5 ways seaweed improves your gut health
5 ways seaweed improves your gut health
Seaweeds are underwater plants. They usually are algae growing near the shoreline. Eating seaweed can improve gut health. Gut health plays a role in the body’s immunological, metabolic, and physiological aspects and protects against some diseases. Seaweed affects the microbiome of the gut and in turn affect the brain. They also have anticoagulation properties.
- Delays hunger
Eating seaweed helps satiety last longer by slowing down the passage of food through the digestive tract, giving more time to absorb nutrients. A study has shown that consuming drinks made from seaweeds before eating helped people feel satiated earlier.
Eating seaweed helps reduce portion size at mealtimes. Prompting the decrease in unhealthy snacks, reducing cravings which helped them maintain energy levels throughout the day.
- Digestive fibre
Dietary fibre is a complex compound that improves digestion and is resistant to human enzymes but a vital energy source for bacteria living in the gut. Seaweeds have around 25–75 per cent of their weight in fibre. This is much higher than other vegetables.
Including seaweed in the diet can increase the intake of dietary fibres. Dietary fibres in seaweed increase stool frequency, excretion of bile acids and lower blood cholesterol (LDL).
- Reduces weight
Adding seaweed to your diet can help manage your weight since seaweed contains fibre and has very few calories. It can be eaten as a snack and cut down unnecessary calories.
Additionally, it contains a substance called fucoxanthin, which helps reduce obesity by increasing the breakdown of fat. A study showed consuming fucoxanthin for 4 weeks resulted in a decrease in body weight, BMI and abdominal fat in adults who were obese.
- Gut microbiome
Rich in polysaccharides, seaweeds act as probiotics. They stimulate the growth of selective bacteria that help in digesting food. The bacteria in the gut help in the digestion of short-chain fatty acids.
It also improves the digestion of other components of food. This increases the availability of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. An imbalance between good and bad gut bacteria can make you sick.
- Reduces risk for chronic diseases and cancer
Eating seaweed is linked to a decrease in the risk for chronic disease and cancer. People following Eastern diets that incorporate more seaweed have a lower risk of developing a chronic gut disease such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Red seaweeds contain a sugar AHG (3,6-anhydro-L-galactose), which protects against colon cancer. In premenopausal women, consumption of seaweed has been suggested to lower the risk for breast cancer.
Seaweeds are an excellent dietary supplement. They are rich in macronutrients and have protective effects against bacterias, viruses and cancers. There are ongoing studies to learn more about the benefits of seaweed. As it is a resource that is widely available and easily accessible. Also, it is cheap to produce can reduce the food crisis in some parts of the world.
Adding seaweed to your diet can improve gut health. Good gut health affects the quality of life. Improve your gut health to have a healthy life.