Uncovering the Potential Health Benefits of Irish Sea Moss – A Complete Nutritional Guide

The human body as we understand it is comprised of 102 minerals. Of those, Sea Moss is believed to contain 92 of them (can vary depending on species, environment, and harvesting factors).

These vitamins and minerals are naturally occurring in a plant based form, making them more easily assimilated into the body without any manufacturing or processing required.

Some of the vitamins, trace minerals, chemicals, and elements typically found in Sea Moss include (but are not limited to):

• Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Iodine, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Selenium, and Vitamins A, B, C, and E
• Other notable nutrients of note include taurine, chlorophyll, insoluble fibers in the form of polysaccharides, and a vegan source of collagen.

Below we'll dive into all the benefits these nutrients possess and how it can help your quality of life. You might notice that many benefits are interrelated, and the underlying nutrients that drive these benefits have several functions... but that's the point!

The body is an intelligent system that can synthesize the naturally occurring foods we have at our disposable to not only feed us, but to heal us. The words of Greek physician Hippocrates said over 2,000 years ago still rings true today:

"Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food"

Table of Contents

1. Heart Health
2. Inflammation & Congestion
3. Blood Circulation
4. Mental Health
5. Immune System
6. Thyroid Support
7. Gut Health & Digestion
8. Libido
9. Fertility
10. Metabolism
11. Appetite Control/Weight Loss
12. Energy
13. Hair, Skin, & Nail Health
14. Post Workout Recovery Tonic

Heart Health

Sea Moss contains many nutrients that support heart health such as folic acid, potassium, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Taurine, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. These nutrients are known to:

• Improve blood circulation and blood vessel strength, which helps to control and regulate blood pressure
• Reduce build up of bad cholesterol that results in clogged blood vessels
• Have strong antioxidant properties that fight free radicals in the body (excess free radicals damage cells in the body through a process called oxidation, which causes disease and aging)
• Taurine is an amino acid that has antioxidant properties and is known to help lower blood pressure and promotes the digestion and absorption of nutrients [1].

Inflammation & Congestion

The Chlorophyll, Omega-3 fatty acids, and Potassium present in Sea Moss plays a role in breaking down and flushing out mucus build up that can cause congestion.

The anti-inflammatory properties reduce inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the respiratory and digestive tracts, as well as the lymphatic system, which is known as your body's "sewage system".

The lymphatic system produces antibodies that protect your body from infection and disease [2], further preventing inflammatory responses.

Blood Circulation

• Sea Moss detoxifies the blood and controlling free-radical damage [3].
• Helps to regulate blood sugar levels [4], particularly useful for diabetics or pre-diabetics.
• Good blood circulation needs a supply of Vitamins A, B-6, B-12 (one of the few vegan sources [5]), and E along with Folic Acid and Iron [6] [7]. Sea Moss provides plenty of these nutrients [8].
• Healthy iron levels has shown to prevent blood clotting [9]. It's important to note that in order for your body to absorb iron, you need to have a sufficient intake of Vitamin C as well.
• Manganese also helps with blood clotting and blood sugar regulation [10].

Mental Health

• Sea Moss helps restore our physiological balance, promoting mental wellness
• Sea Moss contains selenium, which studies show may reduce the potential of mental health issues and depression [11].

• Contains potassium, known as a natural antidepressant

  Potassium also helps regulate serotonin (the happiness hormone) levels and reduces fatigue, pain, muscle weakness, and cramps [12]
• Interestingly, our bodies can't store or produce its own potassium, so we have to make sure we get enough through our diet
• Studies have shown that dietary fibers contained in Seaweeds such as Sea Moss can alter gut bacteria composition and promote mental health [13].

Immune System

On top of the vitamins and minerals Sea Moss contains to support your immune system, it also contains antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and probiotic properties.

Sea Moss can help shield your immune system

• Probiotic properties support good gut health, which strengthens the immune system
• Its' anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties help with illness, infection, and inflammation that can occur in the body for any multitude of reasons
• Sea Moss is rich in Polysaccharides (a type of carbohydrate), an insoluble fiber that helps manage cholesterol [14]
• Polysaccharides support the immune system and assist with containing tumor growth [15

Thyroid Support

The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system that is responsible for producing, storing, and releasing hormones into the bloodstream.

The thyroid supports healthy functioning of the digestive system, heart, cholesterol levels, brain, hormone balance, bones, muscle control, reproductive organs, nervous system, and your metabolism (aka Basal Metabolic Rate). Benefits of a healthy functioning thyroid include:

• Development of unborn children
• Weight management
• Preventing hypothyroidism (an under-active thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (an over-active thyroid) which can lead to autoimmune diseases

Since most thyroid problems come from an iodine deficiency, the naturally occurring iodine in sea moss presents a simple, wholefood method of supporting your thyroid gland [16].

