Cakes and biscuits could make you LOSE weight... thanks to seaweed

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 9:01 AM on 22nd March 2010

 

• Comments (8)
  
• Add to My Stories
  

 

It is every dieter's dream: mouthwatering chocolate, cakes and biscuits that help the weight drop off.

And these mythical treats could soon be on their way to your plate, thanks to a breakthrough by British scientists.

Newcastle University experts have discovered that a fibre found in seaweed is more effective than most weight loss supplements in stopping the body from absorbing fat from food - and even enhances flavour.

 

Miraculous: Food products including a fibre extracted from seaweed that promotes weight loss could soon hit the market

 

Although the research is in the early stages, it raises the tantalising prospect of extra-tasty sweets, pies and buns that actually melt away the pounds.

 

More...

 

 

• Atkins bites back: You could shed up to a stone in two weeks with the new version of the world's most famous diet
  
• Why tangy fruit could stop you gaining weight
  

 

The Newcastle scientists looked at how good 60 different types of fibre were at preventing the body absorbing fat. The lab tests were won by alginate, a sea kelp fibre already used in small quantities by manufacturers to thicken and stabilise foods.

It cut fat absorption by 75 per cent, an American Chemical Society conference will hear today.

This was better than many weight loss supplements, and almost as good as over-the-counter pill Alli.

Launched to much fanfare last year, Alli also blocks fat absorption and claims to help slimmers lose 50 per cent more weight than through willpower alone.

But, while Alli is taken as a pill, the alginate would likely be added to foods in a powdered form.

The powder, which is colourless and flavourless, has already been added to bread - and testers reported that it tasted better.

Researcher Dr Iain Brownlee said: 'Our initial findings are that alginates significantly reduce fat digestion. This suggests that if we can add the natural fibre to products commonly eaten daily - such as bread, biscuits and yoghurts - up to three quarters of the fat contained in that meal could simply pass through the body.

He added: 'I would agree that people should eat more healthily and exercise more but they aren't doing that and there is maybe a need for a slightly different approach.'

Slimmers, however, may want to find another snack to keep them going for now - alginate-enhanced treats are around a decade from reaching the shops.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1259683/Have-cake-eat--thanks-seaweed.html#ixzz0itrZM964

This makes a small excuse for me to buy sushi down at the localish shopping centre. They make good sushi.