Over the last few years, sea moss has gained much attention. You’ve likely heard or seen information about it while browsing social media platforms, watching different television programs, or overheard individuals having conversations about it. However, despite how popular sea moss is today, many people still don’t understand exactly what it is and what it can do for you. Therefore, we’ll explain what sea moss is and why you should add it to your self-care routine.
What Is Sea Moss?
Sea moss, sometimes referred to as Chondrus crispus, or Eucheuma cottonii is a type of edible seaweed or algae that’s found in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It grows year-round on and along rocky coasts and comes in different shades of red, yellow, green, purple, black, and even brown.
The color sea moss takes on largely depends on the temperature of the water and local climate. For instance, in areas where the water is warmer, you’ll typically find that sea moss is red and often referred to as Irish moss. Red sea moss is the most commonly used commercially and is what most people are familiar with when they think about this beneficial seaweed.
The Highly Sought After Ingredient in Sea Moss: Carrageenan
Now, you’re probably still wondering, what is it about sea moss that makes people want it? Well, it turns out that sea moss is a natural source of carrageenan and is one of the main reasons it’s harvested. Carrageenan makes up the cell wall of red seaweed and is considered a carbohydrate. In order to extract carrageenan, the plant must be boiled so it can absorb the water and form a jelly. The jelly happens to bind very well with protein. Therefore it’s frequently used to thicken, emulsify, and preserve various foods and drinks. This may be new information to you, but carrageenan has been used in food production and cooking for hundreds of years.
In fact, if you’re vegan or vegetarian, take a look at the ingredients list of your favorite plant-based foods. It’s very possible that you’ll see carrageenan there. This is because it’s sometimes used to replace gelatin, which is made from animal parts. It’s also not uncommon to use carrageenan in various milk, meat, and processed food products. Examples of food in which you might find this ingredient include canned soups, deli meats, almond milk, whipping cream, and frozen pizzas.
Common Uses of Sea Moss Today
Although the carrageenan found in sea moss has primarily been used in the production of food by manufacturers, today, consumers like you can use it in different ways. For instance, if you purchase raw St. Lucia sea moss, like what’s provided by the Derek Product, you can ingest it or put it on your skin. The sea moss gel can easily be added to delicious smoothies, refreshing teas, various vegetables, nutritious salads, and more. In addition, you can apply sea moss to your skin during baths or use it to make a luxurious face mask to help hydrate your skin.
The Nutrients in Sea Moss
One reason individuals look to sea moss is that it is full of vitamins and minerals that can benefit your overall health. The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that two tablespoons of sea moss, which is one serving, contain almost:
- 4.9 calories
- 0.2 grams of protein
- 0 grams of fat
- 1.2 grams of carbohydrates
- 0.1 grams of sugar
Because sea moss is naturally low in fat, calories, and sugars, it’s an ideal ingredient to add to various food products. In addition, sea moss is chock full of vitamins and minerals your body needs to function correctly. Some of those nutrients include:
- 7.2 mg of calcium
- 0.02 mg of copper
- 0.9 mg of iron
- 15.7 mg of phosphorus
- 6.3 mg of potassium
- 14.4 mg of magnesium
- 0.04 mg of manganese
Very few products contain that many nutrients in just two tablespoons, so a little bit of sea moss goes a long. It’s also important to note that sea moss contains approximately 47 milligrams of iodine per gram. Our body needs iodine to create protein, maintain enzyme activity, and regulate metabolism. Additionally, red seaweed has antioxidant properties, which may help fend off oxidative damage to the cells.
The Potential Benefits of St. Lucia Sea Moss
Now that you know what sea moss is, its use, and its nutrients, it’s time to discuss its benefits. Below, we will explore the many benefits that St. Lucia Sea Moss may provide you.
#1 Sea Moss May Help You Lose Weight
As mentioned earlier, St. Lucia sea moss is very low in sugar, fat, and calories, so if you want to lose weight, this may help. One way it can help you lose weight is by making you feel fuller than you actually are. This is because the body can’t digest the compound carrageenan due to its gel-like form; therefore, it delays how fast your stomach empties its contents. As a result, you feel feeler and thus eat less.
