If you have a little more time to pamper yourself, you can also add other beneficial ingredients such as honey, turmeric, spirulina, etc.
Sea Moss Gel Benefits
Irish sea moss is a red-colored seaweed that grows on the Atlantic coast, bordering Europe, Ireland, and America. The first recorded use of sea moss was during the Ireland potato famine, when people started to eat the seaweed they found on beaches.
You may also hear sea moss referred to as “the collagen of the sea”. It can be used as a plant-based gelatin substitute or a thickening agent, thanks to its carrageenan content. Carrageenan is a thickener used in low-fat ice cream and almond milk.
Sea moss has been converted into a number of easy-to-consume supplements in recent years. You can now enjoy sea moss in capsule, dried, powder and gel form.
It’s easy to prepare sea moss gel at home if you have access to the right resources. The gel has virtually no flavor and can be added to your foods and beverages of choice.
Sea Moss Gel Uses
Sea moss is most commonly available in supplement form. You can also buy it in raw form, or in pre-made gels, powders, gummies or oral capsules.
For even bigger sea moss benefits, you can combine it with other superfoods and herbal supplements, like turmeric, burdock root, and bladderwrack. The combined properties of these ingredients can boost overall wellbeing, offering benefits to joint health and digestion, as well as immune support.
Sea moss is also ideal as a food-thickening agent. As mentioned earlier in this article, sea moss’s carrageenan content makes it perfect for thickening non-dairy milks, ice cream, cottage cheese, and more.
If you’re looking to thicken smoothies but don’t want to use egg or yogurt, try adding some sea moss gel to your blender. You can also use sea moss in your juices, acai bowls, soups, oatmeal, fruit preserves, sauces, and chia puddings. Sea moss gel can even be used as an egg replacement in some dessert recipes.
Aside from its culinary uses, sea moss gel can also be used topically on your skin and hair. A popular option is to add sea moss gel to your moisturizer. The vitamins and minerals present in this seaweed can be very beneficial to skin health. Similarly, using sea moss as a hair mask should provide your hair with a range of essential nutrients, boosting its shine and strength.
Sea Moss Gel Benefits
More research is needed for us to confirm sea moss’s health benefits. However, some of the emerging positive health effects are as follows:
1. Supports the Immune System
Perhaps the biggest health benefits of sea moss are its immune benefits. Sea moss is a good source of potassium chloride, which prevents unnecessary inflammation in the body.
Sea moss can also reduce infections and have an overall positive impact on immunity. One study found that sea moss has both antiviral and antitumor properties when consumed by humans and animals.
2. Promotes Healthy Hair & Skin
Sea moss is rich in sulfur, which gives it anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Both of these properties can help to fight against acne and signs of skin aging.
When sea moss gel is applied as a face mask, its soothing qualities make it ideal for treating itchy or inflammatory skin conditions, like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Irish sea moss is often used in beauty products for this reason.
Sea moss also contains vitamin E, which fights against oxidative stress – a main contributor to hair loss. Using sea moss as a topical treatment for your hair can help to encourage a healthy scalp and promote thicker hair growth.
3. Supports Respiratory Health
Sea moss is a common ingredient in supplements that support the body’s internal mucus membranes, like the respiratory system.
It’s thought that sea moss’s potassium chloride content makes it effective at treating phlegm and catarrh. It can soothe the mucus membranes and clear the lungs, relieving congestion. This makes sea moss effective for treating chesty coughs and common cold symptoms. It may even be effective at soothing respiratory conditions like asthma.
4. Detoxification Supplement
Detoxing isn’t the act of starving yourself or following a strict juice diet – it’s about eating the right foods to help your body naturally flush out the toxins.
Irish moss is a fantastic ingredient to add to any detox juice or smoothie. Again, it’s the high potassium chloride found in sea moss that acts as a drawing agent, supporting the body in detoxification.
With its antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial content, sea moss won’t add anything nasty to your body, further supporting detoxification.
5. Boosts Gut Health
Irish moss has mucilaginous properties, which have been found to soothe the gut lining. Studies have even found that sea moss acts as a prebiotic, encouraging the growth of good gut bacteria and supporting the healthy function of the gut. This in turn helps to support digestion and immunity.
