Many of us know that Irish sea moss is a species of algae, generally harvested for the thickening of food supplements. But did you know that sea moss provides several health benefits?
It is true that Irish moss has various health benefits, but it is not a widely acclaimed medicine, yet. From improving your gut health to reducing acne, sea moss benefits play a vital role in medical science. So let us know more about sea moss, shall we?
A. Sea moss benefits for health, skin and hair
Sea moss is nothing but Irish sea moss which can be used in your daily life. This Irish moss is generally used as a food thickening agent but the sea moss benefits don’t end here.
1. Health benefits
Sea moss is believed to support the thyroid gland as it contains a high amount of iodine (47mg per g).
As for gut health, sea moss plays a crucial role as well. As we all know, probiotics are important in maintaining intestinal health, sea moss can act as one.
Sea moss can help in the formation of good bacteria and prevent stomach problems.
Sea moss can also help you in your weight loss journey. This is because it is a low-calorie ingredient and also is a soluble fibre, which means this will make you full and prevent overeating.
Irish moss can also help you to keep your blood sugar level in check. Research says that Irish moss can actually prevent major blood sugar spikes.
Apart from all this, dried sea moss or even raw sea moss can help maintain your immune health and keep your heart healthy.
2. Skin benefits
According to skin experts, sea moss can help prevent acne and keep your skin glowing because of the presence of various antioxidants and vitamins.
It has antibacterial properties. Nowadays, sea moss is also an essential skincare ingredient.
Sea moss can keep your skin hydrated all throughout the day because of its ability to form a coating on the skin.
Dermatologists say that sea moss is best when used as gel or moisturizer. Hence, it goes without saying that sea moss can also be used as a mask to protect one’s skin from the sun.
This can also be used to treat various skin conditions like rosacea and eczema, etc. Recent studies show that sea moss gel can also be used to treat sunburn.
3. Hair benefits
Besides the health benefits and several skin benefits, sea moss gel can also prove beneficial for your hair as well.
This spiny sea vegetable can speed up your hair growth process because of the presence of Vitamin E in it.
These sea algae can also prevent hair loss. Often, it is seen that the main reason behind hair fall is the deficiency of iron. Raw Irish sea moss is an excellent source of iron.
Apart from all this, sea moss keeps your hair glowing and also increases sebum production.
B. How can I consume/use sea moss?
By now, you must know all the sea moss benefits and you must be confused about how to consume sea moss or apply sea moss. Worry not, we got your back as always.
1. How to prepare sea moss gel?
Foremost, make sure that the dry, raw sea moss is perfectly clean and free of any impurities. It is recommended that you never use tap water but freshwater for cleaning sea moss.
Then, for the next step, you’ve to transfer the clean sea moss into a bowl and keep it soaked for over 12 hours. No need to transfer the bowl into the refrigerator, room temperature works just fine.
Thereafter, the sea moss is ready to be transferred to the blender and blended till it turns into a runny, somewhat smooth paste.
Now the paste has to be transferred into an airtight container, which should then be transferred to the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, and – Tada! You’ve prepared sea moss gel.
You can now use this sea moss gel with anything liquid to thicken its consistency. Not only that but you can also use this sea moss gel with creams or moisturizers to get the most out of your skincare routine.
Sea moss benefits your skin, hair and, of course, your immune system.
2. Sea moss recipes
After making sea moss gel, you might want to try consuming sea moss a bit differently. That being said, all the sea moss benefits can also be added to your routine diet with a bit of a twist. Wondering how?
Here you go:
a. Jamaican Irish Moss
This classic drink is a mixture of vanilla, almond milk, nutmeg, and cinnamon and is a vegan and gluten-free sea moss smoothie which can be considered a perfectly healthy start to your day.
b. Sea moss gel smoothie
Sea moss gel can also be used in a smoothie, say, for example, chocolate sea moss smoothie or raspberry sea moss smoothie.
The best part about including sea moss in a smoothie is that it is completely vegan and thickens your smoothie naturally.
c. Chia jam
Sea moss can also be used as a thickening agent in jelly or jams. You can add sea moss to your jam and see how the taste goes perfectly in sync with the potential health benefits of sea moss.
For some of the internet’s famous jam recipes using sea moss – click here.
Not only that but sea moss can also be included in your regular recipes to add more thickness to it.
3. How do I make a sea moss mask?
Sea moss benefits know no bounds when it comes to health. However, sea moss can also help you keep your skin just the way you want it to. This edible sea plant can also add a glow to your skin if used properly.
a. Alovera sea moss mask
This is no hidden fact that aloe vera has its own benefits – be it for skin or health benefits. Now imagine the number of nutrients you get when you prepare an aloe vera sea moss mask for your face – the goodness of aloe vera with all the sea moss benefits.
It’s easy – all you’ve to do is to add aloe vera gel and sea moss gel in equal amounts along with a half cucumber and blend it well and ta-da! you’ve your aloe vera sea moss mask ready to be used.
b. Turmeric and honey sea moss mask
Mix 2 teaspoons of sea moss gel, one teaspoonful of honey, and 1/4th teaspoon of turmeric powder and stir it continuously for 3 mins, on low heat.
Make sure that the mask isn’t too hot before applying it to your skin. However, you are supposed to apply the mask only when it’s warm so that it can help your pores open up.
c. Sea moss charcoal mask
Charcoal is a trending ingredient in the skincare industry, thanks to its absorbing power, which washes out harmful toxins. Sea moss and charcoal make a wonderful combination together.
All you’ve to do is mix 1 teaspoon of sea moss gel and half a teaspoon of activated charcoal and you can now use the sea moss charcoal mask!
