Sea Moss. The new superfood that everyone is putting in their smoothies but is it really new?
Sea Moss or Irish sea moss is a type of algae or better yet, “weed in the sea” as I like to call it. Mostly consumed in the Caribbean and Ireland's culture, many exclaim that sea moss has healing benefits such as being anti-inflammatory, rich in minerals (variable high levels of iodine), improves libido (sex drive), and helps your skin glow.
So is any of this true? Well, to be honest, the benefits I’ve listed have not been well researched and there is A LOT we do not know about sea moss. This food may have many benefits, but we have to consider other factors such as
How is this digested?
Is there a certain amount you need to consume to see the benefits?
Does our body take in those nutrients as well as they are supposed to?
Could the sea moss potentially be contaminated with harmful contaminants?
So let’s look at it as a supplement, but with any supplement you can over-due it. Sea moss is quite high in iodine (I’ll be doing a post on iodine) and our body needs just the right amount. If you overdo it, those thyroid hormones will go out of whack and then you’re in for a rollercoaster.
With any type of supplement or food, everything in moderation 🔆
If you choose to add sea moss into your diet, make sure you contact a health professional before you do so.
Sources:
Paul MacArtain, PhD, Christopher I.R. Gill, PhD, Mariel Brooks, PhD, Ross Campbell, Ian R. Rowland, PhD, Nutritional Value of Edible Seaweeds, Nutrition Reviews, Volume 65, Issue 12, December 2007, Pages 535–543, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2007.tb00278.x
Sangha, J. S., Fan, D., Banskota, A. H., Stefanova, R., Khan, W., Hafting, J., Craigie, J., Critchley, A. T., & Prithiviraj, B. (2014). Bioactive components of the edible strain of red alga, Chondrus crispus, enhance oxidative stress tolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans . Journal of Functional Foods. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2013.04.001
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