Seaweed fibres show weight management potential

Seaweed fibres show weight management potential: "Alginate – a natural fibre found in sea kelp – was found to outperform most OTC anti-obesity treatments in inhibiting the body from absorbing fat, said Dr Iain Brownlee and Prof Jeff Pearson from Newcastle University.

According to findings presented at the American Chemical Society Spring meeting in San Francisco, tests using an artificial gut showed the potential of alginate, a common food additive, to reduce fat absorption and “offer a very real solution in the battle against obesity”, said Dr Brownlee.

“This suggests that if we can add the natural fibre to products commonly eaten daily - such as bread, biscuits and yoghurts – up to three quarters of the fat contained in that meal could simply pass through the body,” he explained."