Irish Sea Moss is good for supporting the body through a host of minerals what is understood to be as many as 92 of them, and is reported to help with problems such as:
- Reproductive complications and low libido
- Hormonal imbalances
- Joint pain
- Aging skin, brittle hair and nails, and
- Digestive issues, and more
Firstly, let me set the record straight; Irish Moss is not a moss at all. Irish Moss is a sea algae or seaweed. These are a variety of seaweeds that are rich in minerals, nutrients, and antioxidants.
One of the most versatile seaweeds, in my opinion, is Irish Sea Moss. What is Irish Sea Moss good for? I’m so glad you asked.
But, before I get into the nitty-gritty of the extensive health benefits of Sea Moss, I wanted to properly introduce you to this amazing Superfood.
Irish Sea Moss goes by several different names including Eucheuma Cottonii, Chondrus Crispus, Carrageen Moss, Elkhorn Sea Moss and Kappaphycus Alvarezii.
In the Caribbean, Irish Sea Moss is often referred to as Sea Moss or Irish Moss. Irish Sea Moss is a Sea Vegetable or Ocean algae.
These typically red or green algae are cultivated and harvested from the ocean. When dried they look quite different from the fresh, raw version. Some still have a red-brown color, while others can be creamy and white in color.
One of the good aspects about sea moss as a renewable food source is that it grows quickly, and typically can be harvested as early as 45 days into the crop life.
Even though seaweed is typically sold as a dried product there is still an abundance of health benefits to be obtained through making dried seaweed a part of your diet.
What is Sea Moss used in?
Chondrus Crispus has a long history of being used as a thickening agent in several foods. In recent years this has been replaced as a sought-after resource by Kappaphycus Alvarezii.
Kappaphycus Alvarezii is refined down to a white powder which is usually called Carrageenan, or E407, on the labelling of products that is added to as a thicker or stabilizer.
It has been added to products such as yogurt, ice cream, smoothies, protein drinks, and cottage cheese in commercial manufacturing.
The Carrageenan which is extracted from the Kappaphycus Alvarezii as a whole losses much of the original nutritional benefits of the sea moss as a whole. There have been concerns about foods that have Carrageenan added to them, and their impact on human health.
While Carrageenan extract has received some negative exposure over the years. The pure, unprocessed Irish Moss does not pose any harm to human consumption. It’s quite the opposite.
Carrageenan is also extracted from sea moss and used to make cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, and toothpaste, and it is even used in some beers!
But it is not just in food products and other consumables intended for use by humans that you will find seaweed. Seaweed is commonly used to fertilize gardens to grow vegetables, with many different types of commercially produced fertilizers on the market.
Did you know that Scientists are also researching how we could use these marine organisms as biofuels? 1
What are the Benefits of Irish Sea Moss
The benefits of Irish Sea Moss as almost endless. This is why it is becoming recognized as the marine Superfood of the Year. This powerful Superfood is popularly believed to contain 92 out of 102 essential minerals required by the human body including, but not limited to:
- Sulfur
- Taurine
- Potassium Chloride
- Chlorophyll
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorous
- Protein
- Pectin
- Beta-Carotene
- Selenium
- Fibre
- Zinc
- Iodine, and
- Folic Acid
It is also packed with Vitamins A, C, E, F, and K which are all required for healthy functioning bodies.
Additionally, sea moss has been found to possess anti-viral properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and anti-bacterial properties. Amazing!
We need to think of Irish Sea Moss as a wholefood to get all these benefits to promote healthy bodily functions, and not a supplement. The processed forms of sea moss which are then packaged as pills or powders have usually been cooked or baked.
Once they have been exposed to these processes they are void of their original nutritional value. Raw Foodists will attest to the need to keep food in as close to its live state as possible so you can get the most nutritional and high vibrational value out of it as a food source.
What Irish Sea Moss is good for includes assisting those who suffer from ailments such as:
- Diabetes
- Fertility issues
- Low sperm count
- Thyroid issues
- Arthritis
- Memory problems
- Poor brain function
- Bad skin
- Weak hair
- Brittle nails
- Poor digestive health
- Weight problems
- Mood imbalances
- Blood pressure problems
- Compromised mucus membrane
- Overloaded lymphatic systems
- Respiratory problems, and
- Immune system-related deficiencies
I won’t break down all of the benefits of eating Irish Sea Moss. However, I thought it would be helpful to review a few items listed above.
Skin
Irish Moss gel can be applied topically to the skin. The natural collagen is absorbed directly into the dermis. It helps to retain moisture and improve complexion.