C. Why is sea moss good for you?
Apart from all the potential benefits of sea moss that we know, this edible seaweed has still got more for you.
Not only do these red algae look after your digestive health, but it also helps you to prevent iodine deficiency. It is a pretty excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and works best when used in gel form.
Recently, further research shows that sea moss can also be used in supplement form (dried form, gel, or even raw form) and can even help patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Red seaweeds act as a natural source of approximately 92 essential minerals out of 120 essential minerals we need daily and even support weight loss.
Red seaweeds also act as a healthy dietary fiber and also reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
D. Can sea moss be taken daily?
Absolutely not! It isn’t okay for someone to consume sea moss daily. This is because the toxins (even if in minute amounts) can cause various diseases.
Sea moss is generally found near the Caribbean islands and on the Atlantic coasts and it is thus believed that sea moss may contain heavy metals like other sea vegetables and adding sea moss to your regular diet may prove to be fatal.
Also, dried sea moss should be washed and drained properly so that it doesn’t contain any impurities.
Too much sea moss means too much iodine, and that is extremely fatal, even for people with thyroid deficiency, as it may cause hyperthyroidism or even goitre. Excess red algae can also lead to loose motion since it is a good source of dietary fiber.
E. Does sea moss detox your body?
If you’re someone who suffers from stomach ulcers or gastritis, then sea moss benefits count for you too.
We kid you not when we say you can pick up sea moss as a supplement or even as a support to help you achieve a better digestive system or keep your immune system healthy. Sea moss benefits include reducing inflammation and keeping your cholesterol in control.
Apart from helping in weight loss, they also support thyroid health and maintain heart health as well. According to medical professionals, this spiny sea vegetable similar to any detox diet also keeps you away from several chronic diseases.
F. Can you eat raw sea moss?
If you think you don’t have a problem with the earthy taste of raw sea moss, then sure, go ahead. However, dried sea moss or even sea moss gel is considered to be the appropriate form of sea moss for consumption. You can also use the powdered form for the maximum sea moss benefits.
Prepare sea moss gel and use sea moss whenever you please. This is because raw sea moss may lead to the intake of heavy metals or toxins and enough iodine to cause goitre or related diseases.
G. How long does sea moss gel last?
The shelf life of prepared sea moss gel is as long as 1 month. This red algae gel can be properly preserved for a longer time period too. While making sea moss gel, it should be kept in an airtight container and in the refrigerator for a longer time period.
H. Sea moss side effects
Besides sea moss benefits, it also has its fair share of side effects or disadvantages. When consumed in large amounts, sea moss may cause diarrhea, vomiting, or even nausea.
Apart from the high risk of too much iodine, sea moss, like most sea vegetables, can also contain high amounts of mercury, lead, and other metals, which can be fatal or even lead to diseases.
Even with all the sea moss benefits, we should still be cautious, for it acts as a blood-thinning agent.
Should pregnant women consume moss?
Pregnant women or lactating mothers should not be consuming sea moss, as more research is to be carried out on that aspect. Although there’s no such recommended dosage, consuming 10 gm of sea moss a day doesn’t pose any health risk and is appropriate for providing all the sea moss benefits.
Also, you should always contact your physician and conduct more research before adding sea moss to your regular diet.
I. Sea moss benefits for women
Sea moss benefits are for both men and women, but research shows that some of the sea moss benefits are specifically for women. Yes, you read that right. Sea moss helps increase fertility in women because of an exorbitant amount of iodine and selenium.
The imbalance of hormones and several problems related to it is a very common issue for several women. Sea moss benefits help in balancing hormones in women since it has magnesium and potassium present in it.
It also helps reduce period pains and prevents cramps during menstruation.
J. Does boiling sea moss kill the nutrients?
The answer is simple – a straightforward YES!
While it may seem appropriate to boil sea moss before consuming it in order to make sure there are absolutely no impurities left – it is definitely not the right way of consuming sea moss if you want all the sea moss benefits. Boiling moss is alright until and unless you’re using it as just a thickening agent and not for the sea moss benefits.
K. When should I consume sea moss?
Although sea moss can be consumed any time of the day, it works best when consumed on an empty stomach, i.e. first thing in the morning right after you wake up.
Sea moss benefits kick in after 2-3 weeks in general. However, if someone is too iodine deficient, then that may take lesser time to work and the person can see quick results.
When questioned about which sea moss is the best, the answer is simple – Gold moss, the most common kind of moss, comes with all the abundant sea moss benefits.
While purple sea moss has high antioxidant contents and Irish moss is the rarest variety, the Gold one still stands out, for it gives you the most sea moss benefits.
Tip: In case you’re not really an admirer of the earth-like taste that moss offers, you can add a few slices of lemon to the water when you soak sea moss and leave it like that for 12+ hours.
L. How much sea moss can I consume daily?
As we mentioned previously, there’s no recommended amount, to be honest.
However, according to some anecdotal experiences, you can consume 10 gm of sea moss regularly. You need not be worried if you prefer capsules over the gel.
The dosage for moss capsules is 2 per day or as prescribed by your dietitian.
M. Where do I get sea moss?
Sea moss is easily available nowadays in health food stores. When purchasing from some online store, make sure that it is real, edible, and the store is trusted.
You can get the most of sea moss benefits when consumed in powder form, which is easily available locally or online.
Conclusion
Recent researches show that sea moss benefits are gaining more popularity and it is going to be the next famous supplement food in no time.
Sea moss benefits us in unimaginable ways and also prevents a variety of diseases. However, one should always contact a physician before using sea moss, especially if under some particular medication.
