Sea moss contains carrageenan, an essential ingredient that helps to thicken milk products such as ice cream. It is edible in the raw form, but you can also eat it cooked or in the form of supplements.
Types of Sea Moss?
Sea moss is a general term that describes various species of seaweed. It’s available in several species: Chondrus Crispus is the purple variety also called red sea moss, common in warmer waters.
Genus Gracilaria is the gold variety of sea moss, while the species Chondrus is green and thrives in shallower waters.
Depending on the surrounding conditions, these three shades appear in various hues and shades. Similar to vegetables and fruits, the different colors are due to the presence of other compounds.
The colors can also be due to the drying process, growing conditions, and the particular region.
Gold Sea Moss
The golden color comes from phytonutrients, an essential compound of sea moss. It looks stringier and thinner and is readily available since it grows throughout the year.
The taste and smell are milder than other darker colors, and it's often more affordable.
Green Sea Moss
Green Sea Moss gets the color from higher chlorophyll and flavonoids known as anthocyanins. It grows wildly along the Caribbean coast and has a stronger taste and ocean smell than other colors.
The more pungent smell may be because it undergoes little rinsing and careful drying to maintain the bold color.
Purple Sea Moss
Purple sea moss or Jamaican purple sea moss derives the deep color from the antioxidants present. These varieties are more challenging to grow because they thrive on rocks in tide pools, along the coast, and only during summer.
Purple sea moss has more antioxidants than all other colors, but it's also rare since it grows in the wild.
Dark-colored varieties such as purple and green sea mosses undergo careful harvesting and drying to retain their bold colors. There's minimal soaking, washing, and drying away from the sun.
Nutrients in Sea Moss
Sea moss has various outstanding benefits, earning recognition as a marine superfood. This incredible superfood has about ninety-two vital minerals that the human body requires, such as:
- Iodine
- Sodium
- Zinc
- Phosphorous
- Calcium
- Sulfur
- Vitamin K, F, E, C, and A
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Fiber
- Selenium
- Taurine
- Magnesium
- Beta-Carotene
- Potassium Chloride
- Pectin
- Protein
- Chlorophyll
Sea moss also has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-viral properties.
What is Sea Moss Good for?
1. Sea Moss is Medicinal
Sea moss has a wide variety of interesting medicinal uses, such as:
Expelling Excessive Mucus from the Body
Sea Moss has antibacterial and anti-viral properties, which assist the body when recovering from flu or colds. It treats respiratory issues by providing a way for the body to remove mucus.
Mucous accumulation in membranes causes inflammation and varying levels of congestion. The Omega-3 fatty acids, chlorophyll, and Potassium Chloride dilute and dissolve phlegm to ease congestion.
Sea moss prevents mucus build-up in respiratory diseases such as:
- Tuberculosis
- Persistent coughs
- Pneumonia, and
- Bronchitis
Minimizing Inflammation
Consuming sea moss assists the body with relieving joint and muscle pain. It has natural anti-inflammatory properties that also enhance gut health.
Sea moss increases the good bacteria while minimizing inflammation in the intestines and stomach. Regular consumption significantly enhances your digestive health.
Balancing Hormones
The thyroid gland in your throat helps to balance your hormones and manages your immune system. If the thyroid malfunctions, you’ll have an underactive or overactive thyroid, causing symptoms such as:
- Sore muscles and joints
- Fatigue and low energy levels
- Cold intolerance
- Dry skin
- Depression
- Tingling sensation in the hands and feet
- Weight gain
- Forgetfulness
Sea moss has a healthy dose of iodine, ensuring the thyroid function naturally remains balanced and the immune system strong.
Blood Cleansing and Building
Taking sea moss is an excellent, natural way to control high blood pressure. It cleanses the blood via detoxification and helps manage free radicals in your blood.
Sea moss contains taurine that helps the body bind bowel fats and lowers blood pressure. It promotes digestion, mineral breakdown, and nutrient absorption.
Taurine also ensures the body maintains proper mineral balance in the cells and appropriate heart function.
Sea moss can also assist with regulating blood sugar levels and reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Since it's a natural product, people with diabetes can use it to manage blood sugar.