If you have dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, the antiviral and anti-bacterial properties help to kick start the healing process. The sea moss stimulates moisture retention and will gradually start to replenish the dried skin.
The gel dries after application and you can apply a moisturizer over the top if desired.
Hair
The Irish Moss gel can be applied directly onto the hair while dry. This is probably easier with short hair as it will be easy to style. You could use it as a gel after washing, while the hair is still wet and style as desired.
Or apply the gel onto your hair after shampooing, instead of using a conditioner.
The application of Irish Sea Moss gel may prevent hair fall or hair thinning where which is not a genetic condition. The gel is also very good for the scalp and may help to reduce dandruff.
Respiratory Health
Sea Moss has been used for medicinal purposes to treat congestion. The Chlorophyll, Omega-3 fatty acids, and Potassium Chloride help to break down and dissolve phlegm and congestion.
The anti-inflammatory properties of sea moss also help to reduce inflammation of the mucous membrane and lymphatic system. Consuming some Irish Sea Moss may help to prevent congestion and is a natural decongestant.
Sea moss has been relied upon for generations to help to prevent the build-up of phlegm. The anti-viral properties help to prevent and fight off infection.
Irish Sea Moss has all the nutrients required to boost the immune system.
Digestive health
Irish Sea Moss is packed full of fibre which naturally helps the digestive system to purge. This helps improve the transit time and regulate healthy bowel functions.
The jelly-like substance contains lots of probiotics which are good for gut health. It has also been used to treat reflux and alleviate acid build-up.
Sea moss also helps to reduce flatulence. By making sea moss a part of your diet, your digestive system can then heal from any inflammation and ulcers that may have developed over time.
Thyroid Function
Chondrus Crispus contains Selenium and Iodine which have been known to support healthy thyroid function.
The thyroid is responsible for regulating hormone functions. If our hormones are out of balance, this impacts our digestive system, and affects our mood, and unwanted weight gain and/or loss can occur.
Thyroid disorders from hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) to hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) can cause a range of health issues.
Irish Sea Moss contains all the essential nutrients to ensure that the thyroid functions properly.
Mood Enhancement
Have you ever experienced irritability, anxiety, or depression? A diet lacking in Potassium may be the cause. When thinking about food containing Potassium, people usually think of bananas.
Did you know that Irish Sea Moss contains more Potassium than bananas?
Now, this may sound a little strange, but, Sushi has been referred to as a ‘comfort food’! This may be because the Potassium has mood-enhancing effects.
Unfortunately, our bodies do not store Potassium, so we need to replenish the supply regularly. Consuming a wholefood diet including seaweed should give you all the essential minerals that you need.
Fertility
The health of the reproductive system is affected by the function of the thyroid. The two primary nutrients recommended for healthy thyroid function are Selenium and Iodine. However, when it comes to fertility, it’s also important to consume Zinc, and Folic Acid as well.
In some cultures, Irish Sea Moss is used as a natural aphrodisiac for men. The late Dr. Sebi was an advocate of Irish Sea Moss and talked at length about how he cured himself of impotency and enhanced his testosterone.
The Zinc in Chondrus Crispus increases seamen mucus and sperm count. Zinc has also been found to help boost testosterone and male sexual performance. 2
For women, an imbalance in the thyroid hormones can lead to menstrual problems, and subsequently, may cause fertility issues.
This is one of the reasons there is such a strong encouragement for women to make sure that they consume enough Folic Acid, Selenium and Iodine before, during and after pregnancy.
All these nutrients are perfectly packaged in Chondrus Crispus. So adding a little seaweed to your diet may be all you need to help you conceive a child, and grow a healthy fetus.
Weight Loss
I love that Irish Sea Moss gives me more energy and improves my mood. The Iodine in Eucheuma Cottonii contains fibre which improves metabolism and helps with healthy digestive function.
For some people, they may experience a mild laxative effect when eating sea moss. The body is naturally moving the excess waste from the body and accelerating weight loss.
Don’t be concerned as the Irish Sea Moss is helping the body to break down any undigested or fermenting food. Sea moss also helps the body to move toxins through your system and purge them faster.
The anti-bacterial properties of sea moss help to remove bad bacteria and replenish the gut with good bacteria. Consuming seaweed helps the digestive system heal abrasions and ulcers.
Medical Advice
Please note that the information provided in this article is not individualized medical advice. If you have medical conditions, please seek medical advice from your Doctor.
