What Is Sea Moss Good For? Top 8 Health Benefits & Side Effects

What Is Sea Moss? 

Sea moss is a type of red seaweed, also known as Irish sea moss. It is a rich source of omega 3 fatty acid. Sea moss has many health benefits including taking care of the heart, lowering blood cholesterol and so on.

Nowadays, organic sea moss is found in various forms like capsules, gels, gummies etc. Organic sea moss is becoming increasingly popular among people for its wide range of health benefits which we are going to discuss below.

 

Where Does Sea Moss Come From?

Sea moss grows naturally along the coasts of the Atlantic ocean. Most of it is found between North America and Europe. Sea Moss or Irish Sea Moss is also seen in the warmer waters of Asia, South America, Caribbean and parts of Africa.

 

Are Sea Moss And Irish Moss The Same?

Contrary to popular opinion, sea moss and Irish moss are different plants.

Irish moss and sea moss, which are frequently confused as two different names for the same plant, both have their own unique health advantages. Sea moss can be found in a range of colors, from blue and green to gold and purple, and has a thicker, more tube-like look. 

The Irish moss, on the other hand, has a much flatter, fan-like look with curling edges. It is often a dark purple color, however sunlight can bleach it and turn it golden.

 

How Sea moss Works?

Sea Moss works by providing almost every vitamins and minerals that our body requires. Among other nutrients, it has Iodine. About 47 milligrams of iodine is found within 1 gram of Sea Moss. Iodine is good for your thyroid function. On the other hand it is almost calorie free which helps in reducing weight.  

 

Sea Moss Nutritional Content

2 tablespoon full of sea moss contains the following nutrients:

• Calories 5 (g)
• Carbohydrates 1.2 gram (g)
• Protein 0.2 gram (g)
• Total fat 0.02 gram (g)
• Dietary fiber 0.13 gram (g)
• Sugars 0.06 gram (g)
• Magnesium 14.4 milligram (mg)
• Calcium: 7.2 milligrams (mg)
• Potassium 6.3 milligram (mg)
• Iron 0.89 milligram (mg)
• Vitamin A  0.6 microgram (mcg)
• Vitamin C 0.3 microgram (mcg)
• Vitamin K 0.5 microgram (mcg)

 

Sea Moss Health benefits

Sea Moss has multiple health benefits from serving as a great skin care product to protecting vital organs like heart and thyroid. Following are some points regarding why sea moss is good for the body.

• Sea Moss For Heart Health

Heart diseases are one of the top causes of death worldwide. Sea Moss contains omega 3 fatty acids which have many benefits in reducing heart diseases.

Omega 3 fatty acids reduce blood cholesterol, regulate blood pressure. It also acts as a blood thinner. These are all beneficial to the heart. 

We need to keep in mind that research is still going on and various discoveries are yet to be made.

• Sea Moss For Weight Loss

Overweight has become a big problem nowadays. It leads to various disease conditions like heart disease, joint pain, stroke, diabetes etc. Sea Moss can be of great help in preventing these diseases as it can reduce weight.

Sea Moss contains fibers which are not digested by our body. But their presence in our stomach creates a sense of fullness. 

It also delays the rate at which the stomach empties its contents into the small intestine. This is how Sea Moss reduces our appetite.

It reduces dietary fat absorption and increases fat breakdown too. Thus it helps in reducing total body fat content. 

 

• Sea Moss For Skin

Sea Moss has multiple benefits as a skincare product. 

First of all, Sea Moss contains sulfur which has anti-bacterial function. Sulfur also reduces sebum production in the skin. For these reasons it provides remedy for those who suffer from acne or oily skin.

Secondly, It is full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. For these properties it is used in inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.  

Lastly, Sea Moss may also help to eliminate wrinkles, hydrate the skin, and protect from external elements.

 

• Sea Moss For Thyroid

Thyroid is a necessary gland for us, located at the front side of the neck. Thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones are necessary for our metabolic activity, intellectual ability etc. Iodine is the main component of thyroid hormone. As Sea Moss is a rich source of Iodine, it helps in the production of thyroid hormones.

Our body cannot produce iodine on its own. Iodine must be supplied through diet. Although table salt nowadays contains iodine, even a minor deficiency of iodine can lead to hypothyroidism. It is a condition where the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones. 