6. Increases Energy
Low energy is often linked to low iron levels, as iron is needed to produce red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body. Sea moss is a particularly good source of iron, and consuming a small amount of sea moss gel can contribute to your daily RDI for the mineral. If you struggle to get enough iron, try incorporating sea moss into your diet.
7. Supports Weight Loss
Weight loss can only occur when you eat fewer calories than your body requires. Exercising is also essential if you’re trying to lose weight.
While there are no magical foods or supplements for weight loss, research suggests that sea moss may offer some weight loss benefits. It’s a good source of iodine, an essential mineral that helps the thyroid to produce hormones that keep the body in good working order.
Because of sea moss’s thickening nature, it may also be beneficial in helping you feel fuller after meals, similar to flax and chia seeds.
Sea Moss Potential Health Effects
While sea moss is an incredibly healthy natural food, it’s worth being aware of its potential health effects. Perhaps the biggest potential downside is that there hasn’t been much research carried out into the nutritional value of sea moss so far.
Irish moss has a very varied nutritional value, depending on its source, location, and other factors. This can make it difficult to define exactly what sea moss contains, and how much. The fatty acid and micronutrient content of sea moss depends on where it grows.
We know that sea moss is a fantastic source of iodine. However, iodine is one of sea moss’s variable compounds, which means that some sea moss may only contain traces of iodine, while some sea moss contains too much. Iodine overconsumption can be dangerous to human health.
In the long run, too much iodine can cause an underactive thyroid, which may affect your growth and metabolism. Additionally, sea moss is known to absorb high amounts of heavy metals, so sea moss growing in certain locations may increase your risk of heavy metal consumption.
Luckily, the toxicity risk seems to be minimal. A study examining seaweed in Asia and Europe found that the heavy metals present weren’t dangerous enough to pose serious health concerns.
However, it is still recommended that you don’t go overboard with sea moss consumption until we know more about the composition of this seaweed.
How to Make Your Own Sea Moss Gel
To make your own sea moss gel, you’ll need a cup of packed dried sea moss and some water.
Before you get started, thoroughly rinse your cup of sea moss in cold water to remove any lingering ocean debris, like salt and sand.
Next, add your sea moss to a large bowl and fill it with warm water. Leave the sea moss to soak for up to half an hour, then repeat the rinsing process.
Once the sea moss has been rinsed for a second time, add it to a large pot on the stove. Cover the sea moss with water, then switch the heat to high and bring the water to a boil.
Finally, take the pot off the heat and leave for another 20-30 minutes. You should notice that the moss turns translucent yellow and is gelatinous to touch.
To make the sea moss gel, scoop the moss out of the pot and put it in a food processor or blender. Add a quarter-cup of pure, filtered water to the blender, then pulse until the mixture takes on a creamy, smooth consistency. If you want a thinner gel, add more water.
Store your sea moss gel in a glass storage container with an airtight lid. Leave it to cool, then put it in the refrigerator. You can keep sea moss gel for up to 3 weeks. You can also store it in the freezer for up to a year.
It’s best to add up to 2 tablespoons of sea moss gel to your diet per day. You could mix it into a smoothie, juice, or protein shake, depending on your preferences. For a savory alternative, add sea moss gel to your stews and soups. Remember, it can also be used as an egg replacement in vegan recipes.
If you’d rather not use heat to make sea moss gel, you can try out the no-heat method.
Simply rinse your sea moss twice over, then soak it in warm water for up to 36 hours. After rinsing once more, blend the gel with between 1 and 2 cups of water.
Conclusion
Sea moss gel is a particularly intriguing superfood. While we know that this seaweed is certainly very beneficial to our health, there are limited studies to support the information available so far. Sea moss can also vary greatly in nutritional value, depending on where it’s sourced from.
When buying raw sea moss, make sure to find a natural, organic brand with no added ingredients. This will provide you with the best health benefits, with a much-reduced risk of side effects.
9 Benefits Of Sea Moss Gel [And How To Make Your Own]
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Before becoming a famous superfood, sea moss was used as folk medicine in places like Ireland, Scotland, Jamaica and all across the Caribbean for many generations. In these cultures, it was known as a natural remedy to enhance the immune system and overall wellness, soothe the stomach and promote fertility.
