What is Irish Sea Moss Good For?

Along the cold, rugged coastlines of the North Atlantic, a reddish-brown, frilly-leaved water plant clings to the rough rocks. If you spotted it on your beachcombing trip, you’d never suspect you were looking at a food source brimming with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Luckily for us, someone centuries ago recognized Irish sea moss for its wealth of health benefits. But what exactly are its benefits? and Is Irish sea moss good for you?

Spoiler alert: it is.

Read on to find out whether this slippery sea vegetable should become a part of your wellness journey.

Irish Sea Moss: The Superfood of the Sea

So what are sea vegetables? Irish sea moss is a type of sea vegetable and has traditionally been an important food source in Ireland. Due to its availability and nutrient density, it played a key role in seeing the Irish people through the days of the potato famine.

Packed with antioxidants, omega-3s, and a host of other healthy compounds, organic Irish sea moss is poised to take its place alongside kale, acai, and blueberries as the next big superfood. Many people also question if there is a difference between Irish moss vs sea moss. While there are several types of sea moss, they both can be used interchangeably.

What’s In It?

Irish moss gets its distinctive color from a powerful antioxidant called fucoxanthin. Antioxidants such as this one are crucial for immune support and protection from free radical damage. 

However, antioxidants are just the start. Irish sea moss is also full of other important nutrients, including:

• Iodine – Iodine is a nutrient that’s essential to the functioning of metabolism, nerves, and the skeletal system. It isn’t always the easiest to obtain through typical dietary sources—as such, most of us rely on iodized salt.

• High levels of protein and amino acids – One study found that sea moss may support the musculoskeletal system, resulting in reduced fatigue, exhaustion, and supports healthy discomfort levels, possibly due to the protein and amino acid content. The taurine in organic Irish sea moss may also aid in muscle recovery after a workout.

• Numerous vitamins and minerals – Sea moss is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, and more.

Potential Health Benefits of Irish Sea Moss

Besides supplying antioxidants, amino acids, and minerals, what are the benefits of Irish sea moss good for?

Irish sea moss contains many of the same compounds found in seaweed, which have been linked to several health benefits ranging from workout recovery to weight loss. Although it hasn’t been studied as widely as edible seaweed, Irish sea moss is likely to have many of the same effects.

Let’s look at a few more of the possible health benefits.

#1 May Support Heart Health

We’ve all heard about including omega-3 fatty acids in our diets to support heart health. But if you’re not a fan of eating fish, or taking fish oil capsules, this can be tough to do. Irish sea moss is loaded with omega-3s, making it a viable alternative source.

#2 May Help Support The Immune System

Although more research is required to determine its effectiveness in humans, a study of Atlantic salmon found that fish that consumed this sea vegetable had better immune function than those that did not. This may mean that sea moss can support the immune system and overall health and wellness.

#3 May Help With Wight Management

The antioxidant we mentioned before, fucoxanthin, appears to assist in weight management. This theory has been studied in edible seaweed, and the results showed a significant reduction in total body fat in participants who took a seaweed supplement.

#4 Could Provide Support for Gut Health

With a higher fiber content than most vegetables, utilizing an Irish sea moss supplement in your daily routine could help support a healthy digestive system. It may also have a prebiotic effect that can support the overall health of the gut biome.

How Can I Consume Irish Sea Moss?

Irish sea moss is available in several forms, including sea moss gel, sea moss powder, or sea moss capsule. If opting to consume Irish sea moss powder form, we recommend:

• Preparing it as a tea or tincture
• Mixing it into smoothies, yogurt, or juice
• Sprinkling it over cereal
• Stirring it into oatmeal
• Using it as a thickener in soups and stews

One key piece of information to remember before overloading your diet with powdered sea moss: Because of its high iodine content, those with hyper- or hypothyroidism should consult a physician before taking an Irish sea moss supplement.

Furthermore, the FDA recommends less than 225 micrograms of iodine per day for a healthy adult, which generally means no more than one to two servings of Irish sea moss per day.

Bring Irish Sea Moss Into Your Healthy Diet with Starwest Botanicals

With the natural health care world buzzing about this up-and-coming superfood, it’s an opportune time to add it to your wellness routine. Whatever health benefit you are aiming for such as heart health, immune system support, workout recovery, or boosting gut health, Irish sea moss could play an integral part.

Here at Starwest Botanicals, we provide only USDA Certified Organic powdered Irish sea moss, so you can wholeheartedly trust the quality of the product you’ll receive. Start shopping with confidence and peace of mind today.

Sources:

Nutrients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7469045/

International Food Additive Council. Irish Moss: The History of Carrageenan’s Roots.

https://www.foodingredientfacts.org/irish-moss-the-history-of-carrageenans-roots/