We would recommend speaking with a Nutritionist about what they recommend consuming to heal yourself naturally if your preference is to do this without the use of pharmaceutical medicines.
If you are taking pharmaceutical medicines, like an anticoagulant (blood thinners), or supplements like Folic Acid, Iodine, Selenium and the like, please speak to your Nutritionist about whether eating seaweed is right for you.
Now that you know what is Irish Sea Moss good for, I hope that you will find as many ways as possible to use it.
I recommend raw sun-dried Irish Sea Moss over baked and or powdered seaweeds. As a whole plant-based food (WPB Diet), it naturally contains all these amazing nutrients perfectly packaged for you.
Reference
- Energy 101: Algae-to-Fuel” – Energy.gov Staff, 09 September 2013 [Energy.gov] [Archive] ↩︎
- “Zinc levels in seminal plasma and their correlation with male infertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis” J. ZHao, X. Dong, X. Hu, Z. Long, L. Wang, Q. Liu, B. Sun, Q. Wang, Q. Wu, L. Li, 2 March 2016 [PubMed Central] [Archive] ↩︎
Last Updated on 2 months by D&C Editorial Team
Why does the seaweed look green in the 3rd photo but yellow in the 2nd photo?
Hello Jin,
Thanks for your question, and this is a really good one. Many people ask the same thing and often believe that the green (or sometimes purple) sea moss is fake. This is not the case. It is actually the result of a different method of processing.
The 3rd photo here shows the sea moss in the original state where it is fresh out of the ocean. This has not been dried or processed at all. The 2nd photo shows a sea moss that has been taken from the ocean (and was originally either green, brown, or purple) and then washed in fresh water (typically) before it has been exposed to a sweating process.
This sweating process is one that is done by typically either placing the sea moss under a clear plastic sheet, or in clear plastic bags and allowing it to sit in the sun. After a few hours the sea moss goes from being any one of these colors to an almost translucent clear, or milky white color. Once this is dried in the sun it loses some (or all) of the translucent appearance. This is what you would normally get when you buy your sea moss from us.
The next point to share with you is the extent of drying. If the sea moss is between 30% and 40% moisture content it can look lighted and much fuller. This will expand and take on a clear or translucent appearance like it would have right after sweating in the clear plastic. Sea moss with a moisture content this high tends to have salt packed with it to help prolong the shelf life. It is the real deal, and these steps are taken to make sure that you get the best quality possible.
When the moisture content is as low as between 5% and 10% you may think that you are getting less sea moss because the bags are smaller and there is less in them. This is not the case. To get the sea moss to this low a level of moisture it is dried in the sun for a much longer period of time. And the bonus is that you need much less to make the normal batch of sea moss gel that you normally would. So a smaller bag of drier sea moss will give you just as much as a bigger bag of wetter sea moss.
This is a point I have been working hard to educate some consumer on as they feel that they are getting less for their money when they first buy sea moss with a much lower moisture content.
To produce 1kg of dried sea moss with a moisture content of between 5% and 10% it takes approximately 20kgs of fresh sea moss. Now that’s quite a lot!
To produce 1kg of dried sea moss with a moisture content of between 30% and 40% it takes approximately 6kgs of fresh sea moss. So this is why your bigger bags of sea moss that look wetter have more in them for the same price per gram if you calculate them, or can seem cheaper.
I would suggest that you consider the following factors to determine if you are getting value for money in your purchase: price per gram and the relative percentage of the moisture content.
That’s quite a bit more than what you first asked about, but I’ve found that these questions go hand-in-hand. I hope this helps you.
I’ve seen purple Eucheuma Cottonii so is this the same as the golden one you have here?
Hello Amanda,
Thank you for your question. Yes, the purple Eucheuma Cottonii (sea moss) can be dried and keep the purple color in it. To make the purple Eucheuma Cottonii (or other olive green and brown colors of sea moss) change to golden or white it needs to be bleached in the sun. This does not include the use of any chemicals, just covering the Eucheuma Cottonii with clear plastic, or putting it in a clear plastic bag, and letting it sit in the full sun light.
If the Eucheuma Cottonii has dried already it will not change color as much (if at all) if you try to do this. It needs to be freshly harvested from the ocean for the best results. I tried this myself the other day when in Vietnam visiting a seaweed farm with their Eucheuma Cottonii and it went from green to almost translucent white in about 3 hours. The water in the bag that dropped out of the seaweed that was sweating in the bag looked milky white and not green at all. The water tasted salty from the sea salt that the Eucheuma Cottonii had absorbed.