But now that sea moss has exploded onto the nutritional scene, so to speak, it’s popping up all over the place in dried, powdered and gel form as well as in skin care products like lotions and face masks.
So, what does this dietary darling have going for it and could you benefit from adding it to your meals and beauty regime? Let’s break down the benefits of sea moss and find out.
What Is Sea Moss?
Sea moss — also known as Chondrus crispus, Irish Moss or Irish Sea Moss — is an edible type of algae or seaweed that grows in tidepools and along rocky coasts, mostly between North America and Europe. It comes in a range of colors, including red, green, yellow, purple, brown and black. You might also hear it be called red seaweed even though it can be a variety of different colors.
And like other sea vegetables, it’s packed with essential minerals and nutrients. In fact, this spiny sea vegetable was commonly consumed during Ireland’s Potato Famine during the 1840s when there was little else to eat.
Vitamins & Minerals Found in Sea Moss
A few of the important nutrients and minerals that this powerhouse contains are:
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Zinc
- Vitamin B2
- Vitamin B9
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Iodine
Sea moss is also high in fiber, amino acids and antioxidants and has antibacterial properties.
Where Does Sea Moss Grow?
You might immediately think of the Caribbean when you think of sea moss, and yes, there is a bunch of wildcrafted sea moss from places like Jamaica or St. Lucia, it grows in other places too!
You will mainly find sea moss along the Atlantic coasts from Europe to North America. But the purple sea moss (Jamaican Sea Moss) or the Irish Sea Moss which we mentioned earlier is found primarily in the Caribbean region.
How Much Sea Moss to Take
As we mentioned, there are tons of health benefits to sea moss, but how much is safe to consume?
It is safe to have 4-8 grams or 1-2 tablespoons daily. Eating more than that could have an effect on your iodine levels and cause some health issues. If you stick to the daily recommended amount though, you will be just fine!
What Does Sea Moss Taste Like?
If you have ever eaten seaweed as a snack, it will be pretty similar to sea moss. Some people describe raw sea moss as having an earthy, fishy or salty taste. The good thing is if you don’t like the taste just throw it into your smoothie, salad dressing or soup and you’ll never taste it!
Benefits of Sea Moss
So what can sea moss do for you specifically? While there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence and a long tradition as a folk medicine behind it, science hasn’t proved all the purported benefits of this sea vegetable yet.
However, there have been studies on the health benefits of other seaweeds. And because sea moss does grow in a similar environment, some of the same properties may also apply to this particular form of algae.
Here are a few of the potential advantages:
1. Increased Immunity
Because sea moss is rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, nutrients and antiviral plus antimicrobial properties, it could boost your immunity and help you fight off infections, similarly to the effects elderberry has on helping you keep a healthy immune system.
2. Increased Energy
B vitamins help you unlock the energy stored in foods and are also key in the formation of DNA. Sea moss contains B2 (riboflavin), which breaks down food, and B9 (folate), which helps to build genetic material. Sea moss also contains B12, which combines with folate to form red blood cells.
Add it all up, and you have the perfect combination for higher levels of energy!
3. Aids in Weight Loss
The more energy you have the more likely you are to exercise and work out. But that’s not the only way sea moss aids in weight loss.
Fiber-rich foods make us feel fuller for a longer period of time, and since sea moss is high in fiber, it can help prevent overeating, which will also help you lose weight.
4. Improved Digestion
When made into a gel, sea moss has a slimy, gelatinous quality (like soaked chia seeds or aloe) that’s very soothing to mucous membranes like the digestive and respiratory tracts.
In animal studies, sea moss was shown to have a prebiotic effect, which means it helps to fight off bad bacteria in the intestines so that healthy bacteria can thrive. And that helps to improve your overall gut health and immunity.
5. Improved Emotional Health and Brain Function
Sea moss is packed with magnesium and potassium, which boost your mood and play a key role in brain function. If you’re low on these minerals, you could find yourself feeling irritable.
More studies are needed, but there’s even some evidence that sea moss may help in slowing down Parkinson’s disease by protecting brain tissue. Now there’s some food for thought!
6. Improved Thyroid Function
The thyroid is a vital gland, as it controls your hormones, mood, appetite, metabolism and more.
To function properly, it needs iodine, one of the many minerals found in sea moss. (People on thyroid medication, however, may need to proceed with caution when taking sea moss, a point will discuss later in this article).
