Click here to log in. Full details are available to Examine Members. Not a Member? Try Examine Membership completely free for two weeks. Grade Level of Evidence [show legend] Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies Uncontrolled or observational studies only.
Level of Evidence? The amount of high quality evidence. The more evidence, the more we can trust the results. The direction and size of the supplement's impact on each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect. Scientific research does not always agree. Blood glucose. Appears somewhat potent at acutely reducing blood glucose following a meal possibly by inhibiting absorption but no long term studies.
Insulin Sensitivity. Appears to be pretty effective at increasing insulin sensitivity acutely after a meal, which may be due to reduced insulin in serum.
Skin Quality. Limited evidence supports its efficacy, difficult to assess potency due to no reference drug. Stay on top of the latest research. Start your day free trial. Calcium alginate has shown promise as an agent to speed wound healing in animal studies but has not been demonstrated to be effective in humans. Bladderwrack's mucilaginous thallus has long been used to soothe irritated and inflamed tissues in the body.
It has also been used to counter obesity , possibly due to its reputation for stimulating the thyroid gland. Clinical research in this area has failed to confirm that seaweeds like bladderwrack help with weight loss, 3 though more specific research is warranted.
There are three major active constituents in bladderwrack: iodine , alginic acid, and fucoidan. The amount of iodine in bladderwrack is highly variable, 4 probably as a result of different amounts of iodine in the water where it grows.
A reasonable portion of bladderwrack may contain the U. The RDA amount of iodine is believed to be necessary for maintenance of normal thyroid function in adults infants and children need proportionally less. Thus, in people with insufficient iodine in their diet, bladderwrack may serve as a supplemental source of iodine.
Either hypothyroidism or goiter due to insufficient intake of iodine may possibly improve with bladderwrack supplementation, though human studies have not confirmed this. Alginic acid is a type of dietary fiber that can be used to help relieve constipation and diarrhea. However, human studies have not been done on how effective bladderwrack is for either of these conditions.
Bladderwrack might also help indigestion, though again clinical trials have not been conducted. Calcium alginate the calcium salt of alginic acid has shown promise as an agent to speed wound healing in animal studies 6 but has not been demonstrated to be effective in humans.
Alginic acid has also been shown to inhibit HIV in the test tube. Alginic acid may help lower LDL "bad" cholesterol levels, according to animal studies.
It is widely used in food and pharmaceuticals as a thickener and gelling agent. Fucoidan is another type of dietary fiber in bladderwrack that contains numerous sulfur groups. According to test tube and animal studies, this appears to give fucoidan several properties, such as lowering LDL cholesterol levels, 10 lowering blood glucose levels, 11 anti-inflammatory activity, 12 possible anticoagulant effects, 13 and antibacterial 14 and anti-HIV activity.
For short-term use a few days to relieve constipation , powdered bladderwrack can be taken in the amount of 1 teaspoon three times per day along with at least 8 oz of water each time. Alternately, bladderwrack may be eaten whole or made into a tea using 1 teaspoon per cup of hot water, allowing each cup to sit at least 10 minutes before drinking. Three cups per day of tea can be drunk. No more than mcg iodine should be consumed from all sources, including bladderwrack, per day.
Therefore, anyone considering taking bladderwrack should first consult a physician trained in nutrition and herbal medicine. Bladderwrack is generally safe, though there are three potential problems with its consumption: acne , thyroid dysfunction, and heavy-metal contamination. Iodine in any form—including from bladderwrack and other seaweeds—can cause or aggravate acne in some people. Only bladderwrack known to have been harvested from clean water or labeled to indicate the absence of heavy metals or other contaminants should be consumed.
The safety of using bladderwrack during pregnancy and breast-feeding is unknown. People who are allergic to iodine may need to avoid bladderwrack. London: Pharmaceutical Press, Mills SY. Middlesex, UK: Viking Arkana, Long-term effects of commonly available weight reducing programmes in Sweden.
Int J Obes ; Human intake of arsenic and iodine from seaweed based food supplements and health foods available in the UK. Food Addit Contam ; Chevrel B. A comparative crossover study on the treatment of heartburn and epigastric pain: Liquid Gaviscon and a magnesium-aluminum antacid gel. Always consult your healthcare professional first.
You can purchase dried, powdered, or encapsulated bladderwrack online or at some health food stores. Due to limited research, there are no standard dosage recommendations for bladderwrack. However, most bladderwrack supplements come in mg doses. To make bladderwrack tea, steep one tea bag for 4—5 minutes in 8 ounces mL of hot water. Alternatively, add 1 teaspoon 5 mL of dried bladderwrack to boiling water and allow it to simmer for 10—15 minutes.
Bladderwrack can be purchased dried, powdered, as a dietary supplement, or in the form of tea. More research is needed before a recommended dosage can be made. Bladderwrack is an edible brown seaweed that has been used as a natural medicine for centuries. Despite many health claims, limited research supports bladderwrack as an effective treatment for certain issues, such as obesity, joint pain, fertility, and urinary tract infections.
However, its high antioxidant content may reduce inflammation when taken orally, as well as promote skin health by increasing collagen production when applied topically. Still, more research is needed. Seaweed is highly nutritious and an increasingly popular ingredient in cuisines all over the world.
Here are 7 science-backed benefits of eating…. If you don't eat some form of seaweed regularly, then you are seriously missing out. It is one of the healthiest and most nutritious foods on the…. One-third of people are at risk of iodine deficiency. These 9 iodine-rich foods can help keep you healthy. Always read the label. Follow the directions for use.
If symptoms persist, talk to your healthcare professional. By combining the wisdom of Naturopathic medicine with the latest nutritional research we develop effective products to help Australians live an active and healthy life.
Skip to main content. A good quality Bladderwrack supplement is generally considered safe when taken as recommended. A microgram is very different to a milligram. A good quality supplement guarantees a consistent amount of iodine. The Bladderwrack product should state the proper botanical name on the label. A good quality Bladderwrack supplement is harvested from clean water, free of contaminants. References Bone, K. Link You might also be interested in
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