The Top 10 Benefits of Sea Moss
Sea Moss also known as Chondrus crispus or Irish moss is the latest health hype. But does it really stand up to its hype? When you are inquiring about Sea Moss the first bit of information you will hear is “ Sea Moss has 92 of the 102 vitamins and minerals the body requires” making it the most demand superfood currently. What exactly are the vitamins and minerals that is in Sea Moss contains and why are they so important to our health?
The US Department of Agriculture, states that a 10 g (2 tbsp) serving of sea moss contains the following 12 essential minerals in significant amounts (average content):
Calcium: 7.2 mg
Copper: 0.02 mg
Iodine: 47 µg
Iron: 0.89 mg
Manganese: 0.037 mg
Magnesium: 14.4 mg
Phosphorus: 15.7 mg
Potassium: 6.3 mg
Selenium: 0.07 µg
Sodium: 6.7 mg
Sulfur: data not found
Zinc: 0.195 mg
As well as containing the following 12 vitamins with significant amounts(average content).
Vitamin C: 0.3 mg
Vitamin A: 11.8 IU
Vitamin E: 0.087 mg
Vitamin K: 0.5 µg
Vitamin B6: 0.007 mg
Thiamin (Vitamin B1): 0.002 mg
Niacin (Vitamin B3): 0.059 mg
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 0.047 mg
Vitamin B9 (folate): 18.2 µg
Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5): 0.018 mg
Choline (similar to vitamin B complex): 1.29 mg
Beta Carotene (converted into vitamin A by the body): 7.1 µg
Sea Moss also contains traces of vitamin B12, vitamin D, and retinol ( a form of vitamin A).
Wild-Crafted grown Sea Moss may also contain traces of these 80 minerals and elements from the area of the Atlantic Ocean it is grown in:
Actinium
Aluminum
Americium
Antimony
Argon
Arsenic
Astatine
Barium
Berkelium
Beryllium
Bismuth
Bohrium
Boron
Bromine
Cadmium
Cesium
Californium
Carbon
Cerium
Chlorine
Chromium
Cobalt
Curium
Dubnium
Dysprosium
Einsteinium
Erbium
Europium
Fermium
Francium
Gadolinium
Gallium
Germanium
Gold
Hafnium
Hassium
Helium
Holmium
Hydrogen
Indium
Iridium
Krypton
Lanthanum
Lead
Lithium
Lutetium
Mercury
Molybdenum
Neodymium
Neon
Neptunium
Nickel
Niobium
Nitrogen
Osmium
Palladium
Platinum
Plutonium
Polonium
Praseodymium
Promethium
Protactinium
Radium
Radon
Rhenium
Rhodium
Rubidium
Ruthenium
Samarium
Scandium
Silicon
Silver
Strontium
Tantalum
Technetium
Tellurium
Terbium
Thallium
Thorium
So here are the Top 10 Benefits of Sea Moss and how it may improve your health.
Supporting digestive function
Sea Moss is considered a prebiotic providing a good source of live bacteria and fibre, which are known to support gut health. A well-balanced gut microbiome will have a lasting impact on your overall health including reducing chronic pain and inflammation, improving mental health and sleep quality, supporting weight loss, decreasing fatigue, and even preventing cancers, diabetes, and heart diseases.
Supporting thyroid function
Sea Moss contains iodine, which is good for your thyroid and potentially regulates your metabolism. Iodine is used to produce thyroid hormones and regulate metabolism (the conversion of food into energy for cell growth and function). Therefore, iodine deficiency can have severe consequences on one's health and affect the muscles, heart, liver, kidney, and other organs. That's why table salts sold in the U.S.A. are supplemented with iodine. Sea moss is one of the natural ingredients with the highest iodine content. As a result, it greatly supports thyroid function and improves overall health.
Always take the recommended dosage of sea moss too much iodine could be dangerous to your health.
More energy
Sea moss contains iron, which is a great way to support your energy levels. A lack of iron can make you feel tired and lethargic. In 10 grams of Sea Moss there is about 20.5 kJ (kilojoule) of energy in it. In comparison, a single shot of espresso contains about 16 kj. Our energy levels are directly linked to energy boosting nutrients such as vitamin B, vitamin D, magnesium, iron, potassium, and omega-3.
Skin nourishment
Sea moss contains magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin K, and omega-3 fatty acids that hydrate and support healthy skin cell function. The vitamins A, C, E, and K it contains in significant amounts transform the skin from being dry and dull to becoming soft and glowing. Vitamin E is sought-after in dermatology products; it softens the skin and reduces swelling and redness.
Improved immune function
While there is no specific human study, one study into salmon suggested that sea moss can help build the body’s immune response. Tamama K. from the International Life Sciences Institute led a study about the potential benefits of dietary seaweeds as protection against the COVID-19 virus in 2021 clearly showed that the seaweed-rich diet in Japan helps prevent Covid viral infections by reinforcing the immune system. Sea Moss is packed with nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals such as zinc and iron, with powerful immunity- boosting properties.
Supporting mood
Sea moss has about two times more potassium than an average-sized banana. Potassium, antioxidants, flavonoids, and omega-3, a very important mineral that helps to support mental and emotional health. Regular consumption of sea moss will help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression naturally.