7. Healthier Skin and Hair
Because sea moss is rich in sulfur, it has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help combat acne and aging skin. When applied as a mask, it has a very soothing quality that some people even use to help with eczema, dermatitis, burns and psoriasis.
Citrulline-arginine, another compound in sea moss, releases amino acids that synthesize collagen, which helps to keep your hair and skin healthy.
8. Better Cardiovascular Health
Sea moss gel is heart-healthy because of its fiber content. It can help lower your cholesterol and improve blood sugar levels, which can reduce your risk for heart disease and diabetes.
9. High in Nutrients
For vegans and those on a gluten-free diet, sea moss is a powerful source of nutrients. Added to smoothies, soups, or baked goods, it’s an easy way for people with certain dietary restrictions to get some of the vitamins and minerals they may be missing.
Things To Know Before You Try Sea Moss
While more research needs to be conducted, early studies on sea moss and other seaweed types suggest that Irish moss does have health benefits. But just like seaweed, its nutritional properties can vary depending on the season and where it grows. And that makes it difficult to determine exactly what nutrients it contains and in what amounts.
Who Should Not Take Sea Moss
Like most things, it is best you stay away from sea moss if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
It is best to stay away from sea moss if you are on any blood thinning medication as well.
With certain types of thyroid health conditions, for example, too much iodine can be detrimental. So if you fall into this category, it’s best to talk to your doctor and proceed with caution before trying sea moss. Though it’s rare, even for people with normal thyroid function, too much iodine can result in an enlarged thyroid gland or a goiter.
It’s also very important to be on the lookout for allergic reactions with any supplement you take. If you’re nauseous or have an itchy throat after consuming sea moss, stop taking it and see a doctor.
It’s also important to keep in mind that even though supplements (superfood or not) bring overall nutritional value to your life, they do not offer a ‘cure-all’ for your health and beauty needs. If you want to see results, you will need to be consistent about taking sea moss.
That being said, don’t overdo it! 1 to 2 tablespoons per day is usually the suggested serving.
As always, your healthcare provider will be the best person to check with if you are interested in trying sea moss.
Sea Moss Side Effects
Like anything, there could be some side effects when trying out a new superfood. Everyone reacts differently, but you know your body best and it is important to check out what side effects could arise.
A few common side effects to be aware of include:
- Upset stomach (vomiting or diarrhea)
- Red/irritated skin (burning or itching)
- Increased iodine levels
- Burning (mouth, skin, throat)
- Inflamed thyroid
A Word About Carrageenan
Sea moss is high in Carrageenan, which is what gives it that gelatinous quality. Used as a thickening agent in many commercial foods, this ingredient has gotten a bad rap in recent years for intestinal inflammation, among other things.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that carrageenan is a highly refined extract of sea moss and not a whole food. In other words, they’re not the same. Saying that they are the same substance is akin to saying that high fructose corn syrup is the same as organic corn.
Unlike chemically processed carrageenan, sea moss is chock full of vitamins and minerals and is considered safe to eat.
Forms of Sea Moss
Sea moss is sold in several ways, including powders, gels and its raw and dried form. Many people prefer to make their own gel from the dried variety because it doesn’t really have a taste. It can then be added to things like smoothies, juices, yogurt, soups, stews, etc.
We’ll cover how to make your own sea moss gel down below, but first, let’s talk about the organic and wild varieties.
Organic vs. Wild Sea Moss
In many cases, health enthusiasts may think that anything organic is automatically better. This may not be the case with sea moss. In fact, so-called organic sea moss is usually grown in artificial salt pools and doesn’t have the same nutritional content as sea moss farmed in the wild.
Furthermore, organic sea moss most often contains preservatives and can have a saltier taste than wild sea moss because of the pools it’s grown in.
If you’re concerned about things such as heavy metals or other toxins of a wild, ocean-farmed variety, be sure to buy a quality product that’s been third-party tested for impurities. Look for labels with United States Pharmacopeia (USP), National Science Foundation (NSF), UL Empowering Trust (UL) or Consumer Lab stamps. That way, you’ll know that the product is safe and that the label matches the content.
