What Is Sea Moss? Your 101 Guide To Understanding This Goodie
Unless you live under a rock, you must have heard about sea moss. But what is all the fuss about?
If its mysterious name hasn’t already sparked your curiosity, perhaps its magical-sounding health benefits will. Sea moss is quickly becoming one of the go-to superfoods for people looking to increase their energy, lose weight, and even keep healthy skin and hair. But there's no need to make a wish on a star when it comes to unlocking this nutrient powerhouse. In fact, adding sea moss to your daily routine is easy!
So, in this blog post, we’ll break down what exactly sea moss is and why it should become a staple in your diet.
WTH is sea moss?
If you haven't heard of sea moss yet, you're missing out on all the hype. This superfood has taken the health world by storm and for good reasons. Sea moss, also known as Irish moss, is a type of seaweed that grows along rocky Atlantic coasts. While it may look a bit slimy and unappealing, sea moss is loaded with 92 different nutrients, including iron, magnesium, and calcium, that boost overall health!
This oh-so-awesome seaweed has been used as a beauty and health aid since ancient times. However, it has become extremely viral in recent times and it even has been backed up by many celebs, including Kim Kardashian and Jack Harlow. In fact, it’s a HUGE trend on TikTok nowadays!
But, does sea moss live up to its name or is it just a thing everyone is talking about just to make you spend your bucks? Keep reading and judge for yourself!
Sea moss benefits and side effects: The Do’s and the Don’ts
Benefits
So, what does sea moss do for the body? From boosting immunity to aiding digestion, sea moss has an impressive list of benefits that confirm there’s a lot of truth behind this Internet-fave goodie:
1. Boosts immunity
While you may not have considered it before, having a strong immune system is crucial to keeping yourself in tip-top shape. Think about it: our bodies are constantly barraged by outside invaders - from the common cold to more serious illnesses - and if our immune system isn't up to the task, we're left vulnerable.
In this sense, sea moss has been used in traditional medicine practices for its immune-boosting properties. The secret lies in its high levels of essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin C. This mighty mixture helps to support our natural defense system, making it a great addition to anyone looking to protect their bodies against contagious diseases.
2. Improves gut health
If you're looking for a secret weapon to boost digestion, look no further than sea moss. This potent seaweed packs a punch of prebiotics, which feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut and help maintain a healthy balance of microflora.
But that's not all, sea moss is also rich in soluble fiber, which helps move waste through your digestive system and keeps things running smoothly. Plus, it contains a wide variety of nutrients, including vitamins and minerals like iodine which are often lacking in modern diets and are important for digestion.
3. Supports heart health
Sea moss contains many beneficial vitamins and minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iodine. These components are important for keeping the heart healthy, by regulating blood pressure and helping to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Additionally, sea moss may be able to reduce inflammation in the body, which can help prevent heart-related conditions. Finally, sea moss is a rich source of antioxidants that are known to help combat signs of aging, reduce stress levels and strengthen the immune system, all factors that contribute to overall heart health.
4. Promotes thyroid health
Having a healthy thyroid is essential for overall health and well-being. The thyroid gland regulates how the body uses energy, and it also helps control the metabolism and maintains the healthy functioning of organs like the brain, heart, and muscles. When the thyroid is not functioning properly, it can lead to numerous health problems such as weight gain, fatigue, depression, and infertility.
Irish moss *aka sea moss* is packed with iodine, an essential mineral that enhances thyroid function by regulating the thyroid gland and maintaining healthy hormone levels. Too low or too much iodine can cause all the health problems we mentioned before, however, sufficient iodine intake helps to stimulate the production of these hormones and can improve thyroid health.
5. It’s energizing
One of the greatest benefits of taking sea moss supplements is its ability to boost energy levels. In fact, we can basically say that this seaweed is the Red Bull of the ocean!
Sea moss contains nutrients such as iron and magnesium, which are essential for energy production and can help to combat fatigue and increase energy levels. Additionally, sea moss contains polysaccharides that act as natural energizers while providing lasting sustained energy without the crash experienced with traditional stimulants like caffeine.
So, you can take your sea moss supplement and tackle that to-do list quickly!
6. Reduces high blood sugar
Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid that is found in certain seaweeds, including sea moss. It has been found to have potential benefits in reducing high blood pressure. Studies show that fucoxanthin can help improve the elasticity of arteries, relax vascular muscles and reduce inflammation, all of which can help lower blood pressure.
In addition, fucoxanthin helps to improve insulin sensitivity and increases the activity of adiponectin, a protein hormone associated with lower levels of triglycerides and cholesterol. These factors further contribute to its effectiveness in lowering high blood pressure.
7. Improves skin and hair
The abundance of minerals and vitamins found in sea moss makes it an effective remedy for treating dryness, cracking, rashes, aging signs, and hair loss.
Its high antioxidant content helps reduce wrinkles, fight UV damage and protect the skin and hair from environmental stressors that can make them look lackluster and dry. It also contains vitamins A, B1, B3, and C that promote cell growth and regeneration-perfect for promoting healthy skin and hair.
8. Aids in the weight loss journey
Sea moss has been found to be beneficial for weight loss. It contains a soluble dietary fiber called alginate that can help reduce appetite and keep you feeling full for longer periods of time. This can help prevent overeating and cravings which are common obstacles to successful weight loss.