Research also shows that carrageenan may potentially halt weight gain. A study done on animals showed that carrageenan may help reduce body fat by:
- Lessening the creation of fat cells
- Increasing the breakdown of stored fat
- Lowering dietary fat absorption and,
- Promoting the fat-burning effect of brown adipose tissue
The other benefit of taking St. Lucia Sea Moss when trying to lose weight is its potential prebiotic effect. It could possibly improve your gut health by increasing good bacteria and reducing bad ones. The bacteria in your gut impacts your weight because it regulates how your body expends and stores energy. So overall, it’s worth it to give St. Lucia Sea Moss a try if you’re looking to potentially lose weight and boost your health.
#2 Sea Moss May Be Heart-Healthy
Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States? Heart disease is a major public health issue worldwide, so it’s worth it to look into preventative techniques that may be able to decrease such issues. Fortunately, sea moss may be an option.
Sea moss is considered a superfood, which isn’t surprising given the nutrients packed into just one serving. Many people don’t know this, but seaweed is known as one of the best plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids in the world. Omega-3 fatty acids are classified as an essential nutrient; therefore, we need them in order to survive. Unfortunately, it’s the type of fat that our body cannot make on its own, so we have to look to outside sources, like sea moss, to obtain it. The omega-3 fatty acids found in St. Lucia Sea Moss may be beneficial to your cardiovascular system by:
- Decreasing blood pressure
- Reducing triglycerides
- Lessening the chance of an abnormal heart rhythm
- Slowing the formation of plaque in the arteries
- And more!
Studies also put forward that seaweed may improve cholesterol levels and perform like a blood thinner, thus reducing the risk of heart disease. While more research is certainly needed on the impact of sea moss on our cardiovascular health, what’s been reviewed thus far seems promising.
#3 Sea Moss May Help Manage Blood Sugar Levels
Another public health issue that you should be concerned about is diabetes. In the United States, at least 37.3 million individuals have diabetes, and over 8.5 million adults don’t even realize they have it. On top of that, there are 96 million Americans over the age of 18 that fall into the prediabetic category, which is also very serious. Diabetes can cause a number of additional health complications, such as chronic kidney disease, nerve damage, oral health issues, challenges with hearing and vision, as well as heart disease. As a result, it’s critical to find solutions to alleviate this concern.
It’s very possible that sea moss may help prevent or manage diabetes. There’s a substance in Irish moss called fucoxanthin. Fucoxanthin is a member of the carotenoid family and is also an antioxidant. Some studies have shown that this antioxidant can help manage blood sugar levels. It assists the body with responding to insulin more effectively so your body can control its own blood sugar with less work. For individuals with diabetes, this is huge! To date, mostly animal studies have been completed, but human studies are needed to see just how impactful this could be. It’s likely that the fucoxanthin possibly found in St. Lucia Sea Moss may help stave off blood sugar spikes or crashes.
#4 Sea Moss May Improve Gut Health
Earlier, we mentioned how St. Lucia Sea Moss could help individuals lose weight by regulating the good and bad bacteria in one's gut. However, our gut health is responsible for much more than helping you lose weight. Your gut health influences your entire body. It sends signals to the brain based on the food it receives. Therefore, if you’re consuming unhealthy foods, your gut will alert the brain, which may trigger undesirable responses like acne, joint pain, depression, anxiousness, and more. However, the opposite can also occur. If you’re eating healthy foods and adding sea moss to your diet, you’ll create a more favorable environment for your gut. To put it simply, whatever your gut feels, the whole body feels too.
Adding seaweed to your diet is a great way to get some additional fiber, specifically polysaccharides. The bacteria in the gut are able to digest polysaccharides and act as a food source for these gut microbes. By giving our good gut bacteria nourishment, it may help us achieve better health.
