Fucoxanthin: an underrated weight loss supplement

How I've managed to understand the supplements that media does not even advertise? It was when I had reached my breaking point of disbelief on slimming pills such as L-carnitine, Garcinia Cambogia and even laxatives. It was at this point when I started to understand how the slimming industry has its own set of secrets--things it does not want us to know more about.  

What is Fucoxanthin?

If I were to explain this substance to a fifth-grader, I'd say, fucoxanthin is a pigment extracted from the brown seaweed. Just like orange juice from orange or pineapple juice from pineapple, fucoxanthin is like a juice from the brown seaweed that's been dried then powdered.  People have preferences and not all forms may be as potent as the other form, the powdered form is considerably good for weight loss. 

Just like anthocyanin, beta carotene and many others, fucoxanthin functions on a different level. Foods function differently to help the body in several ways; water quenches thirst, eggs provide vitamin D and carrots supply beta carotene for the eyes. In the case of fucoxanthin, tt aids in weight loss just like how L-carnitine works but the only plot twist is this: you don't need to workout so hard just to lose weight. 

What can go wrong with L-carnitine supplements?

This post only focuses on my experience with L-carnitine, and I don't aim to blur out people's experiences on the effectivity of l-carnitine. 

I've studied biochemistry and we were presented with the l-carnitine pathway. What is a pathway? So it's like your route when you're going to a party from work: you change clothes, commute, apply make-up and arrive at the party looking glamorous. Each step is accompanied with energy changes and material reformations. For l-carnitine to work its wonders, one must be efficient with working out and working out requires energy. Each time you workout, energy is released. Just like when one changes outfits, something is taken off while another replaces it. 

I admire people like trainers because they are always on the go. They are always needy for energy but on a different perspective, there are those who just sit on their desks for 8 hours a day. L-carnitine may be efficient but logically, there must be energy involved for it to work its wonders. The currency is evidently energy and energy becomes dull in an 8-hour shift, from monday to friday. 

How has fucoxanthin helped me lose weight?

Before reading this section, I'm hoping that you've done your fair share of googling. More than just the identity of fucoxanthin, we all know how studies show the indirect relationship between weight loss and the concentration of fucoxanthin. Just before I've decided to write something about fucoxanthin, I've also done the necessary evil of googling and pinterest-ing about fucoxanthin; if it's safe, how many mg should I drink, is it related to l-carnitine, etc. 

This is a work in progress and there are two types of fucoxanthin in the market: the legit and the fake ones. That's correct. There are fake products out there and we all have to guard our wallets and savings from those by checking comments and feedback from customers. 

• It gives me this metallic taste in my tongue making me feel a huge decline in my appetite for almost everything. 
• I have concerns on hyperacidity (but not that it's something genetic or hereditary) but with a metallic taste, I just kept on drinking water. If you want to ask me, I drink at least 5 liters of water a day. It's like 70% lukewarm water and 30% cold water. 
• Lower calorie intake led me to longer fasting periods just simply because I wasn't hungry at all. 
• There were those moments were I gorged on food but I ended up vomiting them all. I'm not certain on this but if this is part of the mechanism of fucoxanthin, then it definitely regulates what goes in. 

Daily dosage: 500 mg of fucoxanthin

Time: AM

Empty stomach: Yes

Brand: MAX SLIM

What is the importance of the time you drink it? Let me share with you my experience. I tried drinking it before sleeping and I ended up palpitating. It may act like a stimulant like how caffeine activates the central nervous system. However, I just palpitated until I drank voluminous amounts of lukewarm water.  So that's the story. 

I drink it on an empty stomach coupled to fasting periods because it works well. Most bodies are highly effective in absorbing nutrients when at a fasted state. Before I forget, less is actually more. 500 mg dosage on a daily basis worked wonders and having 1,000 mg seem to have reversed the process of losing weight. 

If you have questions, I'd love to answer them in here. Thank you 

What I think of the NO RICE DIET?

The asian family

Inherent to Asian culture, rice has always been a staple diet for centuries. Every meal seems to be non-existent without a cup of freshly cooked rice where one sees the steam on top of it. I personally have known this culture where my family cooks the rice beforehand above everything else. When I was in fourth grade, I woke up at 5 in the morning just to cook rice for my siblings (I'm the eldest of 4). I'm sure so much weight had been put on my shoulders especially if I failed to push the "cook" button in the rice cooker. They may say how fortunate I am to be in the 90s where rice cookers have been revamped from its predecessor. 

Now, how did I come up with this no rice diet? I've heard numerous stories from people. I'm already 30 years old and imagine the numerous tales that I've come across with on how they've always wanted to try the no rice diet but it just seems like a mission impossible? 

The difficulty of the no rice diet

Reaching for the stars. The human mind always tries to skip the process, and it makes me sad. We got so accustomed to the elevator to success where it takes seconds before we see the breathtaking view. However, it may seem lovely in movies, fictional as it is and in reality, this doesn't happen. We love to be on top of the world. I get that feeling to be honest. We do everything to skip the ads, do shortcuts and just live happily ever after. 

Do not worry. If there is anything that I am sharing with you, it's not the difficulty but what I did to overcome the mountain of work to achieve it. 

October 2017: 1 cup of rice every single day. 

November 2017: 1/2 cup of rice every day. 

December 2017. 1/4 cup of rice every day. 

As you can see, I didn't jump into shallow waters. I didn't take the elevator. I took baby steps until my body got accustomed to this so-called deprivation. I love to say it but its definitely a form of deprivation from something that's culturally inherent in me and my family and something that had been my best friend each meal.

Mistake of most people

People take huge leaps only to find out on how unsustainable it is in the long run. You may survive day 1 without rice. You may fully document it on social media but how long are you able to keep up with this regimen? If you are doing this, I suggest that you take baby steps and slowly get rid of the bad foods in your diet. Nothing is actually arduous if you don't let your body feel. Law of inertia. I remember those typical physics examples where a huge weight lies on a sheet of paper and the teacher removes this paper without the slightest movement (on the macro scale) from this pile of weights. 

The law of substitution works only if you substitute rice with a better and healthier meal. Replacing your rice meal with cookies or a dashing slice of luscious chocolate cake is abhorrent. I've tried that a couple of times as I've tried to tweak my brain that I won't get fat yet sugar inevitably beefed me up to my 90+ kgs weight. 

If you are just starting on this no rice regimen, here are just some of my tips: 

1. Staggered descent. 

What do I mean by this? slowly decreasing your rice intake on a daily basis. That table may have worked for me but you may tweak it or customize it. Above it all, you know your body more than anyone else. I am simply writing this from my experience. 

2. Best substitute

The best substitute for rice was protein, water and brewed coffee. In all honesty, it was hard at first. When the going gets rough, the rough gets going. If you don't train your body, your body will be your master and you'll drool at every food you'll see every time. 

3. Hydrate yourself

No matter how I try to put it, water's properties will always be good for the body. We are at this region of modernization where thousands of studies have proven how important water is. In my case, I always try to drink lukewarm water.  

Rice remains staple and fundamental in every asian family. However, I have chosen a non-linear view towards dieting and rice was one of the first things in my bucket list. My game plan worked and I'm sure you'll also reach it by not giving up.