How to Make Your Own Sea Moss Gel
Now that you know all about the benefits of sea moss, here’s how to make your gel:
- Open your package of dried sea moss and rinse it with filtered or spring water.
- Next, place it in a glass bowl and fill it with water. Let the sea moss soak for between 4 and 8 hours.
The sea moss should about double in size when it’s ready and will also lose some of its coloring.
- Drain all the water from the bowl and place the sea moss in a blender with fresh filtered or spring water.
- Blend until completely smooth.
- Pour the gel into a glass container with a top and store it in the refrigerator until it solidifies.
*Note: some people prefer to use a sprouting lid or cheesecloth instead of a tight-seal lid as they claim it allows the gel to breathe, which helps it to last longer.
How to store sea moss gel
Sea gel will typically last from 2 to 4 weeks in the refrigerator. And it can even be frozen, in which case it will last anywhere from 3 to 6 months.
How to Use Sea Moss Gel in Your Beauty Regime
Beauty starts from the inside out with good nutrition, but sea moss also has benefits for your skin and hair when used as a mask because of its high nutrient and mineral content (including sulfur).
Again, because of its high sulfur content and anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, sea moss is wonderful for both acne and aging skin. It’s also moisturizing and very soothing.
Here are some ways to incorporate sea moss into your beauty routine.
Using Sea Moss Gel as a Face Mask
Sea moss gel can be used by itself when you want to pamper your skin or can be combined with other ingredients. To use sea moss gel on its own, simply apply a small amount to your clean face and allow it to dry for about 15 to 20 minutes.
You’ll notice that your skin feels tighter, and that’s a good thing. After 20 minutes, you can rinse with lukewarm water and apply your favorite moisturizer.
If you have a little more time to pamper yourself, you can also add other beneficial ingredients such as honey, turmeric, spirulina, etc.
Here’s an example of a recipe you may want to try:
- ½ teaspoon maca powder
- ½ teaspoon spirulina powder
- ½ turmeric powder
- 1 tsp bentonite clay powder
- 1 to 2 tbs sea moss gel
First, combine all of your dry ingredients in a bowl. You’ll want to proceed with a little caution as some of the powders stain. It’s best to wear a dark t-shirt or an old one that you don’t mind getting dirty.
Next, add your sea moss gel until it’s thick enough to stay on your face without dripping.
Now wash your entire face and apply the mask. Let it stay on your face for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Then rinse with lukewarm water and apply any serums or moisturizers you like.
Using Sea Moss Gel as a Hair Mask
Sea moss can also be used to soothe your scalp, condition your strands and give your hair some extra shine. For a simple approach, use your prepared sea moss gel and work 2 to 3 tablespoons through your clean, damp hair.
You can put on a plastic shower cap and let the gel stay in your hair for at least 15 minutes or longer. Rinse when you’re ready and apply your usual styling products.
Want to get creative? Try adding ingredients like argan oil, avocado or essential oils like rosemary.
If you’re going to make your own sea moss gel, you may as well use it wherever your can. You can also add it to your shower gel or shampoo to make them extra moisturizing!
Time to Gel
As you can see, there are so many different ways to incorporate sea moss into your diet and beauty routine. Yes, more studies are needed to nail down all the specific benefits. But with a few hundred years of folk medicine behind it (not to mention recent day fans), this super-powered seaweed definitely seems to have something going for it.
If you do decide to give it a try, purchase a quality product that’s been third-party tested for impurities and talk to your doctor if you’re taking any medications. Your overall health is important and it is best to check with your doctor before trying anything new.
Use your sea moss gel consistently, and you could find yourself glowing from the inside out!
The 9 Health Benefits of Sea Moss:
- Increased Immunity
- Increased Energy
- Aids in Weight Loss
- Improved Digestion
- Improved Emotional Health and Brain Function
- Improved Thyroid Function
- Healthier Skin and Hair
- Better Cardiovascular Health
- High in Nutrients
Posted September 9, 2022 in Health & Wellness category
Sherry De Alba
Sherry De Alba
Sherry is a freelance writer who worked as an actor before transitioning to an award-winner career in advertising. During a vacation to Mexico, she fell in love and never left. Sherry (aka Cherita) now spends her time bouncing between the US and Mexico writing, running, cooking, meditating and exploring lots of cool stuff on the other side of the wall.
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