WHAT IS IRISH SEA MOSS?
In recent years, there has been a heightened interest in what is referred to as Irish Sea Moss. What is Irish Sea Moss and how can it contribute to your health?
Irish Sea moss is a red seaweed that grows along the Atlantic coasts of the United States and Europe. It also grows near the coasts of Ireland where it is reported to have been first used as a food, thus the name “Irish Sea Moss.” It has been historically used as a source of carrageenan which is a thickening agent used in food preparation.
Like seaweeds in general, Irish Sea Moss is a good source of a wide range of nutrients. Research has shown sea moss to have around 92 different vitamins, minerals and other nutritional components that the body uses to maintain health. It has been found to be especially abundant in calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfur and iodine.
Seaweeds have over time developed vigorous defense systems against a variety of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and other organisms that threaten our health. In a 2013 study reported on in PubMed Central, it was found that extracts from red seaweed provided protection against pathogens used in the research. There have been studies showing that dietary supplementation with seaweed extracts is associated with a decrease in the risk for breast cancer. Consumption of seaweeds have shown activity against cancer, diabetes, and various cardiovascular disorders. This appears to largely be the case because sea moss is a good source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. These substances protect our body tissues from oxidative damage.
A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that sea moss contains a significant amount of iron. Iron is a very important mineral to the production and function of red blood cells. Red blood cells facilitate oxygen delivery to every cell in the body. Lack of sufficient Iron in the diet can lead to what is referred to as iron deficiency anemia, a condition that can lead to fatigue and general weakness.
Sea moss has been shown to be a good source for prebiotics. Probiotics are the healthy bacteria that live in our intestinal tract. Prebiotics are foods high in fiber that feed the probiotics. A study published in the BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies journal found that sea moss aided in a balanced gut microbiome and helped reduce the number of pathogenic bacteria.
Most significant is the presence of an abundant supply of the mineral iodine in sea moss. Iodine is necessary to the proper function of the thyroid gland. Lack of enough iodine in the diet can lead to thyroid malfunction which negatively affects overall metabolism. May Americans are deficient in iodine. Supplementing with Irish Sea Moss can contribute to better thyroid function.
At Milk ‘N Honey we carry Irish Sea Moss in capsule, powder and liquid formats.