Keep in mind that since seaweed is a natural source of iodine, levels are not consistent and may fluctuate from plant to plant. Selenium also supports healthy thyroid function by converting one type of thyroid hormone into another as needed.

If you take pharmaceutical thyroid medication, consult with your doctor/dietician as this could conflict with Sea Moss's natural properties. Iodine is one of those nutrients that could cause problems in the long-term if one consumes too much or too little of it [17].

Gut Health & Digestion

The anti-inflammatory properties reduce discomfort and support gut health. This can help anyone suffering with constipation, indigestion, leaky gut, and ulcers.

Libido

Libido refers to a person's sexual drive and is affected by hormones and brain function. The zinc present in Sea Moss is important for a healthy reproductive system [20] and also boosts testosterone [21]. Selenium [22] and Iodine [16] assist in healthy thyroid function which helps libido function.

If you're a man struggling with sex drive, consuming libido-increasing foods such as Sea Moss can fill your body with the proper nutrients to increase your sex drive and remove excess mucus that can hamper absorption of these minerals.

Although this may help with impotency, it is only part of the solution and you must strive to also cleanse the body of other impurities to get to the root of the issue. Impurities can accumulate in the body through poor diet, lack of physical activity, and stress.

Studies show that Sea Moss seems to be a safe bet as a natural aphrodisiac that can enhance libido [23].

Fertility

While selenium and iodine are important for thyroid health, zinc and folic acid are important to be consuming, especially for women.

Folic Acid, Selenium, and Iodine [24] are important to consume before, during, and after pregnancy. A thyroid hormone imbalance can lead to menstrual problems and fertility issues.

Metabolism

The metabolism is the body's process of breaking down nutrients present in foods and turning them into energy for the body's cells. After distributing all of the absorbed nutrients, it converts the rest into waste.

• Healthy iodine levels have been shown to offer a natural form of regulating metabolism and hormones [24]
• Taurine promotes the breakdown, digestion, and absorbption of nutrients [1]
• Manganese helps fat and carbohydrate metabolism [25]

Appetite Control/Weight Loss

Seaweeds have a naturally occurring carotenoid called Fucoxanthin that prevents fatty tissue growth and combats obesity. This is something that is currently being researched, but the results so far look promising [26].

The high mineral content in Sea Moss nourishes the body, making it a natural appetite suppressant.

Weight loss is mostly predicated on lower caloric intake, so eating more foods that are high in minerals instead of empty calories (such as processed foods, trans fat, and sugary foods/drinks) is key.

Energy

Another benefit of a properly functioning metabolism is improved energy, as there is less strain on the body's digestive tract and good gut bacteria has been shown to improve your ability to absorb energy from the digested foods [27].

Hair, Skin, & Nail Health

Sea Moss gel can be a very effective part of a skincare routine. The skin is actually our body's largest organ and feeding it a mineral rich substance such as Sea Moss nourishes and hydrates the skin to help with conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, sunburns, and dermatitis.

Sea Moss is a drawing agent in that it flushes out toxins and replenishes it with good minerals. This is where the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties help to naturally heal the skin. Some ways to use our Sea Moss Gel:

• Add a few drops of essential oil and use as a facemask. As a natural collagen, it helps with moisture retention
• Take a bath with generous amounts of Sea Moss gel added along with your preferred essential oils
• One antibacterial property found in many seaweeds is Eicosapentaenoic Acid (aka EPA), which has been shown to help with acne, skin-aging, and skin repair [28] [29] [30]
• Manganese helps to strengthen connective tissues in your hair and nails [25]. Instead of a topical application here, daily ingestion allows your body to absorb from the inside [31]
• Apply directly to dry hair, or use as a conditioner after shampooing
• The fucoidan (a polysaccharide) found in seaweeds may help to prevent hair loss/thinning [32]

Post Workout Recovery

The anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties of Sea Moss help with recovery, making it a great addition to your post-workout protein shake [33]! Furthermore, the collagen proteins help to:

• Repair and fortify the connective tissues that were strained during your physical activity
• Protects and lubricates the joints
• Replaces the minerals your body may have lost while sweating.

This article is meant to provide a reference to having a better understanding of the amazing natural benefits of Sea Moss. We recommend you seek advice from your doctor, dietitian, or functional medicine practitioner before making any diet changes as they can give you more personalized advice. For simple ways to incorporate Sea Moss into your daily life, check out our Sea Moss Recipes article!