8 Reasons Why Sea Moss is Good For You
Sea moss is a superfood that is filled with various beneficial nutrients and minerals. It is filled with antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory agents, which keeps our body in good shape.
In the U.S., some people may not have considered having sea moss in their drinks or foods every day. But people in Ireland, Spain, and Jamaica have been consuming this sea moss for decades. If you have not tried sea moss yet, this is your chance to explore. It has a light and salty texture so, you can mix it with sweet and creamy recipes.
Before you start intaking sea moss, you must know about its benefits and side effects. Always consult with your health physician if you notice any unusual effects, especially if you are on prescribed medication.
1. Supports Thyroid Health
Thyroid hormone imbalance often leads to serious health issues like fatigue, excess weight gain or loss, frequent muscle problems, and fertility issues. There are several other things you can consume to support your thyroid health, and sea moss is one of them.
Researchers have shown that sea moss is effective in boosting up thyroid treatment. Sea moss has iodine which helps your body to prepare thyroid hormones. It is a key element of metabolism, heart rate, and many other physiological processes.
2. Clears Respiratory System of Mucus
Are you suffering from blocked sinus? You can have sea moss to clear your respiratory or lymphatic system. Sea moss contains high chlorine, chlorophyll, omega-3 fatty acid, and potassium chloride makes it a good decongestant.
Also, they have antimicrobial and anti-inflammation properties, which are helpful to ease swelling and dissolve mucus. Also, it helps ease the common cold, allergic reaction, and flu.
3. Speeds Up Weight Loss
The high iodine and Carrageenan of sea moss can control your hunger and metabolism. Also, it can retain moisture and turn into a gel which will make you fuller for a long time and suppress cravings.
4. Improves Overall Mood
Potassium is essential for our mental and emotional health as a deficiency in potassium can lead to anxiety, depression, confusion, nervousness, and fatigue.
Since our body can not store potassium for a long time, you need to replenish your body with it almost every day. That is why you can drink sea moss or add it to your diet every day.
5. Boosts Gut Health
Sea moss has a rich, thick texture that can soothe mucus membranes in the digestive tract. They help our gut and protect us from diseases like ulcers. Researchers have found that sea moss has prebiotic benefits during our digestion process.
Sea moss is a mucilaginous food that has a sticky consistency and helps our stool to move easily through the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, it can remove bad gut bacteria, boost gut immunity, and encourage short-chain fatty acid production. Plus, sea moss contains healthy dietary fiber, which is essential to flush out all the harmful toxins and chemicals from our bodies.
6. Eases Joint Swelling
The fatty acid and fish oil found in sea moss has excellent anti-inflammatory agents. They are helpful to reduce joint swelling, improve flexibility, and aid overall mobility. Arthritis patients, athletes, and elderly people can have potential benefits from consuming sea moss.
7. Soothes Skin Complications and Hair Health
Sea moss has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties to help your skin from irritation problems like psoriasis, burns, eczema, and dermatitis. It can also reduce acne and have a soothing effect on the skin.
In most hair and skin products, sea moss is widely used for its rich, creamy, and gel-like texture.
8. Improves Blood Circulation
Sea moss can improve blood circulations of your body which ease inflammation and controls healthy blood flow through veins. Good blood circulation can boost energy levels, improve focus, and a stronger libido.
What Is Sea Moss?
Sea moss is algae or seaweed cultivated in tropical climates like the Caribbean, southern Asia, and southern Africa. It is much-like thicker and stickier like seaweed which goes by scientific names like Eucheuma and Gracilaria. You can find sea moss in different colors like red, gold, purple, but you can also find rare varieties like blue or green.
Incorrect Botanical Name
Most often, I saw people mistakenly call sea moss in Irish moss. However, sea moss does not cultivate anywhere near Ireland. I say mistakenly, but I believe that companies often purposely call it Irish moss to be misleading. Sea moss is much more accessible and abundant, whereas Iris moss is harder to get as it is rare.
Nutritional Information
Studies have shown that two tablespoons of Sea moss contain at least,
- Calories: 4.9
- Carbohydrates: 1.2 g
- protein: 0.2 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Sugars: 0.1 g
Vitamins and minerals like,
- Calcium: 7.2 milligrams (mg)
- Magnesium: 14.4 mg
- Phosphorous: 15.7 mg
- Potassium: 6.3 mg
- Iron: 0.9 mg
- Zinc: 0.2 mg
- Copper: 0.02 mg
- Manganese: 0.04 mg
Also, Sea moss is a natural source of the mineral iodine and has antioxidant properties, which is good for our overall health. Below you can see some exciting health benefits and side effects of it.
Side Effects
- Sea moss can contain heavy iodine and metals, which can lead to health issues when you consume them too much.
- Excess iodine can have a poisonous effect and lead to goiter, thyroid cancer, and hyper or hypothyroidism.
- If you are a pregnant woman, you should consult with your doctor before you have them.
- Some people’s skin is not suitable for sea moss which can cause skin irritation or rash.
What is The Best Way to Eat Sea Moss?
You can purchase sea moss in different forms: raw, dried, liquid, gel, powder, and supplements. It is best to eat them raw to get the exact nutrition you are looking for. In supplements, you are most likely to have an excess amount of iodine which is not natural.
So if you want to have sea moss, you can stick to the natural way that’s always been for centuries in Irish and Jamaican recipes. Sea moss is versatile as it is tasteless. You can purchase a sea moss powdered version to add to your soup or smoothies.
If you are buying sea moss products, make sure that there are no added fillers or additives like artificial coloring and they are sourced well.