If you are a healthy eating enthusiast, there is a high likelihood you have heard of sea moss or come across the benefits of sea moss on the internet.
Sea moss (Irish moss) is an algae found abundantly on the Atlantic Ocean. People worldwide have used sea moss for centuries mainly due to its nutritional value and health benefits. Irish moss is currently enjoying the spotlight as a superfood, with health experts and celebrities praising it.
If you are already taking sea moss or thinking about it, some questions could include how it works in your body, how long it will take to see the sea moss work, and whether it cleans your system.
If that is your case, this article has got you covered.
How Does Sea Moss Work In The Body?
Sea moss is packed with vitamins and minerals that work in our bodies, giving us immense health benefits. But, most health claims are based on anecdotal evidence, and more research needs to be conducted to scientifically substantiate the health claims that sea moss gives our bodies.
Some of the potential health benefits that you will get from consuming sea moss include:
It Gives You A Healthy Immune System
Sea moss has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties essential to our body's immune system. By taking sea moss, our body responds better to diseases that attack it. Sea moss also contains potassium chloride that helps our body reduce the risk of infections, boosting our immune health.
A study conducted on rats that fed on moss shows that they developed anti-bodies that helped strengthen their immune system. It is hoped that further human studies on the consumption of the spiny sea vegetable could replicate the same results.
Supports Gut Health
Sea moss is a good source of fibre. The fibre given to the body is good for the gut system as it helps feed and replenish the good bacteria in the gut.
The spiny sea vegetable also has prebiotic effects that are crucial in balancing out the good and bacteria in your body, giving you a healthy gut.
Promotes Heart Health
The sea algae have a high fibre content. This fibre content is vital for the body as it contributes to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and blood sugar control, risk factors for heart diseases.
Promotes Healthy Thyroid Function
Sea moss contains explicitly high amounts of iodine. Iodine is essential for thyroid health because it makes thyroid hormones function correctly. Therefore, adding sea moss to your diet is a better alternative to thyroid health diets.
If you are on iodine supplements, consult your health care provider on how to add sea moss to your diet. This consultation is essential because consuming too much iodine harms your health.
It Gives You Healthy Hair
Sea moss contains vitamin A which stimulates sebum production that nourishes the scalp and is great for your hair. The sea vegetable also contains vitamin E, which combats oxidative stress and promotes hair growth. Thus by consistently using sea moss, you will not suffer from dry and dull hair, hair loss, and breakages.
Aids In Weight Loss
Sea moss-rich fibre content makes you feel full for longer when consumed. Thus, consuming the seaweed will suppress your appetite, curb your cravings, and prevent overeating.
Like other sea vegetables, sea moss contains fucoxanthin, a compound that aids in weight loss by helping metabolise fat.
Research done on adults who took the red seaweed extract showed that they achieved a total body fat mass reduction compared to adults who didn't consume sea moss.
If you are open to taking weight loss seaweeds, you should try out sea moss.
It Supports Muscle Building And Workout Recovery
Sea moss contains traces of proteins and an amino acid called taurine that support muscle building. Therefore, when you conduct exercises that tear your muscles, you are assured that sea moss will aid in your workout recovery.
Further research has shown that adults who face musculoskeletal symptoms and consume sea moss experience less fatigue, exhaustion, and pain.
It Helps Fight Cancer
Sea moss fucoxanthin compound helps fight against specific cancer markers for particular types of cancer like prostate and colorectal cancer. Therefore by consuming sea moss, you prevent yourself from these cancers.
It Gives You Neuroprotective Effects
Sea moss has excellent antioxidant properties that are crucial in fighting neurodegenerative diseases.
A study conducted on worms showed that consumption of Chondrus crispus sea moss reduced the severity of Parkinson's disease. Parkison's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease that most older adults suffer, and this disease is characterised by motor complications such as slow movement and increased tremors.
Despite the need to conduct the study on humans, the study on worms showed promising pharmaceutical development of Parkinson's disease drugs that could reduce the severity of the disease.
A Significant Boost For Your Energy
Sea moss has a high supply of iron, and iron is vital in creating red blood cells that help transport oxygen to your cells. If you frequently experience a dip in energy levels, you should try adding sea moss to your diet.
Please note that too much seaweed consumption could lead you to take in too much iodine, leading to iodine poisoning and malfunctioning the thyroid system. Also, sea moss grows in a marine environment that industries occasionally pollute. This pollution implies that the sea moss could be contaminated with heavy metals whose consumption could cause you health problems.
How Long Does It Take For Sea Moss To Start Working In Your Body?
You will experience changes from 3 days to a few weeks of consistent use of sea moss. Detoxification is an immediate sign that sea moss is working in your body. It takes three weeks to 3 months of sea moss consumption to realise other benefits, such as an increase in energy levels.
Some people will argue that the sea moss supplements you take dictate how fast sea moss works in your body. Sea moss supplements include sea moss gel, sea moss powder, and sea moss capsules. It is a common belief that taking powdered sea moss or sea moss in its gel form will accelerate the functioning of sea moss in your body.
However, it doesn't matter if you are taking sea moss supplements or consuming raw sea moss, as different people respond to sea moss consumption differently. You must be patient while consuming sea moss; ultimately, you will start seeing the seaweed work in your body.
Does Sea Moss Clean Your System?
There are no formal studies that link sea moss with cleansing your system. However, most sea moss properties and compounds are excellent for cleansing and detoxifying your blood, digestive, urinary, and lymphatic systems.
Sea moss flavonoid compound is excellent for cleansing your body. Additionally, sea moss contains vitamins and minerals such as potassium and magnesium, promoting cleansing of the cardiovascular system by getting rid of the congestion in the artery.
Sea moss also contains omega-3 fatty acids and chlorophyll, which dissolve the mucus in your body and eliminate congestion, thus cleaning your lymphatic and respiratory systems.
Sea moss is high in prebiotic fibres that ensure the constant elimination of waste from our digestive systems, ensuring that our digestive system is cleansed regularly.
Closing
Sea moss is a superfood that is loaded with vitamins and minerals. The seaweed works in our bodies by offering immense health benefits ranging from promoting thyroid function to ensuring that our digestive system works correctly.
Whether you are consuming sea moss supplements, raw sea moss, or dried sea moss, you are guaranteed that after frequent consumption of the seaweed, you will eventually reap its benefits.