Fucus: Seaweed in Dietary Supplements
Activator of metabolism, fat burner, or appetite suppressant: fucus is a brown algae found on the Atlantic coast as well as the English Channel coast in France.
Taken as a dietary supplement, this seaweed is the ideal ally for a figure with overly pronounced curves.
It should be noted that its slimming characteristics, due to various elements which we will specify, have been studied for a long time by scientific research.
What are the different characteristics of fucus?
Present along beaches or clinging to rocks at ocean level, the long greenish thalli of fucus can hardly go unnoticed.
Extremely renowned on the Atlantic coast as well as the English Channel coast, it is also called "varech," from a Norman term characterizing what the water leaves on the shore. In the past, it was used for nearly all purposes: appreciated animal fodder, fuel, or even useful fertilizer for the soil.
During the Roman period, Pliny the Elder advised it for alleviating joint problems of rheumatic origin. In the Middle Ages, like the King of France, it was mainly used to relieve scrofula (a tuberculosis-related issue), goiter, and asthma. It is primarily fucus's fabulous slimming action that interests us.
Know that this was discovered at the end of the 19th century thanks to the work of Dr. Duchesne-Duparc. This professional noticed that kelp optimizes the absorption of fatty tissues through endocrine stimulation. Bingo! To reduce cellulite, the famous orange-peel skin, the doctor strongly recommended kelp baths, the use of seaweed pills, or even rubbing thighs with handfuls of fresh seaweed! At the same time, thalassotherapy, which uses this in the form of baths and wraps, helps to increase its popularity to this day.
Fucus also has a fat-burning action
The first element implicated in its impact on weight loss: the richness of kelp's mucilage. Also called alginates, these different substances are responsible for the viscous and unattractive aspect of the algae. Moreover, they have the characteristic of swelling in the stomach when in direct contact with water. A real appetite suppressant, the absorption of fucus also offers a rapid feeling of satiety, thus restricting calorie intake. It is a mechanical action of appetite regulation that integrates with optimal and flawless intestinal transit. Note that various modern studies, including one conducted in 2013 at Newcastle University in England, prove that alginates reduce lipid accumulation in the body by drastically slowing down pancreatic lipase activity.
A relevant fat-burning action shared by another key element of fucus: fucoxanthin. This is a carotenoid pigment, which is the cause of their brown color, extremely studied in the fight against obesity. Know that this would mainly have an action of reducing abdominal fat. A strong point of fucus for the figure: its high iodine content. Conceiving thyroid hormones, this trace element activates cellular metabolism and therefore the body's thermogenesis. By generating more heat, note that the body consumes more calories. Thus, the figure is refined thanks to a virtuous circle initiated by fucus!
And finally, it also has an extremely pronounced taste!
Extremely abundant in minerals, proteins, fibers, and low in calories, fucus must be enjoyed very fresh, in salad form. Unless you find it in a market on the Atlantic coast, you can harvest it yourself if you are near the sea.
However, be sure to only pick the kelp found on the rocks in the wildest areas to avoid agricultural runoff and other pollutants. The thalli washed up on the beaches can also be useful as fertilizer in the garden. In this case, be sure to let them dry before laying them down.
Also, consider the fact that fresh thalli can also be useful as a poultice where cellulite appears.
Available in the form of dietary supplements, dried thalli can also be consumed as a decoction or integrated into bathwater with a substantial handful. However, we strongly advise you to pay attention to its extremely pronounced smell and taste. Note that there is also kelp mother tincture available in pharmacies.
Of course, we recommend using the SIPF form of fucus, the most advanced extract as it preserves all the active principles of the plant.
Finally, note that while fucus is interesting for a slimming regimen, it should be used with caution by individuals with hyperthyroidism due to its high iodine content.
In short, as you may have understood, fucus is interesting and has a multitude of benefits. So, don't hesitate to use it regularly!