(All facts are sourced by Medical News Today, who have strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations).
Since Kim Kardashian posted a dark, spooky looking smoothie on her Instagram, Sea Moss has become the next health trend to hit western media. Especially seeing as it fits with almost all diets, whether it’s gluten-free, dairy-free or sugar-free. And much like most health trends, Sea Moss has been no secret for many years outside popular culture.
So where did Sea Moss come from, if not from Kim Kardashian’s instagram? This aquatic vegetable grows in tide pools along the coasts of Europe and North America. Its use dates as far back as the 1840s during the Irish famine, when many began to realise that this one ingredient contained an extremely high level of important nutrients. A few of them being:
- Vitamin B2, B9, B12 and K
- Vitamin C
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Zinc
- Iodine
Sea Moss can be consumed in a variety of different ways, including; tablets, powders, gels and soaps. Although, the soap can’t be physically consumed, it can and should be used on the skin as it can help promote collagen and keratin. Which leads to the first point…
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It helps your skin.
Both consuming and using it externally, Sea Moss has fantastic benefits for the skin. Not only does it hydrate the skin, it decreases inflammation and helps prevent acne. This is due to the volume of fatty Omega-3 acids present in the moss. It’s especially important for those living in the city to add Sea Moss to their diet as pollution and fumes can be extremely harsh on the skin.
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It supports gut health.
Gut health is the ever important mystery that it seems very few of us can get right. An animal study showed that Sea Moss can help with the gut health journey, as it feeds the healthy bacteria in the intestines.
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It supports immune health.
A further animal study showed that after consuming the vegetable, a higher level of immune antibodies were found present.
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Supports thyroid health.
Sea Moss is rich in iodine, which many studies have shown supports thyroid health. It does this by creating new thyroid hormones which sustain a healthy metabolic rate.
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It support weight loss.
Many isolated compounds found in seaweed has been proven to break down fat cells. Quoted by Medical News Today: “In a 12-week study of 78 adults, those who took 1,000 milligrams of red seaweed extract per day had a significant reduction in total body fat mass and body weight than the placebo group.”
To conclude, Sea Moss may not be just another passing health fanatic, but could be here for the long run. Although it must be said that your own research should be carried out, as there is certainly more room for human studies to be done on this ocean gel.
