What Is Irish Sea Moss and where does it come from?
Irish Sea Moss also known as Chondrus crispus or carrageen moss, is a type of seaweed that grows in the cold waters along the rocky coasts along the North Atlantic, Europe, and the Irish coast. This plant has a distinctive, purplish-red colour, belonging to the Rhodophyta group of algae.
Traditional use:
According to historical data, Irish sea moss was first discovered in 1835. It was traditionally valued as a fruit of the sea that was thought to cure tuberculosis and pneumonia. During the Irish Potato Famine in to 1800’s, Irish people consumed sea moss for its nutrient dense benefits and the name ‘Irish sea moss’ remained.
Nutrients in Sea Moss:
Irish sea moss is a nutrient dense containing a wide range of vitamins and minerals. Some of the key nutrients include.
- Iodine: Iodine is an essential mineral that is important for thyroid function and metabolism.
- Antioxidants: Irish sea moss contains antioxidants such as carotenoids and flavonoids, which can help protect cells from damage by free radicals.
- Polysaccharides: Irish sea moss is rich in polysaccharides, which are complex sugars that have a range of health benefits, including improved gut health and reduced inflammation.
- Vitamins: Irish sea moss contains vitamins such as A and C, as well as some B vitamins.
- Minerals: Irish sea moss is a good source of minerals such as calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, and potassium.
The U.S Department of Agriculture states that 2 tablespoons of raw sea moss (10g) provides an array of vitamins and minerals including:
- Calcium 7.2 mg
- Iron 0.9 mg
- Magnesium 14.4 mg
- Potassium 6.3 mg
- Zinc 0.19 mg
- Folate 18.2 mg
- Vitamin A 11.8 IU
- Choline 1.3 mg
*It's important to note that the nutritional content of Irish sea moss can vary depending on the conditions in which it grows, such as the amount of sunlight, water temperature, and the presence of pollutants. To ensure that you are getting the maximum nutritional benefits from Irish sea moss, look for a good source that is high-quality, organic, and sustainably harvested.
What Are The Health Benefits of Irish Sea Moss?
1. May Support Immunity
A study found that dietary seaweeds provoked a more efficient immune response. A blend of seaweeds, including sea moss helped to increase the expression of genes involved in response to lipopolysaccharide and inflammatory response. Sea moss is packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which are important in boosting our immune systems and fighting infections.
2. May Improve Gut Health
Polysaccharides from marine algae like sea moss play an important role in playing probiotic-like functions to maintain gut microbiota. The gut microbiota contains a diverse population of microorganisms which play a crucial role in overall health by impacting digestion, metabolism, immune function, and mental health.
3. May Help To Lower Cholesterol Levels
Fucosterol is the most abundant type of plant sterol is found in many types of algae, with higher contents in red and brown algae. This type of sterol has been linked to being able to positively lower cholesterol levels. Fucosterol exhibits various biological therapeutics, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-fungal, anti-histaminic, anti-cholinergic, anti-adipogenic, anti-photodamaging, anti-osteoporotic, blood cholesterol reducing, blood vessel thrombosis preventive, and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities.
4. May Help To Improve Skin Appearance and Health
The rhodophyta group which sea moss belongs to may help to support functions in the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin to prevent skin damage from oxidative stress and skin ageing from things like UV rays and pollution.
5. Can Support Thyroid Health
Irish sea moss is a rich dietary source of Iodine which is known to support thyroid health. An inadequate thyroid hormone production can cause a range of deficiencies causing tiredness, weight gain, and muscle weakness to name a few.
However, it is important note that an excessive intake of iodine can come with risks. The NHS recommend that adults consume no more than 140ug of Iodine daily.
What Is A Good Source of Irish Sea Moss?
It is important to search for a good source of Irish sea moss for supplementation as some sources can contain traces of toxic elements through the exposure of pollutants in the sea.
Kiki Health Organic Sea Moss contains 100% raw Irish sea moss (Chondrus crispus) that has been air dried at a low temperature and ground into a fine powder to create capsules without the use of fillers, preservatives, or synthetics. This sea moss is sourced sustainably off the coast of Ireland and is naturally abundant in iodine to support energy-yielding metabolism, the nervous system, maintenance of normal skin, and normal production of thyroid hormones and normal thyroid function.
