Chef Oliver eats kelp to lose weight! Alginate increases satiety

In addition to cooking delicious food, the famous chef also pays attention to his figure. Foreign media reported that British chef Jamie Oliver, who hosts several cooking shows, recently successfully lost weight by eating kelp, and even described kelp as "the most nutritious vegetable in the world." Domestic nutrition experts point out that kelp can absorb water and swell after being eaten, increasing the feeling of fullness, thus helping to control weight.

British chef Jamie Oliver was plumper in 2010 (left) and looked slimmer in May this year (right). (Photo/Taken from Daily Mail)

Foreign kelp research shows that alginate inhibits fat absorption

According to the British Daily Mail, kelp is low in carbohydrates and calories, and it contains a polysaccharide called "alginate," which inhibits the function of enzymes in the body responsible for digesting fat, so the body absorbs less fat.

The report pointed out that Newcastle University in the UK published a study in 2014, which added alginate to bread for subjects to eat, while recording their eating habits and fat absorption. The results showed that even a small amount of alginate can reduce fat absorption by one third.

Kelp increases satiety and helps with weight loss with calorie control

However, Wang Jinkun, a professor at the Department of Nutrition at Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, said that the main enzyme responsible for breaking down fat in the intestine is "lipolytic enzyme", which works together with other coenzymes to break down fat into smaller molecules for easier absorption and utilization. Although algae, including kelp, have the effect of inhibiting fat absorption, the effect is not particularly strong.

Kelp is rich in nutrients and can increase satiety, but it is not suitable for people with thyroid diseases.

Therefore, the main reason why kelp helps with weight loss is that the polysaccharides in kelp can expand after absorbing water, increasing the feeling of fullness. However, Professor Wang Jinkun reminded that overall calorie control is still the main factor in weight loss. People can eat kelp in moderation, but don't forget to control the overall dietary calories so that weight loss can be more effective.

Kelp is rich in nutrients, but it is not suitable for thyroid patients to eat

In addition to helping with weight loss, kelp contains a variety of minerals such as iron, iodine, potassium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, and chlorophyll. It is itself a nutritious seaweed food and is suitable for malnourished patients. However, Professor Wang Jinkun reminded the public that they should not consume large amounts of kelp just because it can help with weight loss and is rich in nutrients, so as to avoid problems such as an unbalanced diet and excessive iodine intake.

Sources of iodine include kelp, fish, shellfish, etc. It is an essential nutrient for the human body that can promote metabolism and maintain normal functioning of the thyroid gland. However, people with thyroid-related diseases such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid-related tumors, etc. should avoid eating iodine-rich foods such as kelp.