Fucus vesiculosus, or ‘bladderwrack’ to give it its more common name, is the typical brown/green seaweed you find on beaches all over the world.
Fucus has been used as a dietary supplement for many thousands of years, as it was believed to have a beneficial effect on the heart and liver.
Fucus and Thyroid
Today we know that fucus is indeed an excellent, healthy food, largely due to its iodine content.
Iodine is needed by the human body, and specifically the thyroid gland, in order to control and regulate levels of thyroid hormones.
If there is an iodine deficiency, low levels of thyroid hormones result and the effect can be lethargy, decreased energy levels and weight gain.
Conversely, high levels of thyroid hormones can lead to increased energy levels and metabolic rate, and appetite suppression due to the hormones’ stimulation of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
This of course is an excellent metabolic state in which to achieve weight loss, and fucus is indeed utilized in a variety of weight loss formulas.
The beneficial effects of fucus with regard to weight loss and increasing physical ability are optimally utilized in combination with a smart diet and exercise program.