Seaweed bread could be the answer to the obesity epidemic, say scientists.
Researchers found seaweed fibre could reduce the body’s fat uptake by more than 75%.
A fibrous material in Sea Kelp called alginate was better at preventing fat absorption than most over-the-counter slimming treatments, laboratory tests showed.
Dr Iain Brownlee, who co-led the University of Newcastle team, said: “This suggests that if we can add the natural fibre to products commonly eaten daily – such as bread, biscuits and yoghurts – up to three quarters of the fat contained in that meal could simply pass through the body.
“We have already added the alginate to bread and initial taste tests have been extremely encouraging. Now the next step is to carry out clinical trials to find out how effective it is when eaten as part of a normal diet.”
The scientists used an “artificial gut” to test the effectiveness of 60 different natural fibres by measuring the extent to which they affected the digestion of fat.
They presented their findings today at the American Chemical Society’s spring meeting in San Francisco.
Dr Brownlee said the aim was to see if the same effects modelled in the laboratory could be reproduced in living volunteers.
Now the fibre is being added to bread in an effort to develop foods that help lose weight.
Clinical trials are now intended to find out how effective it would be in a normal diet.
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An active ingredient from a brown seaweed, off the coast of Brittany, may help kill pimples and oily skin.
Hoisted up from the seabed and converted into an extract for acne treatment, it goes on sale across Britain.
Human trials have shown that the seaweed extract cream had a positive impact, said the manufacturer, reports the Daily Mail.
It said in a trial of 60 males aged 12 to 24 with mild acne, products containing seaweed extract were significantly more effective than a dummy face wash, scrub or gel.
Enzo Berardesca, a director at the Instituto Dermatolgico San Gallicano in Italy who supervised the trial, described the results as “extremely good”.
“Patients with mild to moderate acne, such as blackheads, whiteheads and skin redness, found their symptoms markedly reduced,” he added. Most importantly, there were no side effects.
Professor Mike Guiry of the University of Ireland in Galway has done extensive studies of seaweeds. He promotes seaweed for good general health as well as for some specific issues.
Seaweed nutrition and seaweed diets are becoming increasingly more popular, as the world discovers the health hazards of eating too much meat and high calorie, high carbohydrate foods. Seaweed helps people eat a balanced diet and is vegetarian and organic. Some people believe that farming has had drastic soil effects. We derive our minerals and vitamins from the fruits and vegetables that we eat that are grown in the soil. Some people feel that our food can no longer provide all the nutrients we need to protect us from sickness and disease. Many people are turning to the vegetation of the sea: seaweed. People are choosing seaweed diets and seaweed nutrition to have a balanced diet that gives them all the nutrients and trace elements they can’t get in other foods. Seaweed is also believed to be a detoxifier and a healing agent, as well as protecting against breast and other cancers.
Seaweed has been promoted for weight loss (by stimulating thyroid activity), boosting the immune system, decreasing blood sugar and cholesterol, increasing gastro-intestinal tract function, and for decreasing the symptoms of arthritis joint pains. If you can’t or do not want to incorporate fresh seaweed into your diet, you can get seaweed nutrition from seaweed extract and seaweed pills, which contain all the nutritional vitamins and trace elements of fresh seaweed. These products are made from pure seaweed that is harvested by hand and is free of toxins. Be sure to purchase your seaweed extract and seaweed pills from a reputable company that certifies that their products are pure. You can purchase seaweed extract and seaweed pills at health food stores, or visit one of the seaweed websites online. You can also get more seaweed facts and learn about seaweed nutrition and how to have a balanced diet. There are even recipes for seafood salads and other dishes online for seaweed diets.
If you can’t or do not want to incorporate fresh seaweed into your diet, you can get seaweed nutrition from seaweed extract and seaweed pills, which contain all the nutritional vitamins and trace elements of fresh seaweed. These products are made from pure seaweed that is harvested by hand and is free of toxins. Be sure to purchase your seaweed extract and seaweed pills from a reputable company that certifies that their products are pure. You can purchase seaweed extract and seaweed pills at health food stores, or visit one of the seaweed websites online. You can also get more seaweed facts and learn about seaweed nutrition and how to have a balanced diet. There are even recipes for seafood salads and other dishes online for seaweed diets.
There have been many attempts to relieve teenagers of the misery of acne, but, until now it is unlikely that any have involved seaweed.
But an active ingredient from a type of brown seaweed, apparently found only off the coast of Brittany – may provide a solution to problem spots and oily skin.
It is hauled from the seabed and turned into an extract in an acne treatment that goes on sale across Britain this weekend.
Clinical trials have shown that the seaweed extract cream had a significant and positive impact, claimed the manufacturer behind the OXY range, Mentholatum.
It said that in a trial of 60 males aged 12 to 24 with mild acne, the OXY products containing seaweed extract were significantly more effective than a dummy face wash, scrub or gel.
They cut the number of spots and problems areas as well as curbing inflammation and redness, with improvement showing within 14 days.
Professor Enzo Berardesca, a director at the Instituto Dermatolgico San Gallicano, Italy, who supervised the trial, said the results were ‘extremely good’.