Heart health
Some studies suggest that sea moss can lower cholesterol and help thin the blood. However, this is not proven and requires more human research. High blood pressure is related to two main nutritional issues…too much sodium or not enough potassium. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one serving of sea moss (2 tbsp / 10g) contains, on average, 6.7 mg of sodium and 6.3 mg of potassium. In contrast, the same serving of table salt contains more than 8,000 mg of sodium and close to 0 mg of potassium.
Blood sugar management
Studies have found that including seaweed as a part of a nutritionally balanced diet helps supports blood sugar management. The natural compounds of sea moss such as carotenoid and fucoxanthin, which assist in normalizing high blood sugar levels.
Aphrodisiac
Caribbean natives have been using sea moss as a natural aphrodisiac for many years. Its high zinc content is thought to increase sex hormones that plays a key role in libido levels. Sea moss has been said to increase testosterone levels in men, reduces erectile dysfunction, boosts sex drive, gives more energy for sex, and reduces stress and anxiety in bed.
Weight Loss
Sea moss is a powerful superfood that is full of minerals and nutrients that can help your body run healthy. Supporting weight loss is another great benefit. Studies have shown that consuming seaweed has been linked to weight management. Because sea moss is rich in dietary fibers this helps regulate your appetite and preventing overeating. In addition, sea moss is a natural fat burner that helps break down and metabolizes fat. It's also proven excellent for gut health and acts like a prebiotic to rebalance the gut microbiome and accelerate weight loss.
Chondrus Crispus is one of the most nutrient-rich natural foods. Nutrients are substances our organism uses to function. They can be classified into 7 main categories:
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Fats
Minerals
Vitamins
Dietary fibers
Water
Before introducing Sea Moss into your healthy lifestyle you should be aware of possible mild side effects
Feeling gassy or bloated
Feeling full or loss of appetite
Mild laxative effect
Constipation
Nausea
Skin reactions when applied
Rarely, sea moss may have the following mild or severe side effects: headaches, vomiting, low blood pressure, high blood pressure, low blood sugar, fatigue, hyperthyroidism, iodine poisoning, heavy metal intoxication, allergic reactions, etc.
Lastly, the most dangerous side effect is iodine poisoning. This side effect can only occur if you ingest excessive amounts of sea moss daily ( more than 20 times the daily recommended dosage).
Please consult your health care provider before introducing any new dietary changes to your diet.
References:
Palstra AP, Kals J, Blanco Garcia A, Dirks RP, Poelman M. Immunomodulatory Effects of Dietary Seaweeds in L.P.S. Challenged Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar as Determined by Deep R.N.A. Sequencing of the Head Kidney Transcriptome. Front Physiol. 2018 Jun 1;9:625. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00625. PMID: 29910738; PMCID: PMC5992350.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5992350/
Tamama K. Potential benefits of dietary seaweeds as protection against COVID-19. Nutr Rev. 2021 Jun 4;79(7):814-823. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuaa126. PMID: 33341894; PMCID: PMC7798825. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33341894/
Gómez-Zorita S, González-Arceo M, Trepiana J, Eseberri I, Fernández-Quintela A, Milton-Laskibar I, Aguirre L, González M, Portillo MP. Anti-Obesity Effects of Macroalgae. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 8;12(8):2378. doi: 10.3390/nu12082378. PMID: 32784488; PMCID: PMC7469045 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7469045/
Vaugelade P, Hoebler C, Bernard F, Guillon F, Lahaye M, Duee PH, Darcy-Vrillon B. Non-starch polysaccharides extracted from seaweed can modulate intestinal absorption of glucose and insulin response in the pig. Reprod Nutr Dev. 2000 Jan-Feb;40(1):33-47. doi: 10.1051/rnd:2000118. PMID: 10737549 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10737549/
Effect of Seaweed Extract on Hair Growth Promotion in Experimental Study of C57BL/6 Mice. Won Ho Ha, Dae Hwan Park. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7181/acfs.2013.14.1.1
Yunes Panahi, Roghayeh Badeli, Gholam-Reza Karami, Zeinab Badeli, Amirhossein Sahebkar, A randomized controlled trial of 6-week Chlorella vulgaris supplementation in patients with major depressive disorder, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Volume 23, Issue 4, 2015, Pages 598-602, ISSN 0965-2299 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2015.06.010
Guo F, Huang C, Cui Y, Momma H, Niu K, Nagatomi R. Dietary seaweed intake and depressive symptoms in Japanese adults: a prospective cohort study. Nutr J. 2019 Oct 7;18(1):58. doi: 10.1186/s12937-019-0486-7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6781346/
Chronic nonspecific diseases of the lungs (CNDL) and iodine deficiency diseases in children. Turdikul Bobomuratov, Gulchekhra Isakova, Dilshoda Akramova, Alimardon Kuziev. European Respiratory Journal Sep 2011, 38 (Suppl 55) p1164 https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1164
Skibola CF. The effect of Fucus vesiculosus, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women: a case report. B.M.C. Complement Altern Med. 2004 Aug 4;4:10. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-4-10. PMID: 15294021; PMCID: PMC514561. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15294021/