#5 Sea Moss May Enhance Your Immune System
Our immune system holds the big responsibility of protecting our bodies from various germs like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins. There are two parts of the immune system: innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is essentially what you’re born with and includes physical barriers inside and outside the body, like your skin. Acquired immunity is immunity you develop over your lifetime. For instance, when your immune system is exposed to a germ for the first time, it learns how to fight it off. Therefore, if your body is exposed to that same invader again, it’ll be equipped with new antibodies and better able to defend itself.
There are ways to boost your immunity as well by consuming nutrients your body needs and could potentially be lacking. Given that St. Lucia Sea Moss is full of vitamins and minerals, it may be a great addition to your immune-fighting toolbox. For instance, the iron in sea moss alone helps with the proliferation and maturation of immune cells. Your cells need iron to sustain their function and metabolism. If you have an iron deficiency, you affect your body’s natural defense system. Therefore it’s best to have enough of it, so your immune system works properly.
Two other nutrients found in sea moss that could help your immune system are Vitamin B and Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is necessary for red blood cell production, which ensures that the immune system gets the oxygen it needs. If you suffer from a Vitamin B12 deficiency, you’ll weaken your body’s defense against infection and disease. Vitamin B, or B complex, is required for healthy cells, proper nerve function, growth of red blood cells, and so much more. By consuming St. Lucia sea moss, you may help boost your immune system and elevate your overall health.
#6 Sea Moss May Help Build Muscle and Assist With Workout Recovery
Sea moss is very rich in protein. There are 6 grams of protein per 100 grams of sea moss, making it an exercise staple. St. Lucia Sea Moss also includes taurine, which is an amino acid with important functions in the heart and brain. In addition, it helps with nerve growth and muscle-building. Therefore, when you’re working out and getting microtears, taurine can help those muscles properly recover. Taurine is also very useful in helping the body burn fat as it aids the body in burning fat during cardio instead of carbs.
#7 Sea Moss May Improve Thyroid Health
The thyroid gland rarely gets as much attention as other organs and organ systems, but it’s just as important. Our thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that’s responsible for controlling metabolism, as well as:
- Breathing
- Heart rate
- Cholesterol levels
- Body temperature
- Muscle strength
- Body weight
- And more!
In order for our thyroid to function properly, it needs a number of minerals, like iodine, as well as amino acids, like tyrosine. Fortunately, both of these nutrients are found in seaweed. So if you’re dealing with thyroid issues, it may be worth it to use sea moss. In fact, a 2014 study found that women who took 0.5 grams of seaweed per day for two weeks had improved iodine levels and higher levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone. However, check with your doctor first before adding large doses of sea moss to your diet because you don’t want to overdo it mistakenly.
#8 Sea Moss May Reduce One’s Risk of Cancer
Given that cancer is the second leading cause of death, it’s considered another top public health concern for researchers. The goal of medical professionals is to prevent cancer from occurring in the first place or at least be able to manage it effectively if a patient is diagnosed with it. To support their efforts, studies have been done to see how effective sea moss is at preventing and fighting cancer. Fortunately, the results do show some hope.
One study revealed that the fucoxanthin often found in sea moss may help fight against specific markers of colorectal cancer or reduce risk factors. Another study evaluated the effectiveness of brown seaweed on breast cancer and saw that there was a decrease in cancer cell proliferation. So, although more research is certainly needed, it appears that seamoss may offer some promise.
#9 Sea Moss May Improve The Health of Your Skin and Hair
Another health benefit of using sea moss is its potential impact on your skin and hair. This superfood has high levels of sulfur, which helps build collagen that strengthens the skin. In addition, it promotes the production of keratin, giving hair additional strength and elasticity.
Purchase St. Lucia Sea Moss by The Derek Product
Over the years, sea moss has gained significant popularity and is becoming a household staple nationwide. So naturally, many people are on the fence about it and aren’t sure if it would be suitable for them. However, the health benefits mentioned above illustrate that sea moss is extremely beneficial to our overall health. While we are not making any medical claims, we do believe that St. Lucia Sea Moss has a lot to offer and should be added to your self-care routine. Order your St. Lucia Sea Moss by The Derek Product today to see what all the hype is about for yourself!
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