Most individuals require 150 mcg of iodine per day. But the pregnant and lactating women need slightly more iodine, approximately 220 and 290 mcg per day respectively.

 

• Sea Moss For Gut Health

Our gut contains both good and bad bacteria. Disease occurs when there is an excess amount of bad bacteria. So a balance of these bacteria is needed for good gut health.

Sea Moss contains a large amount of dietary fiber. We cannot digest most of these fibers but the bacteria in our gut can. Thus, sea moss acts as a food source for our beneficial gut bacteria. 

These gut bacteria contribute to our overall health by producing advantageous substances called short chain fatty acids, among other things.

 

• Sea Moss For Immune System

Seaweed and sea moss have evolved to survive in the harsh coastal waters, and as a result, they have created an admirable defense system.

They contain a high concentration of phytochemicals, which, when taken, have health benefits such as enhancing immunological function.

It can build muscle and aid in workout recovery.

 

• Sea Moss Benefits For Men

Sea Moss can help raise testosterone levels in men. It occurs whether you eat sea moss raw or incorporate it into different cuisines.

There are various advantages of a raised testosterone level, including enhanced verbal memory, stronger bones, higher libido, and many others.

Men who have low testosterone levels are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction, lower bone mass, and diminished sex drive over the long term. Consequently, sea moss is the ideal testosterone booster.

It can protect prostate health in men too. Nearly one in seven American men receive a prostate cancer diagnosis at some time in their lives, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The key to avoiding negative consequences like hot urination, frequent joint discomfort, and even kidney damage is to have a healthy prostate.

Fortunately, sea moss can make it simple to maintain a healthy prostate. Your body needs a sufficient amount of zinc, one of the most important minerals found in sea moss, in order to safeguard prostate health.

 

• Sea Moss Benefits For Women 

One of the main advantages of sea moss for women is that it supports a healthy thyroid, which means it can help women avoid infertility.

This is because it contains high levels of iodine and selenium, which aid to improve fertility and stimulate sex desire.

In addition to producing hormones that govern the body's heart, muscles, and digestion as well as brain growth and bone maintenance, the thyroid gland also aids in the regulation of the menstrual cycle.

The absence of magnesium and potassium in women's diets is one of the main contributors to hormonal imbalances in this population. They both improve mood, so when you don't get enough of these, you could feel down.

Fortunately, sea moss has high levels of minerals like magnesium and potassium, which stop you from getting cranky or depressed.

 

• Will Sea Moss Help With Diabetes?

Fucoxanthin, a chemical discovered in a seaweed study, is expected to normalize elevated blood sugar levels.

Sea Moss Side effects

Although Sea Moss is more or less safe to use, sometimes sea moss can make you sick.

First of all, how does sea moss taste? Sea Moss doesn't have a pleasant taste. Its flavor is slightly earthy and tastes a lot like seaweed or even oysters. But When added to smoothies, soups, or desserts, the flavor can be readily hidden.

• Gastro-intestinal side effects: Sea Moss may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and in some cases constipation.
  
  
• Side effects of excess iodine: As it contains iodine, excess consumption of it may cause iodine toxicity. Excessive iodine may lead to serious thyroid problems. For example: Goiter, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer etc.
  

• Allergic reactions: Some people may be allergic to sea moss. They may experience allergic reactions like swelling, itching, breathing difficulties etc.

• Drug reactions: Sea Moss has the ability to react with drugs such as lithium, blood thinners and thyroid medications. So one should consult with his/her physician before taking sea moss.

Safety of Sea moss during pregnancy and breastfeeding period is not proved yet. So it is best to avoid adding it to your diet during these periods.

 

How To Use Sea Moss In Your Diet

Sea Moss is found in capsule, gel, dried and powdered form. It can also be added to smoothies, soups, shakes, stews, jams, cakes, ice creams and liquid Viagra.

 

Sea Moss Dosage

• How much sea moss to take daily: One to two tablespoons, or 4 to 8 grams, of sea moss per day is considered safe. But this can vary from person to person.

 

The Takeaway

Similar to seaweed and sea algae, sea moss, or eucheuma as it is formally termed, is a prickly sea vegetable.

It is an excellent source of several vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that may be useful for general health.

However, it has different nutritional qualities, and when used in large quantities, you could ingest a lot of iodine or heavy metals.

Although additional research is generally required to confirm the sea moss's alleged health advantages for people, early results on studies of related seaweed and algae are encouraging.