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Bladderwrack: Nutrition, Health Benefits, and Risks
Bladderwrack has been a first-choice natural remedy in folk medicine for centuries. But now that this edible seaweed has gained popularity in the U.S. natural health space, it’s time to zoom in on its nutrients, health benefits, and potential risks. Let’s go!
Related article: What is Sea Moss and Is It Good for Your Health?
What is Bladderwrack?
Bladderwrack, scientifically known as Fucus Vesiculosus, is a type of brown seaweed that naturally grows along the coasts of the North and Baltic seas and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Its name comes from its numerous air-filled pockets that resemble small bladders and help the algae float. Depending on location, bladderwrack can sometimes be called sea grapes, rockweed, Atlantic kelp, red fucus, dyers fucus, rock wrack, black tang, sea oak, or bladder fucus.
While Fucus Vesiculosus belongs to the same alga family as kelp, not all Kelps are Bladderwrack, and the names are often mistakenly used interchangeably.
Bladderwrack is an edible seaweed and has been part of traditional, herbal, and holistic medicines for centuries.
Related article: How is Sea Moss Different from Kelp, Bladderwrack, Dulce, and Other Edible Seaweeds?
Bladderwrack Health Benefits
Like sea moss, bladderwrack is very rich in dietary fibers, micros and macronutrients, minerals, and vitamins, such as calcium, iodine, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and vitamin B complex.
This exceptional combination makes it one of the most nutritious foods and potent health supplements to help prevent and treat many health conditions. Here are the health benefits bladderwrack is most renowned for.
Related article: 18 Sea Moss's Benefits for Health & Wellness!
A good source of iodine
Iodine is an essential mineral the human body can't produce alone. Therefore, it must be brought by foods and supplements (hence the iodized table salts sold in the U.S.). It plays a vital role in thyroid function and overall health and development.
Like sea moss, bladderwrack is one of the most iodine-rich foods. Consuming it regularly helps support thyroid health and boosts metabolism, which ultimately positively impacts critical biochemical and hormonal reactions in the body.
A natural antioxidant
Bladderwrack contains powerful antioxidant compounds like beta-carotene, lutein, phlorotannin, fucoxanthin[1], and zeaxanthin. These natural antioxidants play a major role in combating oxidative stress and neutralizing free radicals and harmful toxins in the body, ultimately reducing the risks of chronic health conditions and cancers, as well as signs of premature aging.
Related article: Sea Moss and Cancer, What the Research Actually Says.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Bladderwrack has been used as an internal and external anti-inflammatory remedy for centuries. It has an excellent reputation for relieving rheumatism and arthritic joint pain caused by inflammation.
Science has found that the natural anti-inflammatory properties of bladderwrack primarily come from its high content in fucoidans[2], a class of sulfated polysaccharides known to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines in the body.
A weight loss aid
Bladderwrack is considered an efficient weight loss support ingredient. By stimulating thyroid function thanks to its high iodine content, it boosts the metabolism, which leads to burning more fats and calories and losing weight.
Additionally, bladderwrack is packed with dietary fibers, promoting a feeling of satiety that helps you stay full longer and avoid snacking. It's also a natural diuretic that helps flush excess fluid in the body to reduce bloating and water retention.
Finally, many anti-cellulite creams use bladderwrack as one of their main cellulite-fighting ingredients.
Related article: The Right Way to Take Sea Moss for Weight Loss.
Organics Nature's Sea Moss Ultimate Fat Burner Pills
A heart-healthy food
Edible seaweeds have been extensively studied for their heart health benefits. The seaweed-rich Japanese diet is proven to significantly reduce risks of heart disease which has a much lower incidence in Asian countries than in Western ones.
One study conducted on over 80,000 persons found that the daily consumption of dietary seaweeds similar to bladderwrack reduces the risk of heart disease by 12%[3].
Additionally, bladderwrack contains no bad cholesterol. Instead, it’s loaded with the good kind from Omega-3 fatty acids, further reducing the risks of heart attacks and lessening the strain on the cardiovascular system.
In 2017, a Japanese study[4] concluded that fucoxanthin, a natural compound found in bladderwrack, helps reduce HbA1c (blood sugar levels), showing great promise for diabetes management.
Related article: Why is Sea Moss so Good for Blood Pressure & Heart Health?
Skin benefits
Bladderwrack can also be used orally and topically to treat many skin issues, such as cellulite, skin aging, acne, and inflammatory conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Like sea moss, bladderwrack is an excellent source of plant-based collagen. It does not contain collagen itself, but its nutrients help boost the body’s natural collagen production. According to this study[5], topically applied bladderwrack can increase collagen production by up to 228%.
Collagen is the main structural protein in the body and is directly responsible for the skin looking young, keeping its elasticity, and preventing visible signs of aging like wrinkles.
Related article: What are Sea Moss Benefits for the Skin?
How to Take Bladderwrack?
Taking bladderwrack to support your health and wellness ultimately comes down to consistency rather than quantity. The seaweed is so nutrient-dense that a small daily amount is enough to reap its benefits. But it should be taken daily for several days or weeks before these benefits appear.
