Back to Brown Sea Foods for Effective Weight Reduction

Submitted by Loring A. Windblad on February 24, 2010

Back To Brown Sea Foods For Effective Weight Reduction

Researchers in Japan have found that a certain type of sea weed can help reduce weight. This sea weed known as Wakame, is a usual ingredient as a flavor component in many soups n other Asian dishes. Tests were carried out on animals which showed that this weed helps weight loss by reducing fat accumulation. It contains a compound named fucoxanthin which is responsible for the weight loss. The compound showed about 5% to 10% weight reduction in animals.

The compound is said to target abdominal fat in particular, which is usually the most worrisome fat which needs to be burned. The brown sea weed gets its color from a brownish pigment which is the compound fucoxanthin which is responsible for photosynthesis. It is found in very high levels in various type of brown sea weed but not in green and red sea weed.

Fucoxanthin present in this sea weed stimulates a protein named UCP1, which is responsible for oxidation and conversion of fats into energy and heat.

This protein is found in the adipose tissue surrounding the internal organs which is also found in abdominal fat. Thus by oxidizing these fats it helps in shrinking oversized guts. This compound also stimulates the liver to produce certain type of compound called DHA.

DHA is a type of Omega 3 fatty acid found in fish oil which helps reduce increased levels LDL cholesterol which is bad cholesterol. Also unlike fish oil supplements the brown sea weeds do not have unpleasant smell. There were no side effects found in the study of fucoxanthin on animal testing.

There are still certain things one should know about the sea weeds.

One cannot expect to lose a lot of weight in the quickest way with the help of these weeds. One might have to consume large amount of these sea weeds daily in order to see a noticeable change in weight. This is because the fucoxanthin present in the sea weeds is tightly bound to the proteins in it. This compound is not easily absorbed in the form of whole sea weed. One can make soups like miso soup or add it while cooking sushi if not able to consume raw. To make it more delicious one can also make jellies with wakame sea weed. Sea weed is not only a good and natural way to lose weight but it is also a natural source of iodine.