Benefits of Sea Moss (Chondrus crispus)
Updated: Oct 29, 2022
8/26/2021 by Octavia with Live by Soil
Sea moss (commonly called Irish Sea moss), an algae that has been scientifically proven to promote healthy weight loss, help you build lean muscle, rev up energy and metabolism as well as super-charge your immune system. One serving of sea moss provides most of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs in a day to be its healthiest.
Sea moss is plentiful in potassium iodide that dissolves phlegm, making it beneficial for those suffering with colds, allergies and asthma. It also contains amino acids, antioxidants, vitamin C, and natural antimicrobial and antiviral agents that are helpful in fighting infections.
Because sea moss is rich in sulfur, it has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help combat acne and aging skin.
Sea moss can also be useful to people who suffer from acne or oily skin. ... "Sea moss may also help reduce wrinkles, hydrate the skin and protect from environmental elements because it contains essential elements that make up the human body, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin K" says Dr. Karen Hammerman, dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Garden City, NY. "The high sulfur content can also decrease the excessive production of sebum in the skin. Together with the antibacterial effect on P. Acnes bacteria [which causes acne], it may help reduce the severity of acne in people who suffer from this condition."
Sea Moss is not only great for ingesting, but it does wonders for your skin. Because sea moss helps your body produce collagen, it has been nicknamed “vegan collagen”. Of course, you can ingest it and glow from the inside out, but you can also apply it directly to your face for even more of a glow. Used as a mask, sea moss tightens, softens, and pulls toxins from the face, leaving you with healthier looking skin, immediately.
Nutritional information
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) FoodData CentralTrusted Source, 2 tablespoons (tbsp) or a 10 gram (g) serving of sea moss contains approximately:
calories: 4.9
protein: 0.2 g
fat: 0 g
carbohydrates: 1.2 g
sugars: 0.1 g
The same serving of sea moss also contains these vitamins and minerals:
calcium: 7.2 milligrams (mg)
magnesium: 14.4 mg
phosphorous: 15.7 mg
potassium: 6.3 mg
iron: 0.9 mg
zinc: 0.2 mg
copper: 0.02 mg
manganese: 0.04 mg
Similar to other sea vegetables, sea moss is a natural source of the mineral iodine. Research posted to the Journal of Medicinal Food notes that sea moss contains about 47 mg of iodine per gram.
Supporting weight loss
Seaweeds may help support weight loss. In a 12-week study of 78 adults, those who took 1,000 milligrams of red seaweed extract per day had a significant reduction in total body fat mass and body weight than the placebo group.
Research posted to Marine Drugs also notes that a compound in many seaweeds called fucoxanthin shows promise in helping to break down and metabolize fat. Weight loss effects may vary with each type of seaweed, and much of the research focuses on isolated compounds, rather than the effects of sea moss generally.
Supporting thyroid health
Diets rich in iodine may support thyroid health. The thyroid needs this mineral to create and use important hormones in the body. Without enough iodine, the thyroid may not function properly and could cause metabolic issues.
As a natural source of iodine, types of sea algae such as sea moss may help prevent iodine deficiency.
Supporting gut health
Sea moss may have prebiotic effects which could play a role in improving the health of the gut microbiome.
Supporting immune health
The gut relates to the immune system. A diet rich in prebiotic, fiber-rich foods such as sea moss may help promote a healthy immune system.
Research posted to BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies found higher levels of immune antibodies in rats who had eaten sea moss. Further research in humans could help support these findings.
How to prepare
Sea moss lends itself well to a number of recipes and ways of preparation.
Sea moss in a raw, dried form can help thicken soups and stews.
Making a sea moss gel is a useful way to add sea moss to the diet. Using dried sea moss, soak the sea moss in water overnight. Rinse the sea moss off, and add it to a blender with clean water. Blend the mixture until smooth, and store it in a covered container. Put the covered mixture in the refrigerator to gel overnight.
This gelled mixture makes a simple addition to foods that need thickening, or people can eat it as a supplement. The shelf life will vary based on factors such as storing temperature and cleanliness of the preparation tools.
People can also add powdered sea moss to juices and smoothies and sprinkle it over yogurt or cereal. Adding powdered sea moss to soups or stews may have a similar thickening effect as using it in gel form.