We recommend combining bladderwrack with sea moss (Chondrus crispus) for optimal results.
How much bladderwrack to take?
However, if you're taking bladderwrack for a specific purpose, like thyroid problems, you should ask your healthcare provider for a recommended dose.
Bladderwrack supplements and capsules normally contain between 200 mg and 500 mg of bladderwrack powder. Organics Nature’s capsules are made with 300 mg of bladderwrack powder, 1000 mg of Irish sea moss powder, and 200 mg of Burdock root extract. We recommend taking two capsules a day.
Related article: Find out How Much Sea Moss you Should Take Daily
Bladderwrack’s Possible Side Effects
However, consuming too much bladderwrack could be dangerous for healthbecause of its high iodine content that could cause thyroid malfunction (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism).
Likewise, poor-quality products could be harmful, especially if they haven't been tested for heavy metals. So, only choose first-quality and organic products.
People taking blood thinning, thyroid, antiarrhythmic, or blood pressure medication should ask their doctors before taking bladderwrack as it could interfere with their treatment.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also ask for their doctor’s advice before consuming bladderwrack or seaweed supplements.
Related article: Can Sea Moss Help you Get Pregnant?
Bladderwrack and Sea Moss Synergy
If you’ve heard about bladderwrack, chances are you’ve heard about sea moss too. Scientifically known as Chondrus crispus, sea moss is another edible gift from the sea.
Depending on where it grows, this red alga can contain up to 92 of the 102 minerals our body needs to function, making it an absolute nutritional powerhouse and one of the best superfoods available today.
The Irish and Caribbean people have used sea moss to treat and manage many chronic and acute health conditions over the last centuries, including diabetes, infertility, arthritis, respiratory diseases, and even anxiety and depression, to name but a few.
Sea moss and bladderwrack are often used in synergy and combined for optimal health impacts.
Organics Nature’s Sea Moss, Bladderwrack, and Burdock Root Pills
Sea moss has recently become so popular in the U.S. that the market has been swamped with an incredible variety of products. Unfortunately, only a few are professionally formulated and controlled for quality and safety.
At Organics Nature, we work with nutritionists and third-party laboratories to create the best, safest, and most efficient health supplements. That’s why our sea moss capsules also contain bladderwrack powder and burdock root extract. Three of the most nutrient-dense foods combined together into one easy-to-swallow pill.
Our super-effective blend contains all the 102 minerals and nutrients the body needs to function daily, including iodine, zinc, iron, sulfur, calcium, potassium, silica, vitamin complexes, antioxidants, and many others.
Our sea moss capsules enriched with bladderwrack and burdock root powders are easy to add to your busy schedules if you do not have time to consume sea moss gel. The fine powders are safely and organically encapsulated, which makes them easy to consume daily, even while traveling or on the go. Each of our capsules contains the following:
- 1000 mg of organic sea moss powder
- 300 mg of organic bladderwrack powder
- 200 mg of organic burdock root extract
Do you take bladderwrack? What are your thoughts about this edible seaweed?
Trusted Sources:
[1] Kumar SR, Hosokawa M, Miyashita K. Fucoxanthin: a marine carotenoid exerting anti-cancer effects by affecting multiple mechanisms. Mar Drugs. 2013 Dec 16;11(12):5130-47. doi: 10.3390/md11125130. PMID: 24351910; PMCID: PMC3877908.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3877908/
[2] Takahashi H, Kawaguchi M, Kitamura K, Narumiya S, Kawamura M, Tengan I, Nishimoto S, Hanamure Y, Majima Y, Tsubura S, Teruya K, Shirahata S. An Exploratory Study on the Anti-inflammatory Effects of Fucoidan in Relation to Quality of Life in Advanced Cancer Patients.Integr Cancer Ther. 2018 Jun;17(2):282-291. doi: 10.1177/1534735417692097. Epub 2017 Feb 12. PMID: 28627320; PMCID: PMC6041928. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6041928/
[3] Murai U, Yamagishi K, Sata M, Kokubo Y, Saito I, Yatsuya H, Ishihara J, Inoue M, Sawada N, Iso H, Tsugane S; JPHC Study Group. Seaweed intake and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective (JPHC) Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019 Dec 1;110(6):1449-1455. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz231. PMID: 31518387. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31518387/
[4] Mikami N, Hosokawa M, Miyashita K, Sohma H, Ito YM, Kokai Y. Reduction of HbA1c levels by fucoxanthin-enriched akamoku oil possibly involves the thrifty allele of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1): a randomized controlled trial in normal-weight and obese Japanese adults. J Nutr Sci. 2017 Feb 14;6:e5. doi: 10.1017/jns.2017.1. PMID: 28620480; PMCID: PMC5465861. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5465861/
[5] Al-Bader T, Byrne A, Gillbro J, Mitarotonda A, Metois A, Vial F, Rawlings AV, Laloeuf A. Effect of cosmetic ingredients as anti-cellulite agents: synergistic action of actives with in vitro and in vivo efficacy. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2012 Mar;11(1):17-26. doi: 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2011.00594.x. PMID: 22360330. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22360330/