Sea Moss: Nature’s Gift to Health and Wellness
Sea Moss contains 92 of the 102 essential minerals and vitamins our body needs to stay healthy daily. More specifically, sea moss is rich in important minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron, selenium, phosphorus, zinc, and iodine; vitamins A & C; antioxidants; Omega-3 fatty acids; protein; and dietary fiber.
Sea moss is a species of seaweed (algae) found along the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean from North America, throughout the Caribbean and into South America, as well as Africa and Europe. It is one of the more popular types of seaweed of the many medicinal and side dish seaweeds found in cuisines around the world.
Some benefits include the support of thyroid health, gut health optimization and the improvement of blood sugar control levels. Additionally, it helps to reduce inflammation by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines. Cytokines are proteins that are involved in the inflammatory response.
It is more interesting to understand which minerals our body needs to function properly. Minerals are classified into two equally important groups: major minerals and trace minerals.
- The major minerals, which are used and stored in large quantities in the body, are calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and sulfur.
- The trace minerals are just as vital to our health as the major minerals, but we don’t need large amounts. Minerals in this category include chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc.
As stated in an article by Harvard Medical School it’s important to state that we don’t manufacture essential minerals in the body rather, we get them from our diet. So, by missing on nutritional foods that contain these minerals we will be deficient in some minerals. The minerals come from rocks, soil, and water, and they’re absorbed as the plants grow or by animals as the animals eat the plants.
Dr. Bruce Bistrian, Chief of Clinical nutrition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center mentions that gold, silver, and platinum get all the attention as the world’s most precious metals. These are more precious for the global economy than for human health. Instead, other metals and minerals (metals are one type of mineral) are more important for our health. Indeed, some of them are so important that we can’t live without them.
Some minerals are harder to obtain in the right amounts such as calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. Therefore, by consuming foods rich in minerals or supplements is crucial for our wellbeing.
The bottom line here is that you should work with your dietitian or doctor to develop targets for dietary minerals that will enrich your health in the right proportions.
The same applies to sea moss. Sea moss can be consumed in many different ways, but how much should you take daily? For most people, taking one teaspoon of dried sea moss per day is a good starting point. If you are taking it for a specific health condition, such as thyroid problems or high blood pressure, your healthcare provider may recommend a different dose.
Overconsumption of foods even nutritious ones could lead to increased disease risk. This contains high levels of iodine, which can damage your thyroid if consumed in large quantities, Also, they might contain large amounts of heavy metals like aluminum or cadmium, depending on where it’s grown.
What type of sea moss to take daily?
There are many types of sea moss, but the most common ones used for health benefits are Irish moss (Chondrus crispus), red algae, and purple sea moss. All three of these have different colors, textures, and nutrient profiles, so it’s up to you to choose which one you want to take daily.
- Irish (gold) moss is the most commonly used type of sea moss and has a high concentration of carrageenan, which is known to have health benefits.
- Red algae is a type of sea moss that is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Purple sea moss is a type of sea moss that is rich in vitamins and minerals, including iodine, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Key takeaways:
- Similar to many different sea veggies such as nori, kelp, and spirulina, sea moss is deemed as a superfood of the sea for its high nutrient content.
- Consuming excessive amounts of sea moss is not recommended due to its high iodine content which might lead to hypothyroidism.
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/top-5-health-benefits-of-sea-moss
https://www.discovermagazine.com/lifestyle/how-much-sea-moss-to-take-daily-full-guide
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/seamoss#uses
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/10/well/eat/sea-moss-gel-benefits.html
https://www.discovermagazine.com/lifestyle/22-sea-moss-benefits-full-guide
https://www.movewithgrace.com/post/what-are-sea-moss-nutritional-benefits-complete-guide
https://nature.ca/en/seaweed-and-algae-what-are-the-differences/
https://vegnews.com/vegan-guides/sea-moss-benefits
https://seamossstir.com/blogs/news/the-wonders-of-seamoss-unlocking-its-nutritional-benefits
https://a-z-animals.com/blog/purple-sea-moss-vs-irish-sea-moss/