On the other hand, sea moss is low in calories and carbohydrates, providing an important source of nutrition without excessive caloric intake. Furthermore, the minerals in sea moss contribute to fat metabolism which helps to boost the body's ability to break down fats quickly and efficiently-aiding in successful weight loss results.
9. Vegan-friendly, organic, and cruelty-free
Besides its health benefits for the human body, sea moss is also vegan-friendly, organic, and cruelty-free! This is because the ingredient is a type of seaweed, which is a plant. So, it doesn’t contain any animal or animal by-products!
Side effects: The downsides
Though sea moss is safe to consume because it has low amounts of harmful heavy metals, there are still some side effects people need to be conscious of:
1. Overconsumption of iodine
Too much iodine can be harmful to the thyroid and can lead to hypothyroidism. The thyroid needs only a small amount of iodine in order to produce hormones, but too much iodine can overwhelm the thyroid gland and lead to an overproduction of hormones which can cause various symptoms.
In this sense, taking too much sea moss could lead to an excess of iodine in the body. That’s why it’s important to consult with your doctor before including sea moss supplements in your diet. Also, make sure to take the recommended dose by the manufacturer and don’t overdo it
2. May cause irritation when used topically
If it’s your first time applying sea moss gel on your skin, you may experience some irritation. This is because it’s the first time your skin is in contact with the ingredient, which can cause a reaction, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Our recommendation is that you do a patch test on the skin of your arms before applying the product directly to your face.
3. You may be allergic
Though sea moss has a very low probability of causing allergic reactions, it’s still possible for some people to develop an allergic reaction to the ingredient that can show in the form of rashes, irritation, and itchiness.
It’s better to start slowly if you consume sea moss for the first time. That way you can check your body’s reaction to the ingredient and increase the dose if necessary.
Sea moss during pregnancy: A big yes or a no-no?
For pregnant women, the use of sea moss is beneficial as it can help supply important vitamins and minerals that may otherwise be harder to obtain. Sea moss is rich in iron which is essential during pregnancy as it helps to form red blood cells and transport oxygen throughout the body. Additionally, sea moss provides folate which lowers the risk of birth defects and aids in fetal development. It also contains vital nutrients like calcium and magnesium which are essential for helping build healthy bones and muscles in the developing baby.
However, you need to bear in mind that an excess of any of these nutrients could cause health problems for the mom and the baby, so we can’t explicitly recommend any sea moss products for pregnant or breastfeeding people. That’s why our general advice is to always consult your Health Practitioner, Naturopath, or Pharmacist before including a sea moss product in your diet if you’re expecting.
Is sea moss good for kids?
Kids may benefit from taking sea moss since it contains 90% of the nutrients needed to have a healthy body. Nonetheless, as with any other form of supplementation, you need to consult with your kiddo’s pediatrician before including any type of sea moss supplements into their diet.
How to include sea moss in your daily routine?
With so many potential health benefits of sea moss, we know you’re dying to know how to add sea moss to your life ASAP. Well, sea moss comes and different forms that you can totally include in your day-to-day routine:
1. Sea moss gel
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Simply put, sea moss gel is a nutrient-dense, gelatinous substance made from sun-dried sea moss and water. Plus, our BioVitalica Sea Moss Gel also includes bladderwrack and burdock root to take things to a new level!
The resulting gel can be added to smoothies, soups, stews, and baked goods, it can be taken on its own, or be used as a skin or hair mask!
2. Sea moss capsules
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Sea moss capsules are a supplement derived from red seaweed *aka sea moss*. This is the most common supplement form of sea moss as it’s easy to take and carry around, you just have to pop up a capsule and you’ll be ready to go!
3. Sea moss gummies
All the sea moss benefits in the form of oh-so-yummy gummies? Oh, yes! Sea moss gummies have a soft, bouncy texture and come in different flavors that go from Cherry, Pink Grapefruit, and Watermelon to Orange, Blue Raspberry, Lime, and Green Apple.
They’re the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth while also providing you with the perks of taking sea moss.
4. Raw sea moss
Raw sea moss is basically the ingredient in its pure form but dry. It can be added to food recipes and beverages easily. Plus, you can even prepare sea moss gel with it by letting the sea moss soak in water for a whole night and blending it the next day!
How much sea moss can you consume?
Now that you know what sea moss is and how you can add it to your diet, it’s important to talk about how much of it you can consume to avoid the side effects. We can’t talk for other brands, but here’s how often you can consume BioVitalica’s sea moss products:
- Sea moss gel: one tablespoon up to two times a day
- Sea moss capsules: two capsules one or twice a day
- Sea moss gummies: 2-3 gummies a day
Where to find sea moss products?
Sea moss is the latest craze that has taken the health and wellness world by storm. It's been praised for its abundance of organic benefits, and it's easy to understand why. Loaded with a potent dose of 92 vitamins and minerals, sea moss carries 90% of the basic nutrients everybody needs to be healthy. That’s why every social media platform from Instagram to TikTok is teeming with influencers promoting this oceanic treasure.
You can find sea moss in most health food stores, but, if you want to get products with the highest quality, visit BioVitalica. Whether you want to add sea moss to your recipes or want to take it in the form of capsules and gummies, on our website you’ll find 4 different presentations of sea moss so you can hop on this trend and enjoy the benefits of sea moss at home!
