Fucus is very useful both to lose weight and lose weight, being highly recommended in weight loss diets. How to take it and what contraindications does it present?
What is fucus and why does it help you lose weight?
As we will see throughout this article, under the name of fucus (more specifically, fucus vesiculosus L.) we are faced with a brown or ugly seaweed, also known by the name of Sargasso Vejigoso or simply as “above the sea” or “Above marina.”
It consists of a seaweed that can reach one meter in length. It has a rather flattened stem, which tends to bifurcate, forming a series of branches with a certainly characteristic appearance, with a color that can range from dark green to brown. We find it mainly in the rocks of the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. And in our country, for example, it is easy to find it in the submerged rocks of both the Cantabrian and the Atlantic, specifically from the Basque Country to Andalusia.
The qualities of fucus as a weight loss plant are related to its ability to accelerate the basal metabolism, thanks to its ability to stimulate the thyroid. This means that fucus is capable of acting directly on the thyroid, a regulatory gland in our body, in a way that helps our body consume more energy when it is in a state of rest.
Basically, we could say that fucus is capable of enhancing caloric consumption by our body, thanks to the fact that its high iodine content activates and stimulates the thyroid, increasing the amount of calories and therefore energy that our body consumes.
The main benefits of fucus to lose weight
While, since always, medicinal plants and herbs have been part of the natural medicine cabinet of many homes and houses, with the arrival of different medical and naturopathic specialties to our country, it has caused other less-known natural options to also become an option. Natural in the treatment of many ailments and diseases.
This is the case of seaweed, which has become a real claim in the kitchen of many restaurants, especially after the food arrived directly from countries like Japan (and the creation of many specialized establishments in it). And not only as a culinary claim, but also as a medicinal option.
This is due, above all, to the different qualities that fucus provides when it comes to losing weight and losing weight, thus becoming an authentic natural option as an assistant in weight loss diets.
Its main slimming quality is due to its high iodine content. Specifically, 100 grams of fucus provide between 13 to 23% of mineral salts and trace elements, among which iodine stands out as one of the main ones. In addition, it also provides interesting amounts of iron, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, lithium, zinc, cobalt, copper, boron and chlorine.
Iodine, among other aspects, is capable of stimulating metabolism by acting directly on the thyroid gland. In fact, when the thyroid malfunctions or works slowly (hypothyroidism), one of the main consequences is weight gain.
Therefore, since fucus has a very interesting amount of iodine, it is very useful in weight loss diets and as a supplement in very low calorie diets, by stimulating the thyroid and making our metabolism accelerate.
Other interesting benefits of fucus in weight loss diets
But the fucus not only helps to accelerate the metabolism and, therefore, to help us when our body consumes a greater amount of energy. Did you know that it also contains algin? It is a substance with mucilaginous characteristics, capable of swelling when it reaches our stomach. This translates into something very simple: it gives us a feeling of satiety, reducing our appetite.
On the other hand, 100 grams of fucus provide around 8 grams of fiber. A regular consumption of fiber is also extremely interesting in weight loss diets, since it helps to stimulate our intestinal transit, and is very useful in the prevention or treatment of constipation. In addition, fiber acts as an excellent natural satiety, and among other qualities, it is interesting to reduce high levels of cholesterol in the blood.
How to take fucus to lose weight?
The most common use of fucus is as a supplement in weight loss diets. The most common is to buy it in herbalists and health food stores or specialized establishments; and we find it mostly in the form of capsules and pills. However, it is also possible to buy it in the form of drops. Therefore, the recommended daily amount of fucus to take will depend on the form of presentation that we have acquired:
- How to take fucus in pills: The most common is to take 2 capsules of fucus before each meal. But as we mentioned earlier, we must always look at the recommended amounts on the labeling of the container that we have purchased. The most common is that each capsule contains around 100 mg. of cryomilled powder from ficus stem. In any case, it is advisable to take the capsules with a large glass of water.
- How to take fucus drops: The most common recommendation is to take between 20 to 30 drops a day, divided into the 3 main meals (that is, between 5 to 10 drops before meals). It is advisable to take it with a little water, or accompany it with natural fruit juice.
What are the main contraindications of fucus?
Like any plant, herb or medicinal treatment, no matter how natural it may be, we must always pay attention to the contraindications that may prevent its consumption. For example, the consumption of fucus is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
In addition, since it is a plant with stimulating qualities of the thyroid gland, its consumption is not recommended in people with hyperthyroidism. In fact, we must warn that the administration of iodine in high amounts, especially in the long term, can cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism (tachycardia, palpitations, anxiety and insomnia), so at the slightest symptom it is recommended to stop taking it, and not do it. For a long period of time or in large quantities.