Sea moss has various compounds that help to stabilize blood sugar levels. For instance, fucoxanthin minimizes insulin resistance, while fiber slows down carbohydrate absorption after a meal.
It also strengthens the blood by adding nutritional power through:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B-6
- Vitamin B-12
- Vitamin E
- Folic Acid
Sea moss contains natural iron, which ensures healthier blood cells and protects the body from dangerous blood clots.
2. Sea Moss Enhances Digestion and Digestive Processes
Sea moss is rich in prebiotics or natural insoluble fiber, which benefits the intestinal tract. The fiber is a food source for healthy bacteria, there is minimal fermentation, and it gives you a mild laxative effect.
It eliminates acid build-up, resolves acid reflux, and minimizes flatulence.
Consuming sea moss in gel form lines your bowels to ensure smooth, healthy movement. Fewer particles attach to your gut during excretion and digestion, smoothing out complications and allowing damaged areas or ulcers to heal.
3. Sea Moss Strengthens the Connective Tissue
Sea moss has bioactive compounds called fucoidans and natural collagen. These compounds are essential to your nails and skin and rejuvenate hair regrowth.
You can apply sea moss gel directly to your skin to get collagen into the dermis. It helps to enhance your skin's complexion and the ability to retain moisture while replenishing dry skin.
Sea moss can heal dry skin issues such as psoriasis and eczema through its antibacterial and anti-viral properties. It also prevents sun spots, premature aging of the skin, and wrinkles.
Applying sea moss gel to your hair and scalp can prevent and reduce:
- Dandruff
- Hair thinning, and
- Falling out unless there's an underlying genetic condition
How to Prepare Raw Sea Moss
Sea moss is an excellent ingredient for various cooking methods and cuisines. The raw, dry form thickens stews and soups, and you can add the liquid gel to salads and smoothies or apply it to your hair and skin.
Sea moss can also be an egg substitute when baking muffins, cakes, and cookies. The dried nori sheet typical in sushi also substitutes bread and tortillas.
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Clean the Sea Moss
The first step should be cleaning the sea moss to eliminate leftover particles, dirt, or debris. Ensure your hands are clean to avoid contaminating the sea moss, and use alkaline or filtered water.
The procedure is simple as you only have to put the sea moss in a bowl and pour some water. Gently massaging it will help detach any particles.
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Soak the Sea Moss
Once the sea moss is clean, place it in a large bowl and pour alkaline or filtered water until the sea moss submerges.
Next, you’ll cover the bowl and place it on any surface at room temperature for about 12-24 hours. There’s no need for refrigeration at this point.
Soaking expands the sea moss, making it ready for use. Although you can cook it, consuming the sea moss raw retains its integrity and nutritional value.
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Make Sea Moss Gel
You can remove the soaked sea moss from the bowl and place it on a clean plate. The remaining water is rich with nutrients, so it's best to use it in the gel unless it appears cloudy or has debris.
You’ll pour the sea moss into a high-powered blender and add one cup of the water from soaking. You can add more water until you achieve the desired gel consistency.
Once the mixture is smooth, pour it into an airtight jar or container and refrigerate for about two hours. The mixture will become a thick sea moss gel that can last up to a month in the fridge.
You can also freeze the gel into ice cubes that you'll add to your smoothies. It can last up to three months in a frozen state and one year in the raw un-soaked form, as long the container is airtight and in a cool, dark environment.
How to Determine the Best Sea Moss
Color doesn’t necessarily indicate quality in sea moss. The location of harvest is the best indication of good quality sea moss.
Wild sea moss harvested from unpolluted coastlines in Caribbean islands such as Jamaica is an excellent choice.
Other countries such as Singapore, Japan, and China have polluted coastlines, affecting the quality. It can also indicate that the sea moss is not natural but rather pool-grown.
Pool-grown sea moss lacks some essential nutrients present in the wild-harvested types.
Quality sea moss should have thin branches and be from a natural harvest site, regardless of your chosen color.
At Holistic Vybez, we live and breathe quality to ensure you get all the nutrients you deserve. Our exceptional products come from the best sea moss, harvested, prepared, and packaged by experts who understand the essence of quality.
Shop with us today and enjoy free shipping for orders above $100.