All You Need to Know About This Trending Superfood!

Overview – Sea Moss, The Latest Nutritional Trend!

With growing awareness about nutrition, various superfoods are gaining popularity. A superfood is an ingredient with a high concentration of essential nutrients, making it an excellent addition to anyone’s daily diet. Seaweed is one such ingredient that is touted as a superfood with numerous benefits. Even among the different types of seaweed, sea moss – a type of red seaweed or algae has gained a lot of popularity of late.

Sea moss benefits include a high concentration of nutrients and fiber, which offer a multitude of health benefits. Here is everything you need to know about this healthy ingredient!

What Is Sea Moss?

Sea moss is a type of red algae scientifically known as Chondrus crispus. It is also called Irish sea moss. This type of seaweed is used to extract carrageenan, a thickener used in milk products.

However, ever since sea moss health benefits were discovered, it became widely available in the form of nutritional supplements, such as tablets, gummies, and supplement powders. Based on its nutritional content, sea moss may help improve various health aspects and even encourage weight loss.

While raw sea moss may not be palatable for everyone, thanks to its earthy taste and slimy texture, sea moss supplements have gained immense popularity in recent times. Moreover, it is also added to topical creams or lotions as it may soothe the skin and reduce inflammation.

Therefore, it may be a good idea to try sea moss for weight loss or to boost your nutritional intake.

How Did Sea Moss Become So Popular?

Sea moss as an ingredient was originally used as a thickener for dairy products such as ice creams. Since gelatine is an animal-based ingredient, carrageenan derived from Irish sea moss works well as a plant-based alternative to the former, thanks to its gelatinous texture. However, the nutritional benefits of sea moss were discovered much later.

While different types of seaweed are consumed in various cultures as a healthy ingredient, sea moss became popular as a nutritional supplement after various celebrities started talking about it. Kim Kardashian was one such celebrity who talked about drinking a sea moss smoothie every day. It popularized the various sea moss benefits for women.

Furthermore, studies have been conducted to study the health benefits of the ingredient, and one such study^[1] indicates that sea moss may prevent neurodegeneration and the onset of Parkinson’s disease.

Hence, due to the rising awareness about sea moss benefits, supplements containing the ingredient are becoming popular.

Nutritional Content of Sea Moss

Sea moss health benefits are because of the high nutritional content of the ingredient. It is a gluten-free, vegan-friendly ingredient with various essential nutrients in significant concentrations.

It is a rich source of iodine, magnesium, zinc, fiber, and essential vitamins, such as Vitamin C, B6, and E. Furthermore, one study^[2] indicates that sea moss may contain a higher concentration of Calcium than milk.

A 10gm serving of sea moss contains the following nutrients:

Hence, a little goes a long way with this ingredient, and you only need to use it in small quantities to avoid sea moss side effects.

Some of the sea moss benefits for women and men may include weight loss, better immunity, improved gut health, and better heart health. Moreover, due to the presence of Iodine, it may help those suffering from thyroid.

Lastly, topical sea moss gel benefits may include a soothing effect on inflamed skin and relief from conditions like eczema.

What Are the Different Types of Sea Moss?

Sea moss is an umbrella term for a family of seaweeds or algae. The most popular types of sea moss include Chondrus crispus and Genus gracilaria. The latter is a golden-colored sea moss with red streaks. It is used in food products and as a binding material while painting houses. On the other hand, the former is commonly associated with sea moss health benefits.

Chondrus crispus, also called Irish Sea Moss, is a purple sea moss that is rich in nutrients. It is a concentrated source of essential minerals and is used in a wide variety of nutritional supplements like gummies and capsules.

Moreover, sea moss gel benefits for the skin are also gaining popularity. Thus, Irish moss can also be found in skincare products.

How To Use Sea Moss

Thanks to sea moss health benefits, it is widely available in supplement form as capsules or gummies. You can also find sea moss powder in the market, which you can mix into your smoothies for daily consumption.

However, using raw sea moss may further enhance its health benefits. You can soak it in water for a day till it becomes gelatinous. Keep changing the water regularly during the soaking period. Once the sea moss has doubled in volume, blend it in a blender to a thick consistency. You can add this paste to your smoothies, stews, and soups for regular consumption. It can also be added to the batter while baking.

Consuming the ingredient in its fibrous form may help the most if you are trying sea moss for weight loss. It is low in calories and high in fiber, which will help you feel full without consuming too many calories.

Top Health Benefits of Sea Moss

1. Improves Thyroid Health

The thyroid gland plays an essential role in maintaining a healthy hormonal balance in the body. Moreover, the thyroid gland needs Iodine to function adequately. Since sea moss is a rich source of Iodine, it can help those struggling with thyroid issues. However, remember that overconsumption of Iodine is one of the sea moss side effects. So, consume it in controlled quantities, as suggested by your doctor.

2. Boosts Immunity

Since sea moss is a good source of essential minerals and vitamins, it may help strengthen your immunity against diseases and infections. Moreover, it also boosts gut health, which is directly related to immunity. Therefore, edible sea moss gel benefits may include immunity-enhancing effects.

3. Enhances Gut Health

Our gut environment contains large populations of different bacteria. Some of these are good bacteria that improve digestion, while others are bad bacteria that may cause imbalances in the gut. Raw sea moss is an excellent source of good bacteria and may help improve your gut health if consumed daily. Moreover, it is a great source of fiber, which can prevent constipation and indigestion.

4. Encourages Weight Loss

Many people like to consume sea moss for weight loss. This ingredient may help with weight loss because of its high fiber content. Fiber is low in calories and bulky in nature. Therefore, it will fill you up quickly and prevent you from binging on other high-calorie foods. So, if you are trying to curb your appetite and calorie intake, sea moss might be helpful.

5. Improves Cardiac Health

Sea moss is rich in minerals like Potassium, which help to regulate blood pressure. Healthy blood pressure reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, sea moss may also lower your cholesterol levels, which, in turn, can improve your heart health. It is one of the many sea moss health benefits that make it so popular.

6. Helps Regulate Blood Sugar

Sea moss may also regulate your blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diabetes. It is probably because of its high fiber content, which slows down the absorption of sugar by the body. Hence, it may prevent blood sugar spikes, making this one of the prominent sea moss gel benefits.

7. May Improve Fertility

One of the many sea moss benefits for women is that it may improve fertility, as per anecdotal data. It is probably due to the presence of Iron and Vitamin B-9 in the ingredient, which may improve fertility in women.

Sea Moss Benefits for Men

Apart from the common sea moss benefits across both genders, it may offer the following benefits to men in particular:

• It may boost libido due to the presence of essential nutrients.
• It may prevent male pattern baldness due to the presence of Vitamins A and E.
• It may improve prostate health due to the presence of Zinc.

Sea Moss Benefits for Women

Here are some of the top benefits of raw sea moss for women:

• It may help with thyroid, a condition more prevalent in women than men.
• It may improve fertility due to the presence of essential nutrients like Vitamin B9 and Iron.
• Women can also use sea moss for weight loss post-childbirth after they have stopped breastfeeding.

What Do Studies Say About Sea Moss Benefits?

Various studies^[3] have researched the benefits of seaweed in general and sea moss. They reveal the high mineral content found in the ingredient, which further indicates therapeutic possibilities.

Irish sea moss is a rich source of essential nutrients like Iodine, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, and different vitamins. Therefore, it may improve bodily functions that require these nutrients. Furthermore, it is a good source of fiber, aiding digestion and weight loss. Additionally, it may enhance libido, improve prostate health in men, and improve fertility in women.

However, as with any ingredient used in nutritional supplements, you must also be aware of sea moss side effects and consume it keeping certain precautions in mind.

Precautions To Remember While Consuming Sea Moss

• Stick to the recommended daily dose of sea moss, which is approximately 4 grams per day.
• Do not consume the ingredient if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Avoid sea moss if you are allergic to any seafood.
• Remember that you may overconsume Iodine if you consume sea moss along with Iodized salt and other supplements.
• Raw sea moss has an earthy flavour and slimy texture, so consume it in gummy or capsule form if you are averse to the same.
• Sea moss may absorb heavy metals from the water in which it grows. So, investigate the source of sea moss before consuming it.
• If you have any existing health conditions, consult your doctor before consuming sea moss supplements.

Best Ways to Add Sea Moss to Your Diet

• Make a sea moss gel at home with the raw ingredient and add it to your soups and smoothies.
• Add powdered sea moss to your salads and smoothies.
• Consume it in the form of gummies or capsules.

No matter what form you consume sea moss in, make sure to follow the recommended daily dose of the ingredient.

FAQs About Sea Moss

Video Credits: Divas Can Cook

Takeaway

Sea moss, or Irish sea moss, is quickly gaining popularity as a superfood, thanks to its high nutritional content and celebrity approval. This type of red algae is a rich source of essential vitamins and minerals like Iron, Calcium, and Magnesium. It is also an excellent source of fiber, thereby aiding digestion and weight loss.

Due to its high nutritional value and low-calorie content, sea moss benefits may include better heart health, immunity, thyroid function, fertility, and weight loss. So, you can consider consuming this ingredient for better overall health. However, make sure to follow the recommended dose, check the source of sea moss, and consult your doctor if you have any existing health conditions before trying sea moss supplements.