Sea moss, also known as Irish moss or red seaweed, is a type of seaweed that grows year-round in tidepools and inlets. It’s found along the coastlines of Europe, North America, and the British Isles.
The truth is that while people have eaten this algae for years, scientists are only now beginning to research its medical benefits. Here’s what we know so far.
May prevent Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common degenerative disease in older adults. It causes tremors, stiffness, and slowness of movement, and there is no cure. But early research shows that sea moss may be able to slow the worsening of the disease.
In a study done with worms, extract from sea moss was shown to reduce stiffness and slowness of movement. This could mean promising things for people with Parkinson’s. But more research is needed to see if sea moss has the same effect on humans that it has on worms.
Early studies suggest that sea moss can boost the immune system and may even protect the body from contracting salmonella.
One study showed that sea moss can stop the growth of S. enteritidis, the bacteria that causes salmonella in humans. But this is a very early study, and the effect has not been reproduced in animals or humans. More research is needed to determine whether sea moss could help prevent or treat salmonella in humans.
May support thyroid health
Sea moss is full of iodine, so it should help people with hypothyroidism, a condition where your body doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones, which regulate your body’s metabolism. Metabolism is how the food you take into your body is transformed into energy and also regulates processes like your heart rate and your breathing. But talk to your doctor before deciding to use sea moss to manage your hypothyroidism, especially if you’re already taking medication for it.
Sea Moss Nutrition
One of the reasons sea moss has been touted as a superfood recently is that it’s a vegan, gluten-free source of many nutrients. Some of the nutrients in sea moss are:
- Vitamin B2
- Calcium
- Iodine
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Magnesium
- Zinc
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