Scientists from Newcastle University in the UK have discovered that
alginate, a dietary fiber found in sea kelp, one of the world’s largest commercially-used seaweed, could aid in weight loss by helping reduce the body’s fat absorption rate by as much as 75 percent.
The researchers used an artificial gut to test the effectiveness of more than 60 different natural fibers and found that alginate stops the body from absorbing fat better than most over-the-counter anti-obesity treatments.
The Newcastle team is now adding the seaweed fiber to bread to see if they can develop foods that can help you achieve weight loss lose while you eat them. Clinical trials would soon be conducted to find out if such foods would be effective weight loss tools when eaten as part of a normal diet.
Low levels of alginates are already being used to thicken and stabilize many foods. The researchers say that alginate bread is actually better than your ordinary white loaf when it comes to texture and richness. They believe that alginates not only have a great potential for weight loss but in boosting overall fiber content as well.
Dr. Joseph Mercola, proponent of the
no-grain diet, explains that eating foods rich in fiber helps keep you feeling full longer and traps cholesterol and fats, thus helping you achieve weight loss and reduce your risk of obesity.
Aside from helping you achieve weight loss, adding fiber to your diet will help enhance your intestinal health by absorbing water and adding bulk to your stool and encouraging the growth of probiotics (which also helps boost your immune system); reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and diabetes; and, slow down your absorption of sugar to improve your blood glucose.
But Dr. Mercola disagrees with the idea of enriching bread with the seaweed fiber, even if it does help greatly reduce your body’s fat absorption rate. One of the lessons he learned in his 20-year experience treating patients is that grains, even whole-grain, organic wheat, are best avoided by the vast majority of the population.
More than 85 percent of Americans have problems controlling their insulin levels, especially those who are overweight and are suffering from diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension.
One of the most important changes you can make to your diet is to limit or if necessary, completely eliminate grains. The no-grain diet will certainly help you accomplish this, as well as boost your weight loss efforts.
A high-fiber diet can provide you with many health benefits, but you shouldn’t get the fiber from enriched bread or grains because your body is designed to consume fiber from fruits and vegetables. Increased vegetable intake is another feature of the no-grain diet.
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