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Bladderwrack

Also known as: Fucus Vesiculosis

Overview

Bladderwrack is a species of seaweed known as Fucus vesiculosus that serves as a foodstuff and a source of Fucoxanthin, it is thought to increase the metabolism via the thyroid but that is due to fixing iodine deficiencies historically. Bladderwrack is most often used for Energy & Fatigue. The Examine Database covers Metabolic Health and Skin Health.

Benefits

Bladderwrack (formal name Fucus Vesiculosis) is a brown seaweed which is a good source of iodine (the mineral needed for proper thyroid function) and of various L-fucose compounds. Said L-fucose compounds can be seen as generally being anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-carcinogenic. There are also some implications of them being anti-viral and anti-diabetic. Benefits can be seen from ingesting brown seaweeds as foodstuffs, or by consuming the L-fucose compounds or the seaweed itself in supplemental form; although the latter should be taken alongside food.

How it works

Bladderwrack has several benefits including its role in providing iodine for thyroid function, potential anti-obesity effects, anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant effects, and possible anti-carcinogenic and anti-viral benefits. It may also assist in glycemic control and improve skin quality.

Side effects

Although there is not a large amount of evidence currently, the evidence in humans has noted that 500mg of bladderwrack (basic extract of the seaweed, not concentrated) appears to be bioactive. This is a lower dose than the 4,000mg used in studies on Ascophyllum nodosum, and due to their similar composition the ideal range may be somewhere in between these two doses (or above 4,000mg).