Fucoxanthin

Fucoxanthin is a type of carotenoid found naturally in edible brown seaweed such as wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) and hijiki (Hijikia fusiformis), which are used widely in Asian cuisine. Wakame is the seaweed used in miso soup. Fucoxanthin is also found in much smaller amounts in red seaweed (the kind typically used in Japanese sushi rolls) and green seaweed. Both wakame and hijiki are available at Japanese specialty food stores, some health food stores and online. Although brown seaweed is the richest source of fucoxanthin, you would have to eat an unrealistic amount of it daily to get fucoxanthin levels close to those used in research studies. Fucoxanthin is also available as a nutritional supplement in capsule form and can be found in some health food stores and online.
See also :

• Seaweed
• Brown Algae
• Fucoidan

Special Precautions of Fucoxanthin

Because there hasn't been research on fucoxanthin in humans, the possible side effects aren't known.People shouldn't consume large amounts of wakame or other types of seaweed as a source of fucoxanthin.

• Seaweed is rich in iodine and excessive consumption may result in iodine poisoning. High levels of iodine can interfere with the function of the thyroid gland. Also, consuming excess amounts of iodine-rich foods isn't recommended if there is a known allergy or hypersensitivity to iodine.
• There is a danger in simply buying brown seaweed in the form of kelp, kombu or kombu powder as a dietary supplement. Consuming large amounts of kombu can actually pose health risks because kombu consists of indigestible cellulose or non-soluble fiber. Even taking a teaspoon or tablespoon of kombu powder, which appears finely ground, can feel like shrapnel to your colon because it is an insoluble substance. Diarrhea or constipation is likely to occur in those who start eating kombu in larger quantities than their bodies are accustomed to. Therefore, taking small amounts of extract derived from properly harvested brown seaweed is the ideal way to jumpstart your metabolism and fat-burning system in just a few weeks. When used alone, the results are noticeably effective, but when used in conjunction with other fat-burning nutrients, the results are extraordinary.
• Don't confuse with Fucoidan (Fc) : Fucoidan (Fc) is a sulfated fucose-rich polysaccharide that is present in high levels in brown seaweed and has been shown to have anticancer and antioxidant effects in animal experiments. Fucoxanthin (Fx) is a red-orange carotenoid that is extracted from natural seaweed. It has been reported to have a potential in improving obesity and having anti-cancer effects

The benefits of Fucoxanthin are

metabolic rate can be raised from 18.2% - 24%, according to the amount ingested. This is 6 times the effect green tea has on metabolism. Research confirms that green tea increases metabolic rate by a mere 4%.

• Weight Loss : Fucoxanthin is being explored for weight loss. So far, only animal studies have been done. Japanese researchers have found that fucoxanthin (isolated from wakame) promotes the loss of abdominal fat in obese mice and rats. Animals lost five to 10% of their body weight.Although it's not fully understood how fucoxanthin works, it appears to target a protein called UCP1 that increases the rate at which abdominal fat is burned. Abdominal fat, also called white adipose tissue, is the kind of fat that surrounds our organs and is linked to heart disease and diabetes. Fucoxanthin also appears to stimulate the production of DHA, one of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish such as salmon.Although it's promising and already a popular nutritional supplement, more research is needed to determine if fucoxanthin will work in the same way in humans. If it does prove to be effective, fucoxanthin could be developed into a diet pill for obesity.
• Diabetes : Fucoxanthin has also been found in animal studies to decrease insulin and blood glucose levels. Researchers hypothesize that fucoxanthin anti-diabetes effect may be because fucoxanthin appears to promote the formation of DHA (the omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil). DHA is thought to increase insulin sensitivity, improve triglycerides and reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol. The combination of Fucoidan and Fucoxanthin treatment has been reported to have a role in improving the glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism in the type II diabetes mouse model, as well as in improving the ventricular rhythm and muscular function of the aging mouse model.
• Cancer : Preliminary research in test tubes suggests that fucoxanthin may have anti-tumor effects. No studies have looked at whether this holds true in humans or if taken orally. It's far too early for fucoxanthin to be used as a complementary treatment for cancer.

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