Being packed with a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants, seaweed has long been known for its goodness, but it seems there is more to the ocean’s slimy algae than first thought.
According to Scientists from the University of Newcastle’s Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, alginate found in kelp is to be the latest tool in our fight against fat.
The findings were published in the journal Food Chemistry and lead scientist Professor Jeff Pearson said: “We have already added 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 they are when eaten as part of a normal diet.”
Researchers found that alginate helps suppress the digestion of fat by blocking the action of the enzyme and avoid the “side effects of convention anti-obesity drugs that inhibit enzyme activity.”
Now all we need to do is find a few seaweed recipes.