Sea Moss Health Benefits

July 27, 2023

What is Sea Moss?

Sea moss, also known as Irish moss or Chondrus Crispus is a nutrient dense red algae that can be found on rocky shores and tide pools around the Atlantic ocean including Europe and North America. Sea moss has become a common name for many red algae and they can actually vary in colours such as red, green, gold and even purple. , These algae can often go through a drying process such as 'sun bleaching' where they are dried in the sun for days, this is an effective preserving method which removes most of the pigment and moisture.

Species of algae similar to chondrus crispus include but are not limited to: Mastocarpus stellatus, Chondrus Canaliculatus

Chondrus Crispus

Image of Irish grown Chondrus Crispus in different colours.

In recent times, Sea moss has grown in popularity and has now been branded by many as a superfood due to the various health benefits from consuming seaweeds. Sea weeds generally contain an array of nutrients including essential vitamins and minerals and are now being recognised throughout communities worldwide, especially within the plant based community where it can be challenging to get sufficient amounts of iodine in their diet.

Image of Eucheuma harvested from Saint Lucia.

Similar algae in the Rhodophyta division include Gracilaria, Eucheuma and Chondracanthus Chamissoi which share some of the same nutritional properties as Chondrus Crispus. They are often found growing in warmer areas such as the Caribbean, Indian and Pacific oceans.

These algae are widely used in Caribbean communities to make a popular Irish moss drink which traditionally includes other ingredients such as nutmeg, linseed, vanilla and condensed milk.

Image of a jar of sea moss gel.

Whilst it isn't commonly known, sea moss is actually found in many products that are sold in supermarkets globally.

Sea moss is commercially used for its polysaccharide ‘carrageenan’ which is extracted from the seaweed. The carrageenan extract is used as a stabiliser when producing drinks and desserts such as milkshakes, ice cream and more. It is often the preferred natural option as opposed to ‘xanthan gum’ which is derived from sugars fermented by bacteria.

Many people are now choosing to regularly use the popular product 'sea moss gel' due to its simplicity and many benefits.

What are the benefits of Sea Moss?

Lots of nutrients
Sea moss contains an array of nutrients such as Vitamins A, E, K, omega 3 & 6, Calcium, Iron, Iodine, Sulfur, Potassium & more.

Thyroid health
The thyroid is a gland which releases hormones that help with cell growth, repair, energy and reproduction. Sometimes the thyroid can’t produce enough hormones which can be due to a lack of iodine. The thyroid uses nutrients such as iodine and tyrosine which are both found in Sea moss to help regulate hormone production.

Gut health
Sea moss is rich in dietary fibre, which is mainly in the form of linear sulphated polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are a type of fibre which our bodies cannot digest however, can be used as a food source by our good gut bacteria. When these gut bacteria consume these indigestible fibres, they start to produce short chain fatty acids which are associated with reduced risk of inflammatory bowel disease.¹

Immune system
The same polysaccharides found in Sea moss have been shown to inhibit the replication of enveloped viruses. Sea moss is also rich in phytochemicals which contribute to improved immune response.²

Blood sugar control
The high fibre content from the polysaccharides also help with slowing the speed of digestion so that sugars aren’t absorbed by the body as quickly.³

Heart health
Studies show that Sea moss may help lower bad cholesterol. Sea moss contains potassium which contributes to a healthy heart and also phytonutrients which help lower blood pressure.⁴

Bone & joint health
Sea moss contains calcium & magnesium which support bone growth & structure.

How to use Sea Moss

Gel
This method is where the Sea moss is boiled or blended until a gel like consistency is reached, this gel can be put into jars and chilled in the fridge to be readily used for smoothies, drinks, soups, stews, teas and more.
Powder
This method is where the whole seaweed is dried and milled into a fine powder which can then be sprinkled onto food or prepared as capsules to be readily consumed on the go.
Tincture
This method is where the nutrients are extracted via ethanol or distilled water for up to a month. The tincture is then consumed as drops under the tongue.
Face mask
Sea moss can be used to help rejuvinate skin by applying a thin mask of sea moss gel to the skin over time and washing off shortly after.

What are the side effects of sea moss?

Like the saying goes, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.
When using supplements, there are safe upper limits of many nutrients we can consume but anything past the limit may have adverse effects on the body. For example, studies show that Iodine is an important mineral for the body but also that people who ingest too much iodine may develop an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).

Whilst seaweeds may contain traces of heavy metals, there are harvesters who regularly run tests on their harvests and provide certificates of analysis to ensure that their seaweed is safe for consumption. It is important to get your sea moss from a safe and trusted source to avoid dangers of heavy metal toxicity.

Sea weed in water

Image of seaweed in water.

There are misconceptions sea moss can have adverse effects on health due to the polysaccharide ‘carageenan’ however, this is misinformation. There is a degraded form of carageenan which is known to cause inflammation and is called ‘poligeenan’.

Poligeenan is a polymer which is created by processing carageenan with acid. Poligeenan is not approved for consumption but is used in clinical diagnostic applications. For example, researches use poligeenan to test new anti-inflammatory drugs in the laboratory.⁵

Sea moss can be a great food addition for many however, there are many factors to consider with general health being the main one. If you have any health issues it is best to get advice from your doctor before trying any new foods or supplements as a general rule.

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