backs up previous findings. Seaweed contains fucoxanthin and hesperetin. One is known as a carotenoid which promotes burning fat. The other is a flavonoid which helps to build muscle and maintain bone health.Build Muscle and Shed Fat?
The study was published in the Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism journal. The Korean Food Research Institute fed rats wakame (a type of seaweed) over an 8-week period. What they found was impressive. They reported that the distance the animals could run was increased by 15%. This was accredited to an increase and quality of the muscle developed. The found that the blood flow was improved and that there was more a greater production of mitochondria. This is significant as mitochondria are the part of the cell that are responsible for creating energy output. The muscle that appeared to increase was fat twitch, which is what is required in explosive sports such as sprinting or weightlifting.Other Research
In 2014, Newcastle University conducted a study which found that alginate (a polysaccharide found in brown algae) can be used to slow our body’s fat absorption, helping keep off excess weight. Participants who ate a diet including seaweed reduced their fat absorption by a third, clearly showing the benefits of using seaweed for weight loss. Hokkaido University in Japan also conducted research into seaweed for weight loss, discovering weight loss potential in wakame due to the inclusion of a pigment known as fucoxanthin. Participants who consumed fucoxanthin lost five to ten per cent of their body fat through the experiment. This is because the fucoxanthin helps to build muscle and shed fat.Our Seaweed
We are proud of our source of seaweed. It is organic, kosher, and vegan friendly and it is sustainably harvested from the pristine lochs of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. The species we use is called Ascophyllum nodosum and is a type of brown seaweed. What we put into our Doctor Seaweed’s Weed & Wonderful Capsules is just dried, milled seaweed and nothing else. It’s simply a whole food that has been processed in an easy to take way. Getting the benefits of seaweed into your life couldn’t be easier. We believe everyone should do it because seaweed isn’t weird… it’s wonderful. Try yours today! Use code TRYME20 for 20% off.