Very fashionable in recent years, seaweed is described as a super ally for weight loss. They are presented to us as appetite suppressants, fat absorbers and other slimming benefits, but what is really going on? Are these seaweeds the miracle foods to make us lose weight as the media boasts?

Algae, a well-known food in Asian cuisine

In Asian culinary traditions,seaweed occupies a large place. They are cooked in all types of dishes: sushi, miso soup, fish recipes, ... and this, for their rich nutrients. Indeed, seaweeds are rich in quality proteins, vitamins and minerals, anti-oxidants and fiber. They contain few lipids and these are mainly polyunsaturated fatty acids.

What are their famous slimming benefits?

Seaweed acts as a hunger suppressant thanks to the large amount of fiber it contains (about 80%). These fibers swell in the stomach and intestine, bringing a sensation of satiety. Unfortunately this is short-lived and you will be hungry again very quickly.

U digestionIt is a kind of viscous gel that traps sugars and fats, thus slowing down their digestion.

The algae would also act on Cholesterol, by reducing the share of bad cholesterol, and this is thanks to the presence of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids.

But which seaweeds to eat?

Beware, there are many varieties of seaweed but they are not all edible! Only about forty of them can be consumed without risk.  

In addition to the fact that they all contain iodine (for seaweed), calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, iron, anti-oxidants and quality proteins, they all have specific properties. Let us detail some of them.

• SpirulinaThis freshwater blue-green algae, native to the lakes of Chad and South America, contains 70% protein and numerous nutrients, including iron, vitamin B12, beta-carotene and a large quantity of anti-oxidants, which makes it part of the "superfood" family.

It acts as a blood sugar regulator but its action onweight loss remains to be proven and the opinions of specialists are still very controversial, as few studies have been conducted.

Spirulina is consumed in the form of flakes in salads or other dishes but are taste is quite strong, most people prefer to consume it in the form of capsules.

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Indeed, this 100% vegetable gelling agent has been diverted from its primary function by dieters to make a drink that will occupy all the space in the stomach, thus reducing people's appetite. The fibers contained in agar-agar will swell in the stomach and absorb some of the fats and sugars contained in the meal. To be able to benefit from this action, it is necessary to consume this algae, diluted in hot water, before starting to eat. Moreover, agar-agar having a caloric value close to zero, it can be consumed without fear of gaining weight. Beware, however, that this seaweed, taken in too large a dose, has a laxative effect! That is why it is recommended not to exceed the dose of 3 grams per day. Agar-agar is in the form of powder, odorless and tasteless. It replaces animal gelatin in recipes or can be diluted in water, tea or broth to then be drunk before a meal.

• Wakame, native to Japan, is a brown seaweed that has a detoxifying action on the body and acts as a fat burner, under the action of fucoxanthin, a yellow pigment of the carotenoid family. Although it can be eaten raw,wakame is mainly eaten cooked with grains, fish or vegetables.
• Kombu, another brown seaweed from Japan, is best known in our country from its presence in Miso soup. It is very rich in iodine, which improves thyroid function. Its asset in weight loss is that it contains glutamic acid which makes the fiber more digestible, giving it a better action during digestion. It comes in the form of a brown "leaf" that is infused in water with grains, legumes or broth.

If the consumption of seaweed is a plus in our diet in terms of nutrients it remains that their action on weight loss remains minimal. Their action hunger suppressant works well but is short-lived. In addition, it has been shown that you don't lose weight in a sustainable way by taking appetite suppressants or by drastically reducing the calories consumed because in most cases, the weight is regained as soon as a "normal" diet is consumed again. The best thing is to learn how to eat again properly and as part of a balanced diet, consuming seaweed is going to be a little extra to help you manage your weight as best as possible.