Health benefits of fucoxanthin supplement

It has been well known for many years that the Japanese culture is a much healthier society as a whole than their counterparts in the United States. Scientists have been doing research into their culture’s lifestyle and diet in order to see what allows them to live the healthy life that they seem to enjoy. Dr Ramazanov who is a Russian biochemist and plant physiologist who has since moved to the United States has dedicated his professional life to the study of plant life. He has worked extensively to see what the health benefits of foods are. He noticed years ago that the Japanese culture had a much healthier lifestyle than other cultures and started researching to see what the elements in their diet would allow them to be so healthy.

What he discovered is that the Japanese eat brown seaweed on a regular basis. He then set out to work with brown seaweed to see what its properties were and what benefits it had for our health. He made a major breakthrough in 2002 when he was able to isolate a carotenoid from the seaweed which he called fucoxanthin. Carotenoids are certain pigments that are found in marine plant life such as algae and seaweed. This pigment is what is responsible for turning the seaweed brown. This also keeps it from being burned up by the sun when on the ocean’s surface. The Japanese call this food wakame. They found that this carotenoid was found in large amounts in brown seaweed however it was not present except in minute amounts in other sea vegetables.

We know that carotenoids are natural antioxidants. These substances work to protect our cells and tissues from damages due to exposure to toxins and free radicals. Certain studies have shown that antioxidants can reduce our chances of heart disease, cancer, and many other health issues that can cause our bodies to age prematurely.

Dr. Ramazanov believed that fucoxanthin could help to burn more body fat by working on a certain protein that is responsible for determining how much fatty tissue is stored in our bodies. The type of fat he felt this was beneficial for is the adipose tissue or fat which is stored in the abdominal area or around vital organs of the body.

To further research this, the Japanese did a clinical study of the effects of fucoxanthin on rats. They monitored the amount of fat that 200 rats gained or lost when given fucoxanthin. The rats on average lost 5-10% of their body fat while the study was being conducted. This left the question as to whether this carotenoid would be beneficial in humans for weight loss in addition to its other health benefits it offers as a powerful antioxidant.

A Russian independent lab did two clinical research studies with 150 women participating. These women were monitored for weight loss. They also monitored them for any other improvements in health that might occur while taking fucoxanthin. The findings were that the women who took the supplement lost an average of 15 pounds while the study was being conducted. They also had an average of 20% rise in their metabolic rate. The study showed that these women also had lower levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, liver fat, and C-reactive protein in their bloodstream. Another excellent factor to consider about fucoxanthin is that there were absolutely no side effects noted for any of the women that took the dietary supplement during the study.

The health benefits of fucoxanthin are still being discovered. Its weight loss properties can lead to other health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and reduce chances of heart attack or stroke for obese people. The antioxidant properties of the supplement help to reduce fat stores that will make people’s more healthy overall as well as reduce chances of heart disease, cancer, and fight other aging problems that can be caused